Compare And Contrast The Characters In The Crucible

The Crucible (1996) is based upon the witchcraft trials in Salem, Massachusetts in the early 1690s. The movie begins with a group of girls and one African woman, practicing a mystical ritual in a secluded forest clearing. Swept up in the moment, many of the girls begin dancing—a taboo in Puritan society—causing the scene to look even worse. The village’s minister stumbles upon the group, causing them to flee, except for the minister’s daughter who seems to be paralyzed. She later appears to be in an unbreakable coma, which causes the town to begin whispering of supernatural causes. A demonic specialist is called from a neighboring town, and is asked to fix the problem. We later learn about Abigail—the ringleader o f the group of girls—and

Sarah Good was a poor woman who inherited her late husband’s debts and was forced to sell her home and dowry to pay them. She was forced to become a beggar, became resentful, and often muttered under her breath. This is exactly how she is shown in The Crucible. Her first scene emphasizes her begging and her mutterings later come back during her court case where they are perceived as evil curses. Likewise, Martha Corey was the upstanding wife of Giles Corey. She, when accused laughed at the accusation and reminded everyone that she was a model gospel woman. This is nearly verbatim what she does in the film. Her husband, Giles, has a more complex story. When he himself was accused, he refused to plead guilty or not-guilty, thereby halting the court proceedings. Had he pleaded either way, he would have had his land taken from his family, leaving his now motherless children with nothing. So he remained silent. At the time, it was protocol to press those who refused to give a plea. Pressing is the act of laying heavy stones on one’s body, continually increasing the weight with more rocks until the pressed victim gives a plea, or dies. Corey succumbed to the latter, defiantly refusing to bend to the whims of the court