In seventeenth century Salem, Massachusetts, the concept of a theocracy ran the community. Salem’s interpretation of a theocracy was to
Combine [the] state and religious power whose function was to keep the community together, and to prevent any kind of disunity that might open it to destruction by material or ideological enemies (Miller 7).
The Puritans goal of the theocracy was to “keep the community together and prevent any kind of disunity”, but on the other hand, the theocracy did the complete opposite. Instead, it caused panic. The reasoning for this is because theocracies are doomed because man is not God. Since man is not perfect, man causes imperfections in the society. An example of an imperfection in a theocratic society is individualism. “Exclusion and prohibition” (Miller 7) was important to the society because authorities believed that one must do what the authorities figures do, so individualism was loathed in the community. In The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, the individualism of John Proctor, Giles and Martha Corey, and lastly, Abigail Williams causes authority figures in the Salem community to panic.
As John Proctor’s character develops throughout the novel, his individualism is shown; since Proctor lives in a Puritan society, his …show more content…
As Abigail is in court, Proctor says, “Abigail leads the girls into the woods, your honor, they have danced their naked” (Miller 105). Abigail is the niece of Reverend Samuel Parris, who is the Salem Minister, so Abigail should know that the woods is where the devil resides. But since Abigail is a confident, resilient girl, she decides to go against the community’s beliefs and enter the woods with the devil. The simple action of Abigail entering the woods, will spark a large debacle throughout Salem. On the other hand, while in court, Danforth says to
Combine [the] state and religious power whose function was to keep the community together, and to prevent any kind of disunity that might open it to destruction by material or ideological enemies (Miller 7).
The Puritans goal of the theocracy was to “keep the community together and prevent any kind of disunity”, but on the other hand, the theocracy did the complete opposite. Instead, it caused panic. The reasoning for this is because theocracies are doomed because man is not God. Since man is not perfect, man causes imperfections in the society. An example of an imperfection in a theocratic society is individualism. “Exclusion and prohibition” (Miller 7) was important to the society because authorities believed that one must do what the authorities figures do, so individualism was loathed in the community. In The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, the individualism of John Proctor, Giles and Martha Corey, and lastly, Abigail Williams causes authority figures in the Salem community to panic.
As John Proctor’s character develops throughout the novel, his individualism is shown; since Proctor lives in a Puritan society, his …show more content…
As Abigail is in court, Proctor says, “Abigail leads the girls into the woods, your honor, they have danced their naked” (Miller 105). Abigail is the niece of Reverend Samuel Parris, who is the Salem Minister, so Abigail should know that the woods is where the devil resides. But since Abigail is a confident, resilient girl, she decides to go against the community’s beliefs and enter the woods with the devil. The simple action of Abigail entering the woods, will spark a large debacle throughout Salem. On the other hand, while in court, Danforth says to