Conformity And Absolute Power In Arthur Miller's The Crucible

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Conformity and absolute power are both big factors to suppressing a society views and leading to corruptness. It occurs over and over in both novels and real life as shown by the several incidents on this topics. Some of these cases including the US during the Cold War and the fear of communism and the fear of witchcraft in Salem in the 1600’s with the Puritans. Arthur Miller’s novel The Crucible is a reimagine of the witch trials that shows how conformity and absolute power led to the witch trials he selves and the errors that occurred in Salem. Although restrictive gender roles contribute to downfall of some societies, the main reason for the chaos that occurred in the Red Scare and Salem Witch Trials was based on the fact one person had …show more content…
In Salem there are several people with power including the Reverend 's, the judges, and the girls themselves causing many of them to think they have all the power. This causes people to have trouble believing who to follow and the citizens with power argue over who decides what happens in Salem. This feud is shown when Abigail and Danforth are arguing in the courtroom and the girl blindly follow Abigail and the other judges along with Parris blindly follow Danforth. Seeing how they both have backers and have power in Salem they believe they both should decide who gets accused and hanged for witchcraft as shown when Abigail threatens Danforth stating “let you beware, Mr. Danforth. Think you be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits?” (Miller 108). Feeling superior Abigail thinks she should have control of the court and have the judges follows what she says. Danforth does this similarly to John when John wants to testify to save Elizabeth, Danforth threatens John telling him about his past history in court and the people he has punished. He does this in hopes to distill fear and John stop attempting to testify and support Danforth blindly giving him more power. This inevitably led no one standing alongside John to rebel beside Hale and the other two men as they were afraid of the upper class men and just supported them in hopes to stay

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