Power, whether within nature or society, determines one’s possibility of life and death. Geraldine Brooks novel Year of Wonders and Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible similarly explore how in times of crisis, it is those that do not withhold power over others that are deemed to suffer. Both texts reference fear as a driving force for desperation and replicate images of shepparding to emphasise conformity. Those that practice unethical and superstitious trades such as Brooks, Gowdie women, and Miller’s, Tituba, that are left to reap the town’s uncertainty and undeniable wrath as they are viewed as simple scapegoats. Determination and desire for power, as displayed by Abigail Williams, contrasts that of the unworldly and curious Anna Frith, as
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Meme and Anys Gowdie, both single and eligible women, are Eyam’s resident herbal masters, and witch suspects. Defying the town’s expectations of women in society, both are killed whilst innocent as a result of majority cowardice and pride. Viewed as easy scapegoats, it is not until their death that the masses establish nature’s power and the uncertainty on which their lives now lived. Similarly, house salve Tituba is accused of supernatural practices and the “[ability] to speak to the dead” makes her eligible to be deemed as a witch. Unlike the Gowdie women, Tituba is an uneducated woman who abides by society’s expectations, from her lack of knowledge and understanding of crisis. She too, defies society’s views of women, and yet lives as a result of her friendship with mastermind Abigail Williams. Friendships and loyalties are, proven in both texts, to play a key role in the distinguishing of life and death among those who, to an extent, choose to be a …show more content…
Demonstrated by symbolic references to Shepparding, those who strive for the control of power become entices and isolated, as the uncertainty of death encompasses the masses fears. The Gowdie women and Tituba both succumb to society’s demand for clarity and are deemed easy scapegoats from townspeople who desperately search for answers. Both Anna Frith and Abigail Williams are the epitome of independent women, however to an extent lose sight of their own morals at the price of answers and
Meme and Anys Gowdie, both single and eligible women, are Eyam’s resident herbal masters, and witch suspects. Defying the town’s expectations of women in society, both are killed whilst innocent as a result of majority cowardice and pride. Viewed as easy scapegoats, it is not until their death that the masses establish nature’s power and the uncertainty on which their lives now lived. Similarly, house salve Tituba is accused of supernatural practices and the “[ability] to speak to the dead” makes her eligible to be deemed as a witch. Unlike the Gowdie women, Tituba is an uneducated woman who abides by society’s expectations, from her lack of knowledge and understanding of crisis. She too, defies society’s views of women, and yet lives as a result of her friendship with mastermind Abigail Williams. Friendships and loyalties are, proven in both texts, to play a key role in the distinguishing of life and death among those who, to an extent, choose to be a …show more content…
Demonstrated by symbolic references to Shepparding, those who strive for the control of power become entices and isolated, as the uncertainty of death encompasses the masses fears. The Gowdie women and Tituba both succumb to society’s demand for clarity and are deemed easy scapegoats from townspeople who desperately search for answers. Both Anna Frith and Abigail Williams are the epitome of independent women, however to an extent lose sight of their own morals at the price of answers and