The Crucible. Both show how religion can be twisted into a form of control in society and they show the huge detrimental and devastating effects this control can have. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible shows the horror and appalling nature of the Salem witch trials of 1692, but beneath this surface it shows the parallels to aspects in Miller’s own life at this period, with the idea of McCarthyism going out of control in America. McCarthyism was a result of the second red scare in America in the late 1940´s/1950’s
Words: 2479 - Pages: 10
questions: 1. What does the Puritan faith teach its followers about the nature of humankind? 2. What importance does the supernatural have within the Puritan belief system? 3. What connection do you find between the Puritan religion, the Salem witch trials, and the story? 4. What is the story’s central theme? Research for this assignment may be done exclusively on the Internet, though other sources can be used if desired. Make use of any sources that help you in explaining your answers with
Words: 501 - Pages: 3
innocent of all charges of witchcraft. During this trial, the prosecution will present evidence which I hope you will find to be said with ulterior motives. There have been many people accused of the act of witchcraft in the past couple of days; however, there is no real evidence supporting this accusation. It has been stated that Reverend Parris was the one who caught multiple people dancing naked in the forest, the very virgin forest where Salem villagers believed was the Devil’s place and home
Words: 1087 - Pages: 5
works have demonstrated an individual’s self-esteem and its link to belonging. In Miller’s play, self-esteem is linked to individuals’ senses of belonging in the form of power and integrity, where the tyrannical authority of the leaders of the Salem witch trials period use belonging as a force to control the community, while various individuals who will not bend to such authority establish a sense of integrity in their resistance. Such examples of figures portraying a forceful authority include Danforth
Words: 1059 - Pages: 5
natural occurrences were messages from God. Cotton Mather was a great historian and a highly respected clergyman during this period. In one of his most famous works, The Wonders of the Invisible World, Cotton Mather gives his account of the Salem Witch Trials in which he was convinced that he received this command from the Lord. Cotton Mather believed that witches were doing the work of the devil and had to be destroyed before the Puritans could fulfill their destiny as “a people of God.” The Puritans
Words: 548 - Pages: 3
Miller’s Universal Truths through the Characterization of Reverend John Hale Throughout The Crucible, Arthur Miller uses the characterization of an archetypal hero, Reverend John Hale, to reveal how when arrogant and nationalistic pride becomes involved even the most intelligent and moral man’s moral compass can be distorted. This universal truth and Hale’s archetypal characteristics were revealed by Miller to reprehend those who fell into McCarthyism and the flaws in the American society in the
Words: 1688 - Pages: 7
Authority is Power – Crucible Essay Is authority power that is given to an individual? Or must that individual earn their respectful status with no faults? When does the power given begin to become too much for an individual to regulate? An individual with a lot of power over a certain group or person may misuse their authority in negative ways. Many figures of authority misuse their powerful influence over other individuals which can negatively impact the lives of others or even themselves. A
Words: 1737 - Pages: 7
The play The Crucible written by American play-writer, Arthur Miller, is a play in the form of a tragedy written in 1953. It is a very dramatic scene of a small village Salem, Massachusetts and takestaking place in 1692. Written about the ever so fraudulent Salem witch trials, the characters are vibrant and very expressed in their own personalities. Probably one of the most important characters of the play, Abigail Williams displays numerous amounts of diverse personalities. She reveals herself
Words: 1977 - Pages: 8
HIUS Notes 08/29/2011 The Pilgrims of Plymouth * Mayflower Compact * Emphasized allegiance to the Crown * Denied any intent to form a spate republic * Established a civil government based on religious principle and covenanted relationship to God * Some initial success in establishing colony, but soon dwarfed and absorbed by their neighbor- Massachusetts Bay * Why did Plymouth not prosper? * Unpopular religious views meant little new immigration
Words: 579 - Pages: 3
Nature of Humanity According to Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne was born 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. He descended from a Puritan family who participated in the Salem Witch Trials. His father died when Nathaniel was four, and he did not lead a very exciting or remarkable life. A rich tradition of family and local history provided much of the material for Hawthorne’s works. Nathaniel Hawthorne is mostly preoccupied with human flaws, pervasive evil, and evil in humanity. In his stories, “The
Words: 1108 - Pages: 5
