In 2015 there have been many reoccurrences in the media of police brutality. What is one supposed to do other than be submissive to the higher authority? Is standing against their actions worth the consequences? This is questioned in, “The Crucible,” written in 1952 by play writ Arthur Miller regarding the Salem witch trials of 1692. Authority plays a big role in any society, whether it be religious leader, law enforcement or the government. Social pyramids give more authority to some and less to others in order to enforce the law with hope that everything can run smoothly, and everyone aims to work for the greater good of the community. But what happens when chaos ensues and people who hold the authoritative power become irrational?
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Ultimately, when authority is given to the wrong people, they decide to use their power for selfish, personal gains, and as a result, the citizens under their control suffer through the repercussions of their actions unless they fight against their injustice. What might be unintentional at the beginning, has the same after results than that of an intentional misuse of authority. In the beginning of the play, before the hysteria, Reverend Parris’s daughter Betty had gotten sick. Parris called in a “spiritual doctor,” Reverend Hale to take a look at his daughter. Hale is a witch-hunter coming from Beverley, ultimately wanting to extract the Devil out of Salem. In Act I he is quite naïve and confident. He is described as “a tight-skinned, eager-eyed intellectual.” He is just excited that he finally gets to put his expertise to use. He does not know what he is getting himself into by supporting the idea of witchcraft. This is what begins to start the hysteria. He arrives in Salem …show more content…
Proctor exposes Abigail for the fraud she is. She still lusts after him and will not stop until she gets what she wants no matter the cost. Her goal is to get rid of Goody Proctor so she can have John all to herself. She is then hurt when John tells her that it would never happen. If the witch trials did not exist, Abigail would not hold any kind of authority. She has this power because she created the hysteria. She longs for attention, of any kind, so by creating this illusion of mass hysteria she is able to control the people around her to do and think what she wants. She is the mastermind behind this scheme. The temporary authority that Abby has makes her able to control the situation, and her decisions are dominated by her emotions of vengeance, jealousy and lust. Authority figures who carelessly act on impulsive emotions like Abby, have intentions of only benefiting themselves, and are not concerned of the impact their decisions have on others. Abigail’s intent was to get rid of Goody Proctor so she could be with John, but she hurt many people along the way. Betty, her cousin for example. Abby threatened her not to tell what they drank in the woods that one night. Another person Abby manipulated was Mary Warren. Mary was the Proctor’s servant and she knew about Abby’s vengeance against Goody Proctor and she also knew about the affair. One day Mary brought home a poppet
Ultimately, when authority is given to the wrong people, they decide to use their power for selfish, personal gains, and as a result, the citizens under their control suffer through the repercussions of their actions unless they fight against their injustice. What might be unintentional at the beginning, has the same after results than that of an intentional misuse of authority. In the beginning of the play, before the hysteria, Reverend Parris’s daughter Betty had gotten sick. Parris called in a “spiritual doctor,” Reverend Hale to take a look at his daughter. Hale is a witch-hunter coming from Beverley, ultimately wanting to extract the Devil out of Salem. In Act I he is quite naïve and confident. He is described as “a tight-skinned, eager-eyed intellectual.” He is just excited that he finally gets to put his expertise to use. He does not know what he is getting himself into by supporting the idea of witchcraft. This is what begins to start the hysteria. He arrives in Salem …show more content…
Proctor exposes Abigail for the fraud she is. She still lusts after him and will not stop until she gets what she wants no matter the cost. Her goal is to get rid of Goody Proctor so she can have John all to herself. She is then hurt when John tells her that it would never happen. If the witch trials did not exist, Abigail would not hold any kind of authority. She has this power because she created the hysteria. She longs for attention, of any kind, so by creating this illusion of mass hysteria she is able to control the people around her to do and think what she wants. She is the mastermind behind this scheme. The temporary authority that Abby has makes her able to control the situation, and her decisions are dominated by her emotions of vengeance, jealousy and lust. Authority figures who carelessly act on impulsive emotions like Abby, have intentions of only benefiting themselves, and are not concerned of the impact their decisions have on others. Abigail’s intent was to get rid of Goody Proctor so she could be with John, but she hurt many people along the way. Betty, her cousin for example. Abby threatened her not to tell what they drank in the woods that one night. Another person Abby manipulated was Mary Warren. Mary was the Proctor’s servant and she knew about Abby’s vengeance against Goody Proctor and she also knew about the affair. One day Mary brought home a poppet