Major Themes In The Crucible

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Themes in The Crucible
The play, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller is a historical play, but more importantly a social and psychological drama. The various ways the themes are developed through the play, are through characters, plot, setting and dialogue. The main themes are; deceit, justice and hysteria. These themes helped the readers to understand how innocent people were accused in the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism. It also portrayed how they were so terrified at that time and how one person would lie for their own good.
One of the main themes in the play is deceit. Most of the characters in The Crucible are lying either to other people, or to themselves. Abigail lies about her ability to see spirits, as do the other girls. Proctor is deceitful first for cheating on his wife and then for hiding it. The judge and lieutenant governor and ministers lies to themselves and everybody else in saying that they serve the cause of God’s justice. In the end, Hale could tell why people were lying because he saw that Elizabeth lied to save Proctor, when Proctor confessed. The twist in the story is that by telling the truth, “I am not a witch”, you die. However, you also gain your freedom, if you retain your standing with God, and you …show more content…

For example, Tituba lied that she was a witch so that she doesn’t get hanged. However, people were mostly looking out for Abby, because the court thought she was a witch so the judges commanded her to tell them about the other witches. Therefore, she could accuse anyone since the court would believe her, and this is how Abby took the chance to get Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail wanted Elizabeth dead because she still had feelings for Proctor. That’s why Proctor was afraid to lose his wife, so he ended up confessing that he committed adultery with Abigail. In the end, Elizabeth survived but Proctor

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