How Wisdom Failed From hatred, hysteria, and death The Crucible proves that fear and jealousy can overcome logic.Throughout the play “The Crucible” jealousy from young Abigail Williams causes hysteria to take over Salem, while she blames people just so she could have a chance to get what she wants. Then causing others to follow along with her actions, scared to be her next victim. Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” argues that when ignorance and fear are allowed to overcome reason, wisdom and common sense cannot prevail. In the play, wisdom of Rebecca Nurse, John Proctor, and Reverend Hale cannot overcome the mob mentality that overtakes Salem. Amongst the mass hysteria of witchcraft began to get out of hand, Rebecca Nurse had tried to prevent
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“Excellency, does it not strike upon you that so many of these women have lived so long with such upright reputation, and-”(Proctor, pg.938) Proctor from the beginning knew that all of the girls were merely scared of Abigail Williams and scared of losing their good reputations. But while the girls were trying to keep their good reputations they were damning the reputations of everyone that people were accusing in Salem. While most believed and took advantage of the hysteria, John Proctor did not believe or accuse anyone. As the lies and hangings grew, John could no longer stand by, he got his house maid,Mary Warren, to confess that Abigail had been lying the whole time and got her to go into the court to testify against them. While Mary had attempted that the girls had been lying. John then flairs with anger and screams, “How do you call Heaven! Whore! Whore!” (Proctor,pg.947) As he then proceeds to tell the truth that Abigail only wants to have Elizabeth, Proctor 's wife, hanged so that she could have him for herself. “She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave” (proctor, Pg.948) Admitting that he had committed the crime of adultery when Abigail when she was still their maid, while Elizabeth was ill. Danforth, the judge, then calls in his wife, Elizabeth, to confirm if he had truly committed the crime of …show more content…
After seeing so many deaths of innocent people dying around him due to lies, and ignorance he himself sees that this wasn’t the work of witchcraft. While sitting in the court speaking to Danforth, he attempts to explain that yes there may be fear in the court, but it is only the fear of those who wish not to be caught in the act of lying. “ We cannot blink it more. There is a prodigious fear of this court in the country-” (Hale, Pg. 941). Finally coming forth with the thought that it is nothing but lies from young Abigail and her friends that have been too scared to stand up to her. Even after speaking to Danforth, Danforth then accuses him of being scared to be questioned in Salem. Reverend Hale on countless occasions tries to get Danforth to listen to him to stop the hangings after John Proctor 's wife, Elizabeth, had been accused by Abigail for witchcraft.. “I may shut my conscience to it no more- private vengeance is working through this testimony!” (Hale, Pg.949). Only for Hale to be cut off by Abigail’s false screams of terror to distract Danforth from paying attention to Hales accusations, just to make sure he doesn’t start to question her about lying. Later into “The Crucible”, Hales now close friend, John Proctor, gets accused by Mary Warren, who is scared of Abigail 's power, for witchcraft. As John is being taken away, Hale then tells Danforth and the town, that he quits and is done with Salem and
“Excellency, does it not strike upon you that so many of these women have lived so long with such upright reputation, and-”(Proctor, pg.938) Proctor from the beginning knew that all of the girls were merely scared of Abigail Williams and scared of losing their good reputations. But while the girls were trying to keep their good reputations they were damning the reputations of everyone that people were accusing in Salem. While most believed and took advantage of the hysteria, John Proctor did not believe or accuse anyone. As the lies and hangings grew, John could no longer stand by, he got his house maid,Mary Warren, to confess that Abigail had been lying the whole time and got her to go into the court to testify against them. While Mary had attempted that the girls had been lying. John then flairs with anger and screams, “How do you call Heaven! Whore! Whore!” (Proctor,pg.947) As he then proceeds to tell the truth that Abigail only wants to have Elizabeth, Proctor 's wife, hanged so that she could have him for herself. “She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave” (proctor, Pg.948) Admitting that he had committed the crime of adultery when Abigail when she was still their maid, while Elizabeth was ill. Danforth, the judge, then calls in his wife, Elizabeth, to confirm if he had truly committed the crime of …show more content…
After seeing so many deaths of innocent people dying around him due to lies, and ignorance he himself sees that this wasn’t the work of witchcraft. While sitting in the court speaking to Danforth, he attempts to explain that yes there may be fear in the court, but it is only the fear of those who wish not to be caught in the act of lying. “ We cannot blink it more. There is a prodigious fear of this court in the country-” (Hale, Pg. 941). Finally coming forth with the thought that it is nothing but lies from young Abigail and her friends that have been too scared to stand up to her. Even after speaking to Danforth, Danforth then accuses him of being scared to be questioned in Salem. Reverend Hale on countless occasions tries to get Danforth to listen to him to stop the hangings after John Proctor 's wife, Elizabeth, had been accused by Abigail for witchcraft.. “I may shut my conscience to it no more- private vengeance is working through this testimony!” (Hale, Pg.949). Only for Hale to be cut off by Abigail’s false screams of terror to distract Danforth from paying attention to Hales accusations, just to make sure he doesn’t start to question her about lying. Later into “The Crucible”, Hales now close friend, John Proctor, gets accused by Mary Warren, who is scared of Abigail 's power, for witchcraft. As John is being taken away, Hale then tells Danforth and the town, that he quits and is done with Salem and