Crucible Essay

Grace Martinez

The Crucible

            The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, depicts a fictional view on the Salem Witch Trials through the eyes of the villagers who endured them. The Witch Trials were driven by power, religion, and reputation in the colonial society of Salem. Shifts in power, driven by their strong religious beliefs, were responsible for the beginning of the Witch Trials. The power in Salem shifted from those with true authority, to one person who was easily able to lead those who had lost their common sense. The villager’s strong religious beliefs kept their certainty in witches and witch hunts from dying out, while also at the expense of innocent lives. All that was needed to save the life of one who was charged was a confession and a promise to return to god. And while most who were innocent and charged did so, some decided not to blacken their name because they knew a confession to witchcraft would be a lie. While under the influence of greed over power, religion, and reputation those most responsible for the Salem Witch Trials were Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Mary Warren.

            With the loss of true authority in Salem came the loss of common sense, Abigail Williams used this as an advantage to gain power in Salem’s society. Using threats of violence or the threats of the wrath of god, Abigail was able to gain all power in Salem. Abigail directly influenced the Witch Trials by being the main accuser of witches. Her main motivation behind her accusations was the revenge on Elizabeth Proctor, who had kicked her out after suspecting her and John’s affair. After being caught actually performing witchcraft with Tituba and Ruth Putnum, Abigail immediately jumps into action, rallying all of her friends to support her in what would be a major shift in power. By initially accusing the lowest class citizens in society Abby was able to gain power, and trust, from the adults around her. Her gain in power is what was leading up to her accusation of Elizabeth Proctor, who she accused so that she could be with John after they executed her. Abigail cut herself, performed elaborate attacks from spirits, and stuck needles in herself to continue the ruse that was the reality of witches in Salem. “…stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out. And demandin’ of her how she come to be so stabbed, she-to proctor now-testify it were your wife’s familiar spirit pushed it in” (Miller 74).  Abigail was directly responsible for the Salem Witch Trials by being the main accuser, going to great lengths to pretend that she was being attacked by spirits, and by hurting herself all so that she could be with John Proctor.

            While Abigail initiated the Witch Trials to gain the love of John, John Proctor led Abigail on to believe that there was hope for their relationship. “Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time” (Miller 23). Abigail’s hope was a main factor to the continuance of the Witch Trials. John was the entire reason Abigail began her accusations in the first place. Their affair led her to believe that she loved him, and although he didn’t, she continued to accuse people to get him back. While innocent people were being accused, and even killed, John never once lifted a finger. Not until after his wife was accused by Abigail did he decide to confess their affair to save his wife.  John knows that the only way to diminish Abigail’s power is by blackening her name and ruining her reputation, but by doing so he knows that he will blacken his name as well. “I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name” (Miller 110).  John finds himself at odds with an inner conflict over losing his reputation or his wife. He finally confesses his adultery only to have his wife protect his good name. John Proctor was responsible for the Salem Witch Trials through his affair with Abigail and leading her on until the loss of innocent lives and the accusation of his wife drove him into action against it.

            Mary Warren is the last of the main characters that were responsible for the Salem Witch Trials. From the very beginning Mary had been one of Abigail’s followers who bid everything that she told them to do so that they could charge innocent people. By being considerably unintelligent it must have been easy for Mary to be pulled into Abigail’s influence. She helped Abigail accuse those who she knew were innocent, and performed elaborate ruses to stabilize the belief in the affect of witches. And after Proctor made her testify against Abigail, she fell through, because she was then being tormented by those who she thought was her friends. “PROCTOR,… you will tell the court what you know. … MARY WARREN, I cannot, they’ll turn on me” (Miller 80). Mary’s lack of leadership and willingness to stand up for what was right, made her responsible for the death of innocent people. After jumping back to Abigail’s side she immediately blamed John of witchcraft, to get back on the good side of her leader. Because Mary was unintelligent, a follower, and someone who couldn’t stand up for herself she became responsible for the Salem Witch Trials by falling through when she had a chance to stop them.

            The Witch Trials in The Crucible were driven by power, religion, and reputation in Salem. The power in Salem shifted from those with true authority, to Abigail Williams who was easily able to lead Mary Warren and others like her who had lost their common sense. The community’s strong religious beliefs and Abigail’s ruses that backed up their beliefs kept their certainty in witches and witch hunts from dying out.  Many innocent people lost their lives because of Abigail and Mary as well as John Proctor, who, if had acted sooner, may have prevented the Witch Trials from going as far as they did. While under the influence of greed over power, religion, and reputation those most responsible for the Salem Witch Trials were Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Mary Warren.