Ameliorate Society In The Crucible, By Arthur Miller

“The decline of certain virtues and morals intrinsic to mankind can be considered, in a sense, insignificant and disposable in the course of natural human interactions and events.” Individuals who adopt this theory as their guiding doctrine for their decisions often face justice for their inappropriate and morally unacceptable conduct. The entity that is responsible for enforcing such pre-established regulations that punish wrongdoers is entrusted by the people to correctly execute their role as an icon of authority. These people relinquished certain liberties so that they might ameliorate society in a manner that protects its citizens from others infringing upon their natural rights and prudently defined satisfaction. When such a power violates

their restrictive authority, permits itself to be exploited and/or ignores proper boundary of enforcement, such a society experiences rapid and severe decline in both morality and rationality. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, the accounts of the egregious exploitations of justice and depraved scandals involved in the deplorable Massachusetts murders (“Hang them high over the town!” (Page 144)) boldly proclaim certain ideals and principles that indisputably should not be present in a properly governed society.

Miller provides incontestable corroboration that promotes the importance of preserving a non-theocratic judicial system and non-authoritarian society. Arthur Miller’s exigence was likely to establish that a theocratic court is incapable of achieving appropriate justice, is susceptible to profligate exploitation and is weak due to its lack of contemporary due process of law. Miller proved that a theocracy is a mediocre and faulty form of government, due process is integral to the health of a “free” nation, and that exploitation of authority is capable of utterly degrading a society’s sense of

happiness.
The Salem Massachusetts witch trials were not merely exploitations of law, but murders impelled by principles of avarice and lust. Thomas Putnam, for instance, was presented as a vindictive man, driven by his vengeful disposition and almost cynical attitude toward his neighbors. Miller himself provides a detailed description of Thomas Putnam in an excerpt: “[Putnam’s] vindictive nature was demonstrated long before the witchcraft began.” (Page 14). Additionally, later in the play, Giles Corey accuses Putnam of bearing false witness against someone else for the purpose of attaining desired land property: “[Putnam] is killing his neighbors for their land!” (Page 96). (Corey’s allegation was later dismissed). It is quite intriguing that Corey utilizes the word “killing” in his accusation against Thomas Putnam. When a near arbitrary judiciary system is convinced that an individual is guilty of a crime without a proper course of rational judgement, any society will inevitably be robbed of its precious sense of justice, liberty and humanity. As in The Crucible, a society will begin to decay from its propagation of inhumanity and perfidy. Depraved people begin to disregard humanity and immorally seize others’ rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” while spitting on the face of justice and order. People like citizens of Salem in 1692 begin to barely subsist rather than thrive in fellowship and sensual security.
The Crucible, presents multiple characters who exploited and experienced the delusion of rampant witchcraft and the stupidity of their local government officials.

Abigail Williams was perhaps the pinnacle of atrocity in the play. After primarily disregarding the authoritarian, although quite strict, propriety of then modern puritan culture by “dancing like heathen” (Page 10), deceiving her uncle (and the judges), and inhumanely using Tituba as a scapegoat for her own wrongdoing when Tituba could have potentially been hanged, Abigail continued to serially advocate the prosecution of many innocent individuals including her opponent, Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail’s contempt for Proctor’s wife was made prominent in this part: “ABIGAIL, with a bitter anger: Oh, I marvel how such a strong man may let such a sickly wife be-” (Page 23). The fact that “Abby”, along with other children, was installed as an “official of the court” (Page 59) highlights the weakness of a theocratic court system. Theocracy grants and defines legal and social power based principally upon piety and religious value, which frankly is a transient and pathetic structure of authority. Consequently, when the Salem witch delusion was active, the power of theocracy was granted primarily to the “victims” of bewitchment (Abigail Williams, Mary Warren, etc.), who, due to their “religious value”, were treated like court magistrates. This provided Abigail Williams with an exceptional and rare opportunity to exploit the

foolish theocracy and rid herself of her enemy. This is one of the rare periods in history where people can indisputably state that justice was not served; rather, it was mocked, avoided, and butchered. The court’s power was made arbitrary and was disrespected under the control of young, deceitful and whimsical children. The imposed theocracy upon American citizens is perhaps the greatest flaw in American history.
The Crucible is quite a fascinating story of human nature in the fact that it defined humanity at its most natural condition. When a society abandons its code of inherent virtues and certain dogmatic principles, which were sanctioned by humanity to protect itself from inequitable treatment and decay, it inevitably begins to rot until it diminishes into an abject, abased, and repugnant community of thieves, adulterers. murderers, liars and bearers of false witness. A community that enjoys excessive liberty and negligible restrictions will begin to naturally trespass humanity’s sense of propriety and righteousness. Therefore, it is no surprise that such a strict and puritan society as Salem’s was overwhelmed by depravity, irrationality, and abuse of power when their fundamental principles of religion and stringent morality were dispelled and disposed of. Furthermore, when a single entity is granted superior power and profound authority (with little to no limitations) over a society, he will abuse his power without hesitation. The Crucible was placed in a period of time where regulation or moderation of smaller district governments (constituted by the central government) was frankly undeveloped. Henceforth, few regulations enjoined by superior authority were acknowledged in small areas like Salem, Massachusetts. Danforth proclaims “And do you know that near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature?... And seventy-two condemned to hang by that signature?” (Page 87). Danforth, apparently, derived pride and a sense of condescension from condemnation and punishment. Deputy Governor Danforth was entrusted by the people of Massachusetts (and higher authority) to manage the Salem witch delusion with prudence and rationality. He, rather, handled the peculiar predicament with profound abuse of power, although such a popular and experienced judge was expected to expunge the rampant hysteria. Francis Nurse highlights this concept: “Excellency, I never thought to say it to such a weighty judge, but you are deceived.” (Page 87). Afterward, the deputy governor’s incompetence and stupidity was manifested in his judgements and condemnations. Vacuous Danforth replies to Abigail’s expression of “hurt” feelings: “weakening: Child, I do not mistrust you-” (Page 108). Subsequently, Danforth’s stupidity and “weakness” resulted in the horrific death of more than 20