The Crucible Trace Analysis

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The Crucible Essay Trace In a theocratic society, the church is at the top of the societal pyramid. With the church being at the top, they were often the authority of the town or society. Ministers being the head of the church, were the main people to follow the law out. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, in 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts there was a discovery of witchcraft. When they began to struggle with finding all the witches in the town, they call upon Reverend John Hale, a Puritan minister and the witch expert, to help. Hale gladly traveled to Salem to help them with their crisis at hand. Hale was not your classic Puritan minister. Along with attempting to “ purify “ the church, Hale was an “ expert “ in witchcraft. He took pride in …show more content…

Arthur Miller shows that everyone begins to question anyone who has been mentioned of possibly being involved with witchcraft, even those who are seemed to be the least guiltiest. Hale begins to show a rather cocky side, possibly due to over-confidence of his expertise involving witchcraftery. Act two begins with Elizabeth and John Proctor in their farm talking when Reverend John Hale stops by unexpectedly for a visit. It’s been revealed that Elizabeth’s name has been brought up in the court and that she is possibly going to be one of the next to be accused of being a witch, so when Hale stops by, the Proctor’s aren’t too thrilled to see him. Once Hale begins talking to the Proctors, we get a sense that he is snooping for something, possibly some incriminating evidence or reason to go after Elizabeth. This becomes fairly obvious when he specifically targets Elizabeth by saying, “ Do you know your Commandments, Elizabeth? “ questioning her and how strong she is with her faith. Hale continues to fish for possibly signs of the Devil’s mark on her throughout the rest of his visit with John and Elizabeth. After this heated conversation between Hale, John, and Elizabeth, we see that Arthur Miller has made Hale more of a jerk by targeting Elizabeth and questioning her rather than the way in act one, where he was focused on before waiting making assumptions or trying to dig up …show more content…

Today is the day that John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, known as the purest of Puritan women, and Martha Corey, wife of Giles Corey, are set to hang for being judged as witches. Hale comes back to speak with Elizabeth because he is uneasy with these three, who he believes are innocent, being hung. He was suppose to be this witchcraft expert, but in his conversation with Elizabeth, is shown to be doubting himself now due to all those who have died and are set to die. “ Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook my own. I came into this village like a bridegroom to his beloved, bearing gifts of high religion; the very crown of holy law I brought, and what I touched with bright confidence, it died; and where I turned the eye of my great faith, blood flowed up. Beware, Goody Proctor-cleave to no faith when faith brings blood. Like, woman, life is God’s most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it. I beg you, woman, prevail upon your husband to confess. Let him give his lie. Quail not before God’s judgement in this, for it may well be God damns a liar less than that he throws his life away for pride. Will you plead with him? I cannot think he will listen to another. “ Hale says. This shows the great guilt for all the accused. Arthur Miller has taken the highly confident witch expert and turned him into this guilt ridden minister who

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