Power Struggle In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

The Thrust of a Crucible

A crucible is a severe test or trial; at one point in their lives everyone is going to be faced with a crucible. When this severe test comes people are often put under a lot of pressure and do unexpected things. During the 1690's many people were put under a test when they were accused of witchcraft and put on trial for it. The test that some people had to undergo can be demonstrated in, The Crucible by Arthur Miller. The characters Paris, Hale and Proctor were all put under pressure and revealed their true colors when they acted under the stress of the situation; Parris entered a power struggle, Proctor stood up for what was right, and Hale’s actions turned into regret.

Reverend Parris, a minister in Salem, went

from being self righteous to being power hungry and going on a huge power trip. At the beginning of the book he had to undergo a huge test when he discovered his daughter, Betty Parris, dancing in the woods in seemingly witchcraft like circumstances, however even though she was toiling with the devil he seemed to be only concerned about the family name, “Abigail, I have fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me, and now, just now when some good respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my very character.

I have given you a home, child. I have put clothes upon your back—now give me an upright answer. Your name in the town—it is entirely white, is it not?” This shows that early on in the play the Reverend thought highly of himself and saw himself as ‘white’ and the worst thing in his mind was anyone thinking anything different than that. He wanted to be the best and keep his family name clean above all else. However later in the book, due to all of the stress of the witch trials, Parris wasn’t so much concerned about himself than he was about others, he began to try and tell other people what to do as well by

going on a power trip and threatening people, “You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba.” This quote shows how little Parris valued life that he deemed unrighteous and it demonstrates just how much power he felt that he needed to have over others. He threatened to whip Tituba to death almost as if the fact that she was a human being meant nothing to him, all that mattered to him was that he had the power over her. Parris was originally worried about what people thought of his name, but due to the crucible he faced, the self righteousness escalated to him showing ruthless power over others and ironically he ended up associating his name with unrighteous things.
Although Proctor was ashamed of the sin he had committed and didn’t want to be labelled as a letcher, under the pressure of the court, he confessed his sin, “ “On the last night of my joy, some eight months past.

She used to serve me in my house, sir. A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I beg you, sir, I beg you—see her what she is. My wife, my dear good wife, took this girl soon after, sir, and put her out on the highroad. And being what she is, a lump of vanity, sir— Excellency, forgive me, forgive me. She thinks to dance with me on my wife's grave! … God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore's vengeance, and you must see it now” (3. ). The fact that Proctor came clean when it really came down to it speaks volumes about his character; he chose to try to save his wife instead of saving himself. He sacrificed his good name to save his wife’s name instead. He then goes on to try and show the court the wickedness of what they are doing, “A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud—God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!” (Miller 596-601). This quote shows that Proctor is no longer afraid to see things how they are and take responsibility for the things he is

doing wrong. He finally realized that his “name” is going to mean nothing in the eyes of God if he doesn’t start changing for the better, and that’s exactly what he does. When Proctor was put under the pressure of the decision to save his wife or save his image he overcame selfishness and confessed his wrongdoing.
Hale, like most of the characters who were caught up in the hype of the witch trials, was quick to make accusations on anyone and everyone, but the guilt eventually caught up to him in the end. Hale was convinced that the devil was at work and he wasn’t afraid to make accusations about it, he can be quoted saying, “You have sent your spirit out upon this child, have you not? Are you gathering souls for the Devil?” Even though these are both questions, he’s not interested in what the person has as an answer unless they are confessing to working with the devil. Both of these questions were an attack and really only leaves the person with two options: die, or confess. Allot of people chose to die and Hale was the one who signed those death warrants, and due to the hectic nature of the witch trials and lack of substantial evidence, he finally addressed the court, “Excellency, I have signed seventy-two death warrants; I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it.” This is the turning point for Hale, he realizes the severity of the situation and realizes that he is responsible for the death of seventy-two people who may or may not have actually been guilty. The guilt of seventy-two people’s lives on your conscience is enough to make anyone snap and that’s exactly what happened to Hale. He was too engaged in the culture of the village and got carried away with the signing of the death warrants, and as a result it showed in his guilty conscience.
Parris, Proctor and Hale are just like everybody else, when put under the stress of a severe test or trial each man revealed their true colors and the nature of their character. Parris and Hale both got carried away with the power they gained from the witch trials, but in the end both lived with the consequences that ultimately led to humility; Proctor eventually realized the priorities in his life and started to do everything for the woman he loved, his wife. The lesson learned in the crucible is an important lesson that should be taught to everyone: controlling your actions in stressful situations will ultimately determine your character. Everyone acts differently under the pressures of certain situations, however if they are going to become a better person due to the crucible they face is ultimately up to them.