The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play about what happened during the Salem Witch Trials. It gives insight about what people had to deal with in this situation and how they handled it. The trials were basically a big test which helped figuring out whether or not people were guilty of witchcraft. This is an example of what a crucible is. In our world today we still have crucibles and even though they are different than back then, they all relate to each other because of what influence they have on people. These “tests” make us act a certain way to achieve a reputation that we’re proud to display in public. But what exactly do these crucibles really do to us?
A crucible is defined as a “very significant and difficult trial or test”. In the play …show more content…
What would we do for the person we love the most?”. In the last scene of The Crucible John and Elizabeth have their final conversation. John asks his wife what she wants him to do. He isn’t sure whether or not to confess and needs her opinion. “JOHN: I would have your forgiveness, Elizabeth. ELIZABETH: It is not for you me to give, John. JOHN: I would have you see some honesty in it… What say you? ELIZABETH: It come to naught that I should forgive you. Will you forgive yourself? It is your soul, John. Only be sure of this, for I know it now: Whatever you will do, it is a good man does it. I have read my heart this three months, John. I have sins of my own to count. It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery… JOHN: Enough, enough. ELIZABETH: You take my sins upon you John! … ELIZABETH: I cannot judge you, John, I cannot. I am not your judge, I cannot be.” (Miller 85-86). This conversation says a lot about how their relationship worked. Proctor clearly is the one that made a mistake. He committed adultery and cheated on his wife. Sure, he regrets it, but if you really love someone, how could you ever cheat on them? Elizabeth’s perception of reality gets so messed up because she blames herself for John’s fault. Elizabeth wants John to confess so he can stay alive but she doesn’t tell him what he has to do. She lets him have his freedom to do whatever he wants to do and assures him that that is going to be something only a good man would do. Elizabeth cares about him more than about herself. John on the other hand only looks out for himself. He doesn’t want to live knowing he has sinned. He’s acting completely selfish because he could sacrifice himself in order to make the life for his family better. Yes, he’s going to die as an honest man since he’d rather die for his beliefs than live a lie, but is that really better than staying alive for his wife and family? By asking Elizabeth that
A crucible is defined as a “very significant and difficult trial or test”. In the play …show more content…
What would we do for the person we love the most?”. In the last scene of The Crucible John and Elizabeth have their final conversation. John asks his wife what she wants him to do. He isn’t sure whether or not to confess and needs her opinion. “JOHN: I would have your forgiveness, Elizabeth. ELIZABETH: It is not for you me to give, John. JOHN: I would have you see some honesty in it… What say you? ELIZABETH: It come to naught that I should forgive you. Will you forgive yourself? It is your soul, John. Only be sure of this, for I know it now: Whatever you will do, it is a good man does it. I have read my heart this three months, John. I have sins of my own to count. It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery… JOHN: Enough, enough. ELIZABETH: You take my sins upon you John! … ELIZABETH: I cannot judge you, John, I cannot. I am not your judge, I cannot be.” (Miller 85-86). This conversation says a lot about how their relationship worked. Proctor clearly is the one that made a mistake. He committed adultery and cheated on his wife. Sure, he regrets it, but if you really love someone, how could you ever cheat on them? Elizabeth’s perception of reality gets so messed up because she blames herself for John’s fault. Elizabeth wants John to confess so he can stay alive but she doesn’t tell him what he has to do. She lets him have his freedom to do whatever he wants to do and assures him that that is going to be something only a good man would do. Elizabeth cares about him more than about herself. John on the other hand only looks out for himself. He doesn’t want to live knowing he has sinned. He’s acting completely selfish because he could sacrifice himself in order to make the life for his family better. Yes, he’s going to die as an honest man since he’d rather die for his beliefs than live a lie, but is that really better than staying alive for his wife and family? By asking Elizabeth that