What should be considered as the main theme of The Crucible by Arthur Miller? It can possibly be Reputation or Intolerance. Although the play presents numerous topics, there can only be one that fits the play’s purpose. The theme that led to the demise of innocent people in the community of Salem. The main theme of The Crucible should be seen as Hysteria because of the girls blaming everyone, overemphasized meaning of witchcraft, and religious belief. The girls blaming everyone can be considered as a part of Hysteria due to its exaggeration. Abigail states, “I never called him! Tituba, Tituba…” (Miller 481). In act one, Hale starts to question Abigail on whether she called the devil or not because her cousin might be dying. Out of panic, Abigail accuses Tituba of calling the devil while she spoke “Barbados”. The girls, along with Abigail, then started pointing out other people like Mary Warren and Elizabeth,
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This refers to the girls who started accusing people in Salem. In the play, Parris states, “Betty, child. Dear child. Will you wake, will you open up your eyes! Betty little one…” (Miller 462). In act one, Abigail’s cousin, Betty, did not wake up since midnight. Parris denies that it might be because of an unnatural cause, but Abigail keeps on insisting it. He then remembers that the girls danced in the woods, so he believes Abigail but blames her. She claims that she has nothing to do with it. The exaggeration of witchcraft in this scene shows because Betty did not wake up, and it has been quite a while that Abigail also assumes that witchcraft might be the cause. This continues to Rebecca Nurse, a well-respected, holy woman, being accused of killing the babies of Goody Putnam when in fact, the evidence does not exist. Despite this, she did not lie just to be saved. To change the topic, Salem’s religion played an important part in
This refers to the girls who started accusing people in Salem. In the play, Parris states, “Betty, child. Dear child. Will you wake, will you open up your eyes! Betty little one…” (Miller 462). In act one, Abigail’s cousin, Betty, did not wake up since midnight. Parris denies that it might be because of an unnatural cause, but Abigail keeps on insisting it. He then remembers that the girls danced in the woods, so he believes Abigail but blames her. She claims that she has nothing to do with it. The exaggeration of witchcraft in this scene shows because Betty did not wake up, and it has been quite a while that Abigail also assumes that witchcraft might be the cause. This continues to Rebecca Nurse, a well-respected, holy woman, being accused of killing the babies of Goody Putnam when in fact, the evidence does not exist. Despite this, she did not lie just to be saved. To change the topic, Salem’s religion played an important part in