Similarities Between The Crucible And To Kill A Mockingbird

Nelle Harper Lee, also known as Harper Lee was an American Novelist Pulitzer prize winning author who wrote the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960. Lee, following in her father's footsteps by studying law but then decided she wanted to be an author. She used many experiences from her childhood, growing up in Monroe, Alabama, which included many Civil Rights influences. The Crucible is play written by Arthur Miller in 1953 about the events surrounding the Salem witch trials. Miller was an American screenwriter who liked to bring in the significances of politics into his writings and like Lee, was a Pulitzer prize winner. Miller started out as a journalist and later turned toward a career in playwriting. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird

and the play The Crucible the themes of appearance versus reality, loyalty and justice are communicated throughout.
To Kill A Mockingbird is about a young girl, Scout, living in the deep south with her father Atticus and brother Jem. The biggest thing Scout thought could happen was Arthur Radley coming out of his house, and what adventures Jem, Dill and her would go on in the summer, but later she realizes that is just a small thing compared to what she will encounter. Atticus is given the case of Tom Robinson, who is accused of beating and raping Mayella Ewell. Scout did not think much about the case until people started calling her father names which she countered by fighting. Aunt Alexandra did not like the way Scout was being raised. She believed that she could make a respectable woman out of Scout, but that proved to be harder than she thought. The night before the trial a lynch mob came for Robinson, but Atticus stood his ground and Scout scared them off. At the trial, Robinson was found guilty and sent to an out of town jail. Bob Ewell, Mayella Ewell’s father, did not get the attention he wanted from the trial and started acting stranger than usual. On their way home from the pageant Scout and Jem are attacked by Mr. Ewell. Jem ends up breaking his elbow and Mr. Ewell is found dead. Arthur “Boo” Radley is the one who saves Scout and Jem that night and Scout finally gets to meet the man behind the closed door.
In The Crucible Salem, Massachusetts is swarmed with rumors of witchcraft, and witchcraft expert Reverend John Hale is called in. Reverend Hale comes after Reverend Parris finds his daughter, Betty, his niece, Abigail, and other girls from the village dancing in the woods. Reverend Parris’ daughter and another girl fall ill after that night's event, causing the rumor of witchcraft to sweep through the village. John Proctor comes to the house of Reverend Parris to see for himself the witchcraft. There we learn that John Proctor and Abigail had an affair which was found out by John’s wife, Elizabeth. A week later the Proctor’s house maid, Mary Warren, brings a doll for Goody Proctor that she made in court. The doll has a needle pushed through the stomach, which Abigail would use as a ploy to get Elizabeth tried for witchcraft. In court, John defends his wife against everything, but when he outs his adultery to the court and Elizabeth is questioned about the affair, she speaks nothing of it, causing doubt in the court toward John. John is sentenced to hang after Abigail and the other girls and Mary Warren accuses him of casting the devil upon them all. The morning John is to be hanged, Reverend Hale pleads for his confession. He also gets Elizabeth to try to talk to him. John wants his life so he must sign the devil’s book instead of hanging. He is asked to tell the court about the others who he saw walking with the devil, but he will not sell them out. The court finds John guilty. Because he will not sign the book and sell out his friends, so he hangs, a “free” man.
Appearance vs. Reality, in TKAMB
The theme of appearance versus reality in To Kill a Mockingbird is shown when Scout and Jem realize their father has more to him than just what they see. Atticus was a different person before becoming a lawyer “‘. . . Atticus Finch was the deadest shot in Maycomb County in his time’” (Lee 112). When Miss Maudie tells Scout and Jem that Atticus used to be the best shot, neither of them can believe it. Their father, probably the most level headed and humble person they have ever known had hidden part of his past “Nevertheless, he refuses to use his background as an excuse to hold himself above others and instead is a model of tolerance and understanding” (“To Kill a Mockingbird”). To Scout and Jem, their father seems like an old boring man who always leads by example but in reality he had lived and breathed a whole different life before he had children.
Appearance vs. Reality, TKAMB
Tom Robinson is another character in To Kill a Mockingbird who fits in with the theme of appearance versus reality.

At first, Scout believes that Tom Robinson could have raped Mayella Ewells but as she gets to know more about Tom and learns the thoughts of the people around her, she begins to question the case. During the trial, when Tom Robinson is on the stand, Scout could tell that Tom would never have hurt Ewell. There were also many facts making him innocent, but with Mayella's word against his not much could be done. “Tom Robinson was probably the only person who was ever decent to her. But she said he took advantage of her, and when she stood up she looked at him as if he were dirt beneath her feet” (Lee 218). Tom Robinson always helped Mayella Ewell with her chores when he found out that no one else helped the lonely girl. When her father finds out about her trying to seduce the African American, he becomes violent “Despite her situation, she loses the reader’s sympathy when she repays Tom’s kindness with open contempt and a lie that costs him his life” (“To Kill a Mockingbird”). Tom Robinson looks guilty to the racist south just because of the color of his skin. The jury and the Ewells should feel the guilt of leading an innocent man to his

death.
Appearance vs. Reality, TC
The theme of appearance versus reality in The Crucible is seen through the court. The court is hanging anyone who is accused of being a witch and not confessing. When Marshall Hennrick is sent to collect 91 women whose names were mentioned in court, Reverend Hale sees that the court is going out of control “‘I have seen too many frightful proofs in court-the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points’” (Miller 71)! Deputy Governor Danforth, being in charge of the court, has the option to pardon the accused from hanging. Even with evidence pointing toward innocence “He argues that it would reflect badly on the court if he released prisoners after executing a number of people accused of the same crimes-regardless of their innocence” (“The Crucible”) Danforth does not want people to think badly about him, and if people are set free he believes the town would not want him in charge anymore.
Appearance vs. Reality, TC
Appearance versus reality is a clear theme in The Crucible through Abigail. At the start of the play Abigail just seems like a young girl who got caught doing something she wasn't supposed to do. But soon we learn of John Proctor and Abigail's affair, giving us a different view of her “. . . a strikingly beautiful girl, an orphan, with an endless capacity for dissembling” (Miller 8-9). Abigail is good at hiding her true motives. When she comes up with a plan to get all of the girls who were with her in the woods to help her blame other people. Abigail accuses Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft so she may have the chance of marrying John Proctor. She sets up a plan using a poppet to make evidence to the claim, but she never expects Mary Warren to go against her. Because John Proctor asks her to appear in court to help set Elizabeth Proctor free, Mary Warren was at the trial, but being easily intimidated “She becomes hysterical before the court, however, and soon joins Abigail in pretending that there is evil witchcraft at work” (“The Crucible”). Abigail uses her influence over others to get them to go along with her ideas.
Loyalty TKMB Atticus and Jem Family
Loyalty is a key theme in To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout and Jem are prime examples. Scout and Jem have great loyalty to their family and friends. When some of the townspeople start talking badly about Atticus, Scout and Jem take things differently. Both of them try and stay calm like Atticus told them to but they have their breaking points. Jem loses his cool because of Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose “When Jem wrecks her garden in retaliation for a nasty remark about his father, Atticus . . .” (“To Kill a Mockingbird”). Scout, being the tomboy she is, punches her cousin Francis for speaking badly about Atticus even if she did not know what it meant “A nigger-lover. I ain’t very sure what it means, but the way Francis said it-tell you one thing right now, Uncle Jack, I’ll be-I swear before God if I’ll sit there and let him say somethin’ about Atticus” (Lee 98). Both Scout and Jem get in trouble for defending their father but they would do it all over again.
Loyalty TKMB
Atticus’ loyalty to Tom Robinson is a key theme in To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus was not supposed to have the Tom Robinson case. A younger and less experienced lawyer was the original defender, but the court chooses Attius. Many threats and digs are made at Atticus for defending Robinson “. . . when Atticus is appointed the defense attorney for Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman, the town disapproves because he aims to do the best job he can” (“To Kill a Mockingbird”). Atticus did not care that Tom was black, he just wanted to save him from being wrongfully accused “There is not a person in this courtroom who has never told a lie, who has never done an immoral thing . . .” (Lee 232). Atticus knew he wouldn loses this cases but he took it anyway to defend an innocent man.
Loyalty TC
Loyalty is a key theme in The Crucible and is evident, through John and Elizabeth Proctor. After Elizabeth finds out about John and Abigail's affair, she is angry and loses the trust between her husband. John knows he betrayed his wife and wants to try to gain her trust again. Before he gets a chance to fully get her trust back Elizabeth is accused of witchcraft and put in jail. In court, John aims to protect his wife and prove her innocence but to do so he must expose his sin. He tells the court of his affair with Abigail. The court asks for Elizabeth to be brought out to testify to the affair and ask John of her character “‘In her life, sir, she have never lied. There are them that cannot sing, and them that cannot weep-my wife cannot lie’” (Miller 111). Although when Elizabeth is brought out to be questioned, she denies it “Her loyalty to John is most clearly demonstrated when, thinking to protect him, she denies that he has committed adultery” (“The Crucible”) Both John and Elizabeth had great loyalty toward one another that neither of them really acknowledged until it was too late.
Loyalty TC
Giles Corey is another character in The Crucible that illustrates the theme of loyalty. Giles Corey is hot-tempered man but honorable nonetheless. He is a very curious man, wanting to know all about the happenings in town and in his own home. He tells Reverend Hale about his wife reading books and that he is not able to pray while she reads those books. Giles did not think his wife was a witch but it backfired on him. His wife is charged with witchcraft so Giles finds a man who can prove her innocence but the court wants a name “‘I will not give you no name. I mentioned my wife’s name once and I’ll burn in hell long enough for that. I stand mute’” (Miller 97). With his refusal to give a name Giles is tried as a witch and is pressed “His refusal to cooperate and his disdain for the trials is illustrated in his last words before he dies beneath the stone: ‘More weight’” (“The Crucible”)
Justice TKAMB
The legal system is not always fair and in To Kill a Mockingbird we see how the theme of justice is portrayed. Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white woman and because a white man's word is better than all of the evidence that Atticus has, Tom Robinson was found guilty. Atticus knows the court will lean toward the white man “‘We know all men are not created equal in the sense some people would have us believe. . . A court is only as sound as its jury, and a jury is only as sound as the men who make it up’” (Lee 233). The Tom Robinson court case lasts longer than other African American cases. Atticus knows they do not have a real chance of Robinson going free because the jury will vote for the white man and stick with the statuesque “. . .the members of the jury who convict an innocent man of rape because of his race” (“To Kill a Mockingbird”).
Justice TKMB
In To Kill a Mockingbird there cannot be justice without the injustices.

Atticus wants justice in town but he cannot always get it. In Scout’s school, the views of her classmates’ parents rubs off on them “She naturally questions the injustices she sees instead of accepting them as ‘the way things are’” (“To Kill a Mockingbird”). Scout is told by her teacher, Miss Caroline, that she should not be letting Atticus teach her how to read “‘You tell him I’ll take over from here and try to undo the damage-’” (Lee 19). Even though Scout did not technically learn to read from her father, Miss Caroline does not believe it and does not agree with the teaching

methods.
Justice TC
Justice is a major theme in The Crucible. It is evident when John Proctor confesses to the court of his affair with Abigail. Abigail and the other girls are considered by the court as witnesses to seeing the accused walking with the devil. They go as far as to scream in unison and point blame at all who accuse them of lying. John Proctor cannot stand it and tells the court of the affair “‘But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it; I set myself entirely in your hands’” (Miller 110). John Proctor knows his name will be ruined but he also knows it will cause doubt that Abigail and the other girls are telling the truth. What the court fails to see is that Abigail has always been the leader. “Her accusation initially reveal a mischievous enjoyment in wielding power over people’s lives” (“The Crucible”).
Justice TC
In The Crucible the theme of Justice is also shown through the reputation of the residents of Salem. Reverend Parris is more concerned with his reputation in Salem “He is concerned with appearances, and, when interrogating Abigail about her dealings with witches in the opening scene, he seems to worry more about what these activities will mean to his reputation than Abigail’ spiritual state” (“The Crucible”). Reverend Parris goes from his daughter’s ill side to go and dial down the talk of witchcraft inside his house. When Abigail's name is spoiled in town because of Elizabeth, people question Abigail's credibility “‘My name is good in this village! I will not have it said my name is soiled! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar’” (Miller 12)!

In To Kill a Mockingbird and The Crucible, both Lee and Miller illustrate the themes of appearance versus reality, loyalty and justice. In Lee’s novel we saw Scout navigating the changing world in her small town. In Miller’s play we saw the hysteria surrounding the witch trials, and the effect on the townspeople.