The sole purpose of a court of law is to provide justice to exclusive disputes. Whenever there is a legal disagreement, the court is the one factor that intervenes into the problem to rectify unjust actions and make things fair. But alas, The Crucible by Arthur Miller tells readers otherwise. When a group of girls accuse citizens of witchcraft, the court decides whether these accusations are true. Given that witchcraft is fake, it seems the accused would come out innocent. Why then, do the judges, the supposed rectifiers and justice league, continue to affirm people guilty of such charges? Why then, do the judges not see the justice and honesty in Proctor, Nurse, and Corey’s evidence and unfairly conclude that they have failed to defend their
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To commence, the judges of the court instill fear into the citizens of Salem, prompting them to be careful of their actions to ensure they do not anger the court, which drastically ruins any hope of a successful defense. In other words, people become so afraid of the court because they feel if they go against them, they will be punished. In a critical commentary based on the play, it is revealed that Miller is enormously focused on the motivations and fears behind the proceedings. Miller focuses on “the tension that people experience between conscience and their predilection towards selfishness as well...as allowing the latter an upper hand” (Abbotson 2). Here, Abbotson points out that the characters selfishly protect themselves instead of doing what is morally right. Apparently, they do this because they are afraid of the danger they would put themselves through if they are to do what is morally right (challenge the court). For example, Giles Corey announces an honest man has told him how Putnam is having his daughter …show more content…
Again, the judges show no mercy towards any of the testifiers. In Marion Starkey’s book The Witch Trials in Massachusetts, he explains that “those accused of witchcraft were hounded by representatives of their community...until admitting their involvement, naming others involved in suspicious practices” (Galens 134). In other words, the accused have no way of being deemed innocent. They get yelled at continuously until they just break down, “admit” their diabolism, and accuse others as well. For instance, when Abigail accuses Mary Warren of summoning a cold wind and sending her spirit on her, the jury goes ballistic on her. Persuaded by Abigail’s pleads, Danforth continuously screams in Mary’s ear, “It seems you afflict others; where did you find this power?...You have seen the Devil, have you not?...You have seen the Devil, you have made compact with Lucifer...Do you confess this power!” (Miller 116-117). Finally, she decides to confess and yells to Proctor, “You’re the Devil’s man!” (118). This reveals how fear of the court persuades the jury that the accused are indeed witches because Mary’s fear ultimately ruins Proctor’s initial plan. Due to Mary’s fear of the court, she surrenders to them and blatantly throws Proctor under the bus in order to stop the court from yelling at her. And now that she accuses Proctor of being
To commence, the judges of the court instill fear into the citizens of Salem, prompting them to be careful of their actions to ensure they do not anger the court, which drastically ruins any hope of a successful defense. In other words, people become so afraid of the court because they feel if they go against them, they will be punished. In a critical commentary based on the play, it is revealed that Miller is enormously focused on the motivations and fears behind the proceedings. Miller focuses on “the tension that people experience between conscience and their predilection towards selfishness as well...as allowing the latter an upper hand” (Abbotson 2). Here, Abbotson points out that the characters selfishly protect themselves instead of doing what is morally right. Apparently, they do this because they are afraid of the danger they would put themselves through if they are to do what is morally right (challenge the court). For example, Giles Corey announces an honest man has told him how Putnam is having his daughter …show more content…
Again, the judges show no mercy towards any of the testifiers. In Marion Starkey’s book The Witch Trials in Massachusetts, he explains that “those accused of witchcraft were hounded by representatives of their community...until admitting their involvement, naming others involved in suspicious practices” (Galens 134). In other words, the accused have no way of being deemed innocent. They get yelled at continuously until they just break down, “admit” their diabolism, and accuse others as well. For instance, when Abigail accuses Mary Warren of summoning a cold wind and sending her spirit on her, the jury goes ballistic on her. Persuaded by Abigail’s pleads, Danforth continuously screams in Mary’s ear, “It seems you afflict others; where did you find this power?...You have seen the Devil, have you not?...You have seen the Devil, you have made compact with Lucifer...Do you confess this power!” (Miller 116-117). Finally, she decides to confess and yells to Proctor, “You’re the Devil’s man!” (118). This reveals how fear of the court persuades the jury that the accused are indeed witches because Mary’s fear ultimately ruins Proctor’s initial plan. Due to Mary’s fear of the court, she surrenders to them and blatantly throws Proctor under the bus in order to stop the court from yelling at her. And now that she accuses Proctor of being