Good and evil are polar opposites, yet one cannot exist without the other. To understand this intricate relationship, one must have a clear understanding on what exactly good and evil are. These two are not always so black and white, but good can be defined as acting agreeably with societical and personal values. Evil can be defined as going against those values. However, as societies and humans differ, so do their moral codes. What is seen as good in one society or time may be seen as evil in another. Two more factors to consider are intentions and actions. They are two separate entities. Actions are seen, and judged, by everyone else, but intentions are known only by the doer. This is why there is no clear-cut line between good and evil.
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During this time, the city was governed by the church and a massive witch hunt took where people were condemned for being pawns of the Devil. Officials in Salem authorized many of the witch trials and sent dozens of accused witches to die. Deputy Governor Danforth was one of them. He showed no signs of backing down from his cause. “[D]o you know that near to four hundred are in jails . . . upon my signature? . . . And seventy-two condemned to hang by that signature” (Miller, 91)? This was not because he was evil, but because he believed he was righteous. His intentions were good because he truly believed he was saving Salem, but his actions, as seen today, were evil. Another authority figure who believes they are doing good and perpetuates the Salem Witch Trials is Judge Hathorne. “Why at every execution I have seen naught but high satisfaction in the town” (Miller, 133). Hathorne, like Danforth, believes he is on a Holy Crusade that will move Salem out of the Devil’s hands, and into God’s grace. These authority figures in The Crucible illustrate how values change over time. The society they lived in had different values than society does today. Because of this, they acted accordingly with their ideas of good and evil and cannot be judged by people
During this time, the city was governed by the church and a massive witch hunt took where people were condemned for being pawns of the Devil. Officials in Salem authorized many of the witch trials and sent dozens of accused witches to die. Deputy Governor Danforth was one of them. He showed no signs of backing down from his cause. “[D]o you know that near to four hundred are in jails . . . upon my signature? . . . And seventy-two condemned to hang by that signature” (Miller, 91)? This was not because he was evil, but because he believed he was righteous. His intentions were good because he truly believed he was saving Salem, but his actions, as seen today, were evil. Another authority figure who believes they are doing good and perpetuates the Salem Witch Trials is Judge Hathorne. “Why at every execution I have seen naught but high satisfaction in the town” (Miller, 133). Hathorne, like Danforth, believes he is on a Holy Crusade that will move Salem out of the Devil’s hands, and into God’s grace. These authority figures in The Crucible illustrate how values change over time. The society they lived in had different values than society does today. Because of this, they acted accordingly with their ideas of good and evil and cannot be judged by people