Human Nature in Sebastian Faulks' Birdsong and Arthur Miller's The Crucible

Human Nature in Sebastian Faulks' Birdsong and Arthur Miller's The Crucible

Both The Crucible, a play written by Arthur Miller, and the novel,

Birdsong, by Sebastian Faulks, are pieces of literature based around

historical events. Miller's play is set during the Salem Witch trials

of 1692 and Birdsong concentrates primarily on characters involved in

the First World War which took place from 1914 to 1918. Both of these

periods in history are examples of times when human beings have

displayed the darker side to their nature: the capacity to kill. Both

Faulks and Miller have attempted to explore the reasons behind their

character's actions along with the mechanisms and strong emotions

within humans that make ordinary people capable of committing

atrocities. However, the authors also highlight the positive aspects

of human nature, the great love, courage and loyalty which manages to

emerge unscathed out of the most horrific circumstances.

As I have already mentioned both The Crucible and Birdsong explore

man's capacity to kill other human beings. The two pieces, however,

approach this subject in very different ways. Arthur Miller's play,

set during the Salem Witch hunt, concentrates on the various emotions,

such as fear, greed and revenge, driving individuals to accuse their

friends and neighbours of witchcraft. Birdsong, on the other hand,

depicts a much larger conflict and focuses more on the ability of the

soldiers to withstand the horrors that they are witnessing and

committing everyday.

In his play, The Crucible, Arthur Miller illustrates a great number of

human emotions and tensions within the Salem community which, when

combined, result in the execution of many people on the grounds that

they are...

... middle of paper ...

...he dangers of forgetting

the past. Elizabeth's life seems so tranquil compared to that of

Stephen Wraysford but the fact that the Second World War followed so

shortly after the First demonstrates how easy it is for mankind to

repeat the errors of the past. Equipped with this knowledge the reader

realises that even Elizabeth's comfortable, peaceful lifestyle is

vulnerable and at risk.

The Crucible and Birdsong, in their different ways, both highlight the

complexity of human nature where love, loyalty and honesty co-exist

with hatred, fear and suspicion. This means that even in times of

conflict and slaughter people display the ability to love, trust and

make sacrifices. However the greatest flaw in mankind's makeup is the

ability to forget the horrors of the past, therefore allowing the

continual repetition throughout history of the same, fatal mistakes.