The Crucible Super Ego Analysis

According to the Freudian model of the psyche, psychoanalysis is a systematic structure of theories concerning the relation of the conscious mind and the unconscious mind by examining psychological process such as impulses, anxieties and internal conflicts. CITE This model consists of three subcategories: the id, the ego, and the super-ego, all of which are evident in Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible. The id focuses on a person’s desires without any correlation to the conscience, much like that of Abigail William’s appetence for John Proctor. The ego identifies the part of a person’s personality responsible for dealing with reality, such as John coming to the realization that he must maintain his integrity. The super-ego represents a

repository of socially accepted behavior and a sense of guilt, which Elizabeth Proctor illustrates with her strict adherence to justice and moral principles. As the Salem witch trials begin and the love triangle between these three characters unfolds, Salem becomes a cauldron of hysteria, psychologically, as each person’s id, ego and super-ego emerges.
In Act 1, we learn of Abigail’s brief affair with John Proctor, and conclude that Abigail functions as the id.

She is a callous character viewed as selfish, vengeful, manipulative and a magnificent liar. In a malicious attempt to persuade John to come back to her Abigail proclaims, “I know how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I come near! Or did I dream that? Its she put me out, you cannot pretend it were you. I saw your face when she put me out, and you loved me then and you love me now!” (CITE) Driven by her jealousy, sexual desire and lust for power, it is clear that Abigail functions at the id. She thinks solely of herself in the relationship and doesn’t consider John’s feelings, or those of his wife,

Elizabeth.
Although Abigail does not express any indication of remorse for her actions, John, on the other hand, is an honest and upright man, but with one fatal flaw. His affair with Abigail led to her jealousy of Elizabeth, which sets the witch hysteria into motion. John finally breaks down and publicly admits his wrong doings:
In the proper place—where my beasts are bedded.

On the last night of my joy, some eight months past. She used to serve in my house, sir. A man thinks God sleeps, but God sees everything. I know it now. I beg you, sir, and out her out on the highroad. And being what she is, a lump of vanity, sir...God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance, … (CITE)

Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, says,

…attempts to mediate id and the reality is often obliged to cloak the [unconscious] commands of the id with its own [preconscious] rationalizations to conceal the id’s conflicts with reality, to profess…to be taking notice of reality even when the id has remained rigid and unyielding. (Freud 95)

Freud’s words are in correlation with John Proctor’s actions. John realizes that the witch trials are the result of nothing more than Abigail’s revenge on him for ending their affair. Feeling shameful, John withholds his adultery from the court because of his pride and fear of public opinion, as John was always seen as a good standing citizen. But, by the end of the play, John’s ego comes to light. His concern for justice and personal integrity outweigh his concern for his public reputation. But his admission of guilt is belated, as John is accused of witchcraft. His attempt at honesty, or integrity, destroys

him.
Like her husband, Elizabeth possesses a strict adherence to justice and moral principles. She serves as the super-ego in the play, as she remains loyal to her husband, as that is what is considered to be socially acceptable. But, she also feels a sense of guilt for lying to protect him. This is expressed as Elizabeth talks with John and says, “I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you but a good man John.”