The Crucible Power Analysis

“Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties, or his possessions.” This quote from James Madison embodies “The Crucible” as a whole, because it basically says that if too much power exists within a society, not one person is safe if they are accused of wrongdoing. The Puritans live in a theocratic society which allows the church to possess immense power over the inhabitants of Salem, because they all live by the way of God and are his “messengers”. The church stays in this elevated position throughout because one cannot question God’s teachings, without being condemned of conspiring with the devil or dealing in any other form of treachery. Everything in their society is seen in …show more content…
Many characters in the play have a fierce desire for power and control over others, but controlling power is like a venus fly trap, it might look appetizing, but as soon as you let yourself go it consumes you. Correspondingly, one person who craves power is Abigail Williams. She uses the court and the girls with her lies and threats in order get rid of Goody Proctor, so she can have her husband John Proctor all for herself who has committed adultery but wishes to forget that past. This is extremely similar to the “Scarlet Letter” as Hester has committed adultery. Chillingworth, and Abigail have different purposes, but in the end their plans completely and utterly backfire in a way they could never foresee. She does all of this with no regard for the pain that she inflicts on the accused, only to help herself. “I want to open myself!... I want the light of God I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him, I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss his hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil” (158)! This