Power In The Crucible

The infinite struggle for power has been present as long as humanity has, and due to the nature of the species, it will never soon be coveted any less. Throughout every time period, it is a fundamental aspect of how the structure of society is built and even denotes what certain people can and cannot do. It is also a part of the stories that humanity tells, such as The Crucible, in which playwright Arthur Miller provides a thrilling dramatization of the Salem Witch Trials, while also paralleling the United States’s Red Scare of the 1950s. Long before the Witch Trials, the Puritans had come to North America to seek religious freedom and ironically became much like their oppressors, creating a strict society in which religion dictated their lives, …show more content…
Thomas Putnam ironically gained power by being committing sin: by being greedy. Both historically, and in The Crucible, Putnam would jail people for trivial things in order to gain more money and power. In summary, it was not “surprising to find that so many accusations against people are in the handwriting of Thomas Putnam,” (27). Putnam would gain power by doing acts that would be considered the lowest low. Reverend Samuel Parris is the Reverend, and thereby the leader of Salem, so he should not be able to be swayed by anyone, however, Putnam, due to his immense amount of power, does. After telling him to, Parris, “swayed: [He’ll lead Salem] in a psalm,” (29). As Reverend, Parris should not be able to be swayed by anyone, however, he is easily by Putnam. When the action leads towards accusations of witches, Putnam demonstrates his power by saying that someone must be “[Hung]! She must be taken and hanged!” (45). This relates to the prose from before, with accusations. Ironically, Thomas Putnam gains wealth, land, and power by being greedy. He uses all means necessary to obtain these things because he wants them. This is ironic because, in this Puritan society, the sinners should be the ones with the least …show more content…
However, Hale gains this power from being prideful -- a sin -- which is something that he ironically is attempting to remove from society. Reverend Hale comes into Salem and immediately has the respect, admiration, and somewhat source of fear to Reverend Parris, who remarks it well “to see [Hale] again! Taking some books: My, they’re heavy! HALE, setting down his books: They must be; they are weighted with authority.” (30). This demonstrates that Hale already has power over Paris, and also his prideful nature, going on about his authoritative books. The power is given to Putnam, even more, when, asked, Putnam remarks that their distinguish does “not seem to help us today, Mr. Hale. We look to you to come to our house and save our child.” (40). Putnam is fueling Hale’s pride, by thanking him for coming to save their child, even though he, in reality, is not going to be able to do much. Hale, when the girls begin shouting accusations of witches, calls for the “marshal [to] bring irons! (47). The fact that he recognizes his power over the marshal also demonstrates both his power as well as his pride. Hale ironically holds a vast amount of pull and power in Salem, despite the fact that he sins be being an incredibly prideful person, often boasting his