Examples Of Abuse Of Power In The Crucible

In the play “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller, there is a constant misuse of power and authority throughout the play. Characters such as Samuel Parris, Reverend Hale, or Governor Danforth repeatedly abuse their position for their personal beliefs and goals. To push past everyone else’s feelings and thoughts, they denied the other characters in conflict with them, thus causing those with power unequal grounds and a biased standpoint. Overall, the play was nowhere near a power struggle. There were times in which characters in favor of Abigale and the girls would continue to push around those trying to prove themselves innocent. Through the course of the story, there have been many examples for abuse of power, all were unjustified and unfair towards those with little power and control over situations. …show more content…
After Mary displays her evidence against Abigale, Abigale denies any part of the matter and then the group of girls proceed to act as though they are possessed by Mary. Danforth views it as witchcraft ad condemns Mary to die. “I judge nothing. (Pause. He keeps watching Proctor, who tries to meet his gaze.) I tell you straight, Mister—I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them stuck by pins and slashed by daggers. I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me. Do you understand my meaning?” Danforth says this in regards to the claims against the girls, and says to have seen the supernatural. The man says he judges nothing, and yet he condemns many innocent people to die, in judgement of them being a