Individuals, subject to human frailty and motivation, exhibit inconsistencies among the greater collective human experience. In turn, preconceived notions of the audience are challenged by the exposition of humanity’s complexity to invoke personal assessment and reflection. As such, it is presented within Arthur Miller’s tragedy, “The Crucible”, and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s romantic fiction, “The Scarlet Letter”. Both works explore the contradictions of judgement and consider the inconsistencies of personal integrity, encapsulated under the guise of Puritanism within New England America, political agenda, and historical calamity. Therefore, audiences foster introspection and reflection by developing nuance surrounding the inconsistencies of human …show more content…
Within Miller’s “The Crucible”, escalations of hysteria and paranoia drive the revision of judgement that diverges from the initial determination. As an allegory of 1950s McCarthyism, Miller captures individuals who grew conscious towards the unjust persecution and blacklisting of citizens accused of communism, inconsistent amongst the fear and paranoia during “The Red Scare”. As the play commences, Reverend Hale reflects this inconsistency by initially advocating for the persecution of witchcraft, his judgement in alignment with his Puritan values, in establishing his goal of “light, goodness and its preservation”, as Millier utilises characterisation within his authorial intrusion to reveal to the audience Hale’s motivations that constructed his initial judgement. However, Hale proves inconsistent amid collective hysteria, as he shifts his response towards the trials, announcing, “I denounce these proceedings; I quit this court!”. Miller’s use of anaphora of “I” emphasises Hale’s found agency and determination whilst transforming to a state of empathy, driven by his guilt, hence incompatible with his previous standing, questioning the validity of the court. In comparison, Reverend Parris renounces the existence of witchcraft in …show more content…
Miller’s “The Crucible”, the societal oppression within the Salem community, contributes to individuals’ contradictory perceptions through their conformity. Inspired by the Salem Witch Trials, Miller explores the oppressive values under theocracy, which individuals adhered to in fear of persecution, causing inconsistency due to false perceptions of individuals. Initially, John Proctor is depicted as “respected and even feared in Salem”, as revealed in Miller’s authorial intrusion, as John conforms to the values of Salem in maintaining his reputation through pretence, convincing the audience of John’s morality and integrity within the Salem community. However, inconsistency arises as John reveals his affair with Abigail, as his moral failing contradicts his perceived virtue, “I have known her, sir. I have known her for years”. Miller’s repetition of “I have known her” emphasises to the audience the significance of John’s admission in contradicting his perceived integrity through his sin due to his initial conformity to the repressive values of Salem’s theocracy, now seen as inconsistent with his saintliness through his confession to sin. Similarly, Abigail Williams maintains her moral purity through deception and dishonesty, as she