Word Versus Word
Logic can be defined as deductions made from reasoning in line with strong principles of validity. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, a good man named John Proctor who is living in an unreasonable society tries to do what he can to save his wife who has been arrested for witchcraft. During the trials, the people of Salem fail to use basic logic and reason regarding guilt, evidence, and the way the executions are carried out during the trials, ultimately leading to an obstruction of justice.
As what constitutes guilt is very poorly defined injustice arises often in the court, bringing about fear around it. Reverend Hale comes to John Proctor’s home to speak after accusations are brought up against his wife because it is Hale’s …show more content…
Reverend Hale feels guilty about sending so many people to die, but Deputy Governor Danforth reassures him about how given the specifics of their situation, only the victim of the witch has true evidence, so they must take the victim’s word for things. He explains, “Now we cannot hope the witch will accuse herself; granted? Therefore, we must rely upon her victims – and they do testify, the children certainly do testify” (Miller 1083). Danforth says the witch will never charge herself so it is necessary that they trust in the witch’s victims, and in their case Abigail and the other girls have come forward. Miller displays how in a case where there can be no physical evidence, it is one person’s word vs that of another and in this situation, there are many girls who claim to be victims, so it may pass as evidence. This provides an obstruction of justice from the judges’ point of view as there is no concrete proof yet the group of victims is so large it would be unreasonable to assume they all coordinated an elaborate lie. A lack of good evidence is not the only thing making these trials unjust, perjury accepted as reality proves the use of failed logic and reason is afoot. While Mary Warren gives her testimony against the girls in court, Abigail defends herself and leads the pack and beings to act as though Mary is using witchcraft because she wants to throw out Mary’s whole testimony. Abigail says, …show more content…
Reverend Parris looks like he has a lot in his mind, which compels Danforth to ask him what is going on. Parris says, “Excellency, I think they be aboard a ship. My daughter tells me how she heard them speaking of ships last week, and tonight I discover my – my strongbox is broke into” (Miller 1100). Parris tells Danforth that Abigail and Mercy took money from him and left on a ship. Miller displays that Abigail, who flings most of the witchcraft accusations around, is not as holy as she would like people to think because after the Proctor tells about their affair, she gets exposed. With the fall of Abigail’s moral character comes the fall of legitimacy of her accusations, but some are still bent on upholding the law. Proctor has made it clear he does not want his signed confession on the church, to which Danforth is upset as he wants to make sure everything being done with sincere intentions. He exclaims, “I will not deal in lies, Mister! You will give me your honest confession in my hand, or I cannot keep you from the rope” (Miller 1112). In other words, Danforth will not pass of lies as official legal documents and he presents Proctor with a choice: a real confession or death. By building on his earlier points, the author proves that the ultimatum and sentence given to Proctor by Danforth are void of justice as they arrived at their conclusions with the help of Abigail,
Logic can be defined as deductions made from reasoning in line with strong principles of validity. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, a good man named John Proctor who is living in an unreasonable society tries to do what he can to save his wife who has been arrested for witchcraft. During the trials, the people of Salem fail to use basic logic and reason regarding guilt, evidence, and the way the executions are carried out during the trials, ultimately leading to an obstruction of justice.
As what constitutes guilt is very poorly defined injustice arises often in the court, bringing about fear around it. Reverend Hale comes to John Proctor’s home to speak after accusations are brought up against his wife because it is Hale’s …show more content…
Reverend Hale feels guilty about sending so many people to die, but Deputy Governor Danforth reassures him about how given the specifics of their situation, only the victim of the witch has true evidence, so they must take the victim’s word for things. He explains, “Now we cannot hope the witch will accuse herself; granted? Therefore, we must rely upon her victims – and they do testify, the children certainly do testify” (Miller 1083). Danforth says the witch will never charge herself so it is necessary that they trust in the witch’s victims, and in their case Abigail and the other girls have come forward. Miller displays how in a case where there can be no physical evidence, it is one person’s word vs that of another and in this situation, there are many girls who claim to be victims, so it may pass as evidence. This provides an obstruction of justice from the judges’ point of view as there is no concrete proof yet the group of victims is so large it would be unreasonable to assume they all coordinated an elaborate lie. A lack of good evidence is not the only thing making these trials unjust, perjury accepted as reality proves the use of failed logic and reason is afoot. While Mary Warren gives her testimony against the girls in court, Abigail defends herself and leads the pack and beings to act as though Mary is using witchcraft because she wants to throw out Mary’s whole testimony. Abigail says, …show more content…
Reverend Parris looks like he has a lot in his mind, which compels Danforth to ask him what is going on. Parris says, “Excellency, I think they be aboard a ship. My daughter tells me how she heard them speaking of ships last week, and tonight I discover my – my strongbox is broke into” (Miller 1100). Parris tells Danforth that Abigail and Mercy took money from him and left on a ship. Miller displays that Abigail, who flings most of the witchcraft accusations around, is not as holy as she would like people to think because after the Proctor tells about their affair, she gets exposed. With the fall of Abigail’s moral character comes the fall of legitimacy of her accusations, but some are still bent on upholding the law. Proctor has made it clear he does not want his signed confession on the church, to which Danforth is upset as he wants to make sure everything being done with sincere intentions. He exclaims, “I will not deal in lies, Mister! You will give me your honest confession in my hand, or I cannot keep you from the rope” (Miller 1112). In other words, Danforth will not pass of lies as official legal documents and he presents Proctor with a choice: a real confession or death. By building on his earlier points, the author proves that the ultimatum and sentence given to Proctor by Danforth are void of justice as they arrived at their conclusions with the help of Abigail,