The Crucible by Arthur Miller - Essay Example

Discuss the changes that Reverend Hale, Reverend Parris, and John Proctor undergo in the of the play. Arthur Millerwrote his famous play “The Crucible” to show mindless persecutions on the ground of religion and superstitions that can result in serious loses for many people. The Salem witch trial that actually took place in 17th century in the United Stated reminds Communist trials of 20th century in which Miller took part himself. This play nevertheless touches a number of more important and more serious problems, such as social prejudices, religion, women rights, the difficulty of moral choice, marriage as institution. Probably being suspected in the crimes he did not commit the author started thinking about the concepts of “victims” and “villains” and of the controversy of the absolute truth. It turns out that it is rather easy to pass from one category into another because determining truth and lie still requires enormous efforts even in court. Social moral and religion create enormous pressure on each and every human and fragile psyche sometimes cannot withstand that. In reality most of people are accusatory and would rather point to someone else`s vice than admit one`s guilt. For some people their reputation turns out to be much more important than ultimate truth. Under pressure of the society and in fear of punishment people are prone to change their beliefs and opinions and reveal their faint-heartedness. But it is well-known that people are prone to show their real nature only in critical situation. So extreme circumstances in which the characters of Miller`s play find themselves reveal their true nature: some turn out to be villains and some victims of social moral, some are prone to bend under the pressure of probable punishment and some only find inner power in difficult situation, some act out of altruism and some care about their own life and happiness. Three characters of the play, Reverend Hale, Reverend Parris, and John Proctor, find themselves in extreme situation and each of them transforms his views throughout the play to show eventually his true self. Despite the fact that in 17th century people live under close observation of church, they still act as ordinary people-make mistakes, lie, make sins. In his play “The Crucible” there is a number of characters who switch the roles of “victims” to “villains” depending on their words and actions. It is sometimes very difficult to blame people strictly taking into account fragile In his play Miller suggests that it is impossible to remain in one role of either “a victim” or “a villain” for long because circumstances change and each new word and deed determine who the person really is. John Hale is one of the most interesting and controversial characters of the play because he undergoes the most serious and the most profound transformation during the time of the play. First we see John Hale as a moral, reserved intellectual who is introduced in the beginning of the play. Parris asks Hale to check his daughter Betty because of her strange and unknown sickness. Her father as well as local community suspects that Betty was involved into witchcraft Miller decides to introduce to this character with additional commentary “a tight-skinned, eager-eyed intellectual. This is a beloved errand for him; on being called here to ascertain witchcraft he has felt the pride of the specialist whose unique knowledge has at last been publicly called for.” Hale makes an impression of real wisdom, his appearance as well as his inner strength suggest that he is the one of few who can tell right from wrong. His incredible self- confidence makes everyone believe in his supernatural ability to view witchcraft. Why is John Hale is so assured in his ability to see the essence of the things? It can probably be explained by his judgemental and accusatory nature which stems from desire to look better in the eyes of the other than he really is. John Hale is the one who pushes the process of witch trial making people confess and give evidence. He shows himself as a real detective when interrogating the participants of the trial, he asks Tituba provocative questions and blames her before any verdict is made.And because of his primary almost magical confidence Hale`s transformation is the most unbelievable and impressive. In the course of the trial he realizes that Abigail is deceiving everyone and he is able to refuse from his confidence and put his reputation of knowing-it-all man for higher truth. So Hale`s courage lies in his ability to accept his mistakes and follow right intentions: Hale: Excellency, it is a natural lie to tell; I beg you, stop now before another is condemned! l may shut my conscience to it no more - private vengeance is working through this testimony! From the beginning this man has struck me true. By my oath to Heaven, I believe him now, and I pray you call back his wife In the most important moment this character refuses to participate in witch trial. But it is tragedy and according to the laws of genre the truth is revealed too late. John Hale loses all the control of the trial and his doubts make other participant act boldly. Besides his loss of stamina breaks him as if he loses his overwhelming inner power. He realizes that human life is more precious than some relationships and even moral principle imposed by church. The audience notices this change in Hale and sympathizes him but this fast transformation means loss of respect as well. Hale transformation is very painful for him as it often happens when one sees himself stronger and more powerful than he really is. Proctor is another complicated and controversial character caught into extreme conditions that can reveal his inner nature. It is him we see as the principal tragic hero because his conflict cannot be resolved with no victims. Proctor himself seems to be the principal villain of the play as he had committed adultery to his wife with a young and innocent girl. However, it turns out that it is difficult to blame Proctor for his sin as even his wife forgives him and denies the truth in order to save their family`s honor. So being a villain Proctor becomes a victim of Abigail`s desires and intentions and her ability to achieve everything she wants at any price. Miller shows Proctor as a straight-forward, honest and decent man who loves working hard and taking care about his family. The reader does not learn about his affair from the very beginning that is why he is capable to perceive Proctor as a rounded personality. As soon as the trial is started Proctor understands that he is capable to save the town from Abigail`s madness and desire of revenge by confessing in his sin. Unfortunately, for Proctor his good name is so precious that losing his face means losing his position in society. His pride is already sinful because pride is considered to be one of deadly sins but Proctor does not notice it for quite a long time. Proctor avoids painful confession as long as possible he tries to accuse Abigail via Mary Warren`s evidence but he does not do it convincingly enough. Time plays against Proctor with every new word uttered he complicates the situation in the most serious way. From this moment his every new motion will result into worse results for him and those accused. When it is too late and his wife, one of the few innocent and forgiving characters of the play, releases his sins, Proctor also understands that his name worth nothing if it is spattered: “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” Unfortunately, it is too late and his actions lead to the only possible resolution: Proctor has to confess in everything and sacrifice his life for others. Only under this condition he can restore himself as a decent man: “Proctor, his eyes fully of tears: I can. And there’s your first marvel, that I can. You have made your magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs.” Reverend Parris is another character of “The Crucible” who cares about his name and his reputation more than about higher truth and justice. However, in critical situation reverend does not show his best qualities. It is probably the only character of the play who also does not transform and does not develop internally being afraid of losing his position. This is the paradox of the play as it is reverend who was supposed to show everyone example of forgiveness and repentance. In the very first act readers see Parris near his sick daughter and they instantly feel pity for him and his family. Only later it is possible to realizes that Parris is enslaved by his reputation and respect in Salem. Being afraid to lose his position Parris gets anxious to know the truth about his daughter. He cannot be involved in witchcraft as he might lose his face at once. Apart from this vice Parris turns out to be extremely greedy and egoistic. Step by step afraid of losing his name Parris gets involved into lies: when he states that he did not see a naked man dancing near the fire readers realize that he lies though his position presupposes that lying is adverse to him. At some point readers realize that Parris will hardly change because when other characters start feeling the price they would have to pay for their ego, reverend states on his initial position. However, there is one moment when Parris seems to doubt his actions and asks to postpone the execution. It becomes clear that his niece hides something as she vanishes, and when Parris has to intervene in the whole process and say his word he seems to be concerned only with teaching others how to behave themselves: “Parris: Do you read the Gospel, Mr. Proctor? Proctor: I read the Gospel. Parris: I think not, or you should surely know that Cain were an upright man, and yet he did kill Abel.” There is one moment that makes readers realize that Parris`s soul is dry and is not sensitive to real human emotions. He cries at the end of the play not because innocent people (and he already knows that) are killed but because his niece left him with no money. Miller does not leave any chance to this character because he is not able to feel, to change and to adapt to the situation. In extreme situation when the choice is critical Parris chooses his humble existence and his name. He does not learn any lessons and that is how we see his rotten nature. “The Crucible” is considered one of the most brilliant plays of the century as Miller managed to depict people in realistic but very tragic circumstances and show how it is possible to learn lessons from historical events. And though for people of the 21st century it is difficult to imagine how it is possible to hang people for witchcraft we still must admit that time passes but the problem of moral choice remains the same. Today church does not decide people`s lives but there are other institutions that can threat freedom and life. In any century any person faces some dilemma - a choice between his inner voice telling him what is true and what is not and social opinion. Only in critical circumstances true human nature is revealed: some people sacrifice themselves and prove that truth and good is higher than temporary social benefit. The characters of the play have to pass this exam in real life and only few of them turn out to be able to do it with dignity. Works Cited Miller, A. The Crucible, 1953. Retrieved from: http://www.hatboro-horsham.org/cms/lib2/PA01000027/Centricity/Domain/339/The%20Crucible%20-%20Arthur%20Miller%20.pdf Read More