Pointing Fingers Facing The Invisible Audience
During the 1950s, the United States evolved from a stable country to a nation filled with terror and suspicion. This unfortunate event took place, by the cause of a senator named Joseph McCarthy. He, who had the power to express a convincing speech, convincingly shared accusatory confessions to the public relating to people, in the government, following communism beliefs. This lead to Arthur Miller writing the play The Crucible, because many people, including his friends, were accused of following communism. He wrote the play with several hidden significances that represented hysteria, reputation, and stereotyping.
First, one of the hidden messages in The Crucible is hysteria, an overwhelming fear, …show more content…
In The Crucible a person’s name or reputation had an abundance of worth. Whereas, the way they were seen in society, was also the way they were treated in society. For example in The Crucible, Parris states to Abigail relating to the dancing scene in the woods, “Just now when some good respect is rising for me…you compromise my character…your name in town-it is entirely white, is it not?” This demonstrates how overly significant a person’s reputation was so they would maintain a well front to society to gain respect. As in the quote, Parris is distressed about Abigail in the dancing scene that might have seemed as practice of witchcraft, as he quietly suspects, because it could possibly ruin his reputation as a minister of Salem. In a world of Witchcraft a reputation is what keeps the people safe since it is how the people in the society perceive each other. Another example that is shown in The Crucible is during the trial against John Proctor, “Danforth: Your husband-did he indeed turn from you…Elizabeth, faintly: No, sir…Proctor, crying out: Elizabeth, I have confessed it…Proctor: She only thought to save my name.” One can infer, based on this quote, that to keep a well reputation, the person(s) would be willing to lie to keep their name safe for the respect and acceptance they receive in society to continue on. Since, if a reputation has a negative history the majority …show more content…
In The Crucible when Elizabeth has been mentioned in court Hale decide to visit the Proctor’s house and inspect. Hale informs and advises, “God keep you both; let the third child be quickly baptized and you without fail each Sunday in to Sabbath Prayer.” It is religiously known that Baptism erases all sin and welcomes people to the kingdom of God. In that case, not having children baptized signified that the child was not holy or pure. That is a stereotype that was made in The Crucible when John Proctor was in suspicion of witchcraft not only due to the accusations towards his wife, but because all three of his sons were not baptized and since they did not pray daily. This is reason why Hale recommends him to complete the following to fall out off accusations toward witchcraft. Another example of a stereotype in The Crucible is how all the accused of witchcraft are women. In the Crucible Elizabeth states, ‘There be no mark of blame upon my life, Mr. Hale. I am covenanted woman.” This demonstrates that women were perceived to be submissive and a goody wife. In the Crucible it mentions that another reason why women were the majority in the accusations was because perhaps they had double personalities. Which meant they would show a well-acted front to the people but actually had ulterior motives. This situation can also be compared to McCarthyism because Joseph McCarthy
During the 1950s, the United States evolved from a stable country to a nation filled with terror and suspicion. This unfortunate event took place, by the cause of a senator named Joseph McCarthy. He, who had the power to express a convincing speech, convincingly shared accusatory confessions to the public relating to people, in the government, following communism beliefs. This lead to Arthur Miller writing the play The Crucible, because many people, including his friends, were accused of following communism. He wrote the play with several hidden significances that represented hysteria, reputation, and stereotyping.
First, one of the hidden messages in The Crucible is hysteria, an overwhelming fear, …show more content…
In The Crucible a person’s name or reputation had an abundance of worth. Whereas, the way they were seen in society, was also the way they were treated in society. For example in The Crucible, Parris states to Abigail relating to the dancing scene in the woods, “Just now when some good respect is rising for me…you compromise my character…your name in town-it is entirely white, is it not?” This demonstrates how overly significant a person’s reputation was so they would maintain a well front to society to gain respect. As in the quote, Parris is distressed about Abigail in the dancing scene that might have seemed as practice of witchcraft, as he quietly suspects, because it could possibly ruin his reputation as a minister of Salem. In a world of Witchcraft a reputation is what keeps the people safe since it is how the people in the society perceive each other. Another example that is shown in The Crucible is during the trial against John Proctor, “Danforth: Your husband-did he indeed turn from you…Elizabeth, faintly: No, sir…Proctor, crying out: Elizabeth, I have confessed it…Proctor: She only thought to save my name.” One can infer, based on this quote, that to keep a well reputation, the person(s) would be willing to lie to keep their name safe for the respect and acceptance they receive in society to continue on. Since, if a reputation has a negative history the majority …show more content…
In The Crucible when Elizabeth has been mentioned in court Hale decide to visit the Proctor’s house and inspect. Hale informs and advises, “God keep you both; let the third child be quickly baptized and you without fail each Sunday in to Sabbath Prayer.” It is religiously known that Baptism erases all sin and welcomes people to the kingdom of God. In that case, not having children baptized signified that the child was not holy or pure. That is a stereotype that was made in The Crucible when John Proctor was in suspicion of witchcraft not only due to the accusations towards his wife, but because all three of his sons were not baptized and since they did not pray daily. This is reason why Hale recommends him to complete the following to fall out off accusations toward witchcraft. Another example of a stereotype in The Crucible is how all the accused of witchcraft are women. In the Crucible Elizabeth states, ‘There be no mark of blame upon my life, Mr. Hale. I am covenanted woman.” This demonstrates that women were perceived to be submissive and a goody wife. In the Crucible it mentions that another reason why women were the majority in the accusations was because perhaps they had double personalities. Which meant they would show a well-acted front to the people but actually had ulterior motives. This situation can also be compared to McCarthyism because Joseph McCarthy