A Look Inside The Crucible Essay, Research Paper

“A look inside The Crucible”

The Crucible By Arthur Miller is an interesting story based on the Salem witch trials. The characters in the Crucible have allot of inner and outer conflicts with themselves and each other. Many of the characters in the story show that dying with honor is better than living with guilt.

The Crucible has many themes. One of the central themes in my opinion is greed. Many of the characters in the story like Thomas Putnam, show large amounts of greed. Putnam was caught being greedy when Giles Corey announced in court, “My proof is there. If Jacobs hangs for a witch he forfeit up his property – that’s law! And there is none but Putnam with the coin to buy so great a piece. This man is killing his neighbors for their land.”(1228) Abigail Williams is another character who shows a large amount of greediness though out the story. Abigail tells many greedy lies like when she said, ”It were Ms. Procter who stuck two inches in the flesh of my belly.”(1215) Greed is one of the main problems because it fuels the witch accusations and in tern causes the deaths of many.

Another one of the central themes is fear. Giles Corey shows his fear of the court when he pleads, “I cannot give you no name, sir, I cannot.”(1228) Not only were the people of Salem afraid of the court, the court was afraid of the people. This is shown when Parris scram, ”This is a clear attack upon the court!” Due to the mass hysteria of witches during the Salem witch trials. Fear is a strong central theme that fueled many of the ruthless actions of the people in the town as well as the court officials.

Throughout The Crucible many of the characters show great pride when faced with death. John Proctor shows a great deal of pride when he yells in court,” You will not use me! I am no Sarah Good or Tituba, I am John Proctor! You will not use me!”(1255) Evan after Procter is sentenced to death he still shows pride in wanting to die with his name. He pleaded, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign my self 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!”(1256) Through the crucible John Proctor like others, shows great pride in his name.

Throughout The Crucible many of the characters are faced with great adversity caused by mass hysteria of witches, which was to blame for the inner and outer conflicts among the characters. The Crucible has three central themes

That include fear, pride, and greed. These themes are fueled by all of the finger pointing that went on during the witch trials. Through the finger pointing, many people were faced with decisions of faith, pride, and fear.