Examples Of Deception In The Crucible

Essay: The Crucible Human nature sparks the fires of deceit and betrayal in people in actuality as well as characters in literature. We are oftentimes very self centered beings and as such we are guided towards irrational behavior and unreasonable actions. We may not understand why we act in these ways, but they are nevertheless commonplace in humanity. Such behavior and action is expressed quite well in Arthur Miller's 1953 play “ The Crucible”. The tension and mayhem brought upon by the actions of the children of Salem expresses deceit and betrayal clearly in various different ways throughout The Crucible. The primary example of deception arises through the young girls of Salem and their “pretending”. Kickstarted and spearheaded by Abigail Williams, the girls of Salem lie and act out in ways that lead the townspeople to think that they are being attacked by the devil himself. This allows for the girls to accuse anyone they want of witchcraft and ultimately they get many people killed and or arrested because of it. The people are deceived and are subject to the words of young girls who can have them arrested at a moment's notice. This is the reason that John Proctors …show more content…
When John Proctor attempts to free his wife from prison and put an end to the corruption of Salem, he brings his servant Mary Warren to testify against them. Mary is of similar age with the other girls and admits to the dancing that took place before act 1. She tells this to Judge Danforth in hopes that it might clear the names of those arrested and because she was threatened to testify by Proctor. This attempt at justice very nearly works, until Abigail and the girls act as if Mary is working witchcraft on them and begin to mock her. This lie frightens the judge and pushes him to turn on Mary. Mary then betrays Proctor, attempting to save herself. This betrayal was the breaking point for John