The Power Of Language In The Crucible

Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, exposes a village falling victim to a shared horror that the spoken word of witchcraft brings about, masking itself in the citizens of the town. Reverend Hale, an expert in the knowledge of demonology, is asked upon to fish out the hiding place of the devil, and a court blanketed in justice looks to be placed to root out those corrupted of dealing with the devil. The Crucible takes place in a theocratic society, where the church and state find themselves considered the same, and where the sins and condition of one's soul resides as the business of the public. In the story things change between the ideas that the individual must be cleansed independently in order for the community, as one, to be perpetuated. When deciding whether individualism or society plays a more of role in the play you have to consider the power of language, the motives of the people, and moral dilemma.
Language became like a demonic force, after Abigail discovers her the power she has with her words, and she acts alone to control an entire community by accusing others of witchcraft. The influence of her words seduces the minds of the theocratic society, and through her perverted use of talk she holds power over the party of easily manipulated girls. It …show more content…
Abigail’s actions also lead to all means of communication between those accused and the society to be blocked. Language reached the point of being no help to anyone; those accused no longer had the chance to express their opinion fully, because the Puritans strongest fear exists in the defiance of God, and the accuser thought to always be holly. So Abigail’s accusations suggest to be directly seen as God's will. Thus, acting as an individual, she gains complete control over