Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
The theme of religion in the crucible
Symbolism within the crucible
The theme of religion in the crucible
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
The word Crucible has many different meaning relating to the book written by Arthur Miller. Miller used the definitions of the title of his book, and engraved them in his writing. One definition of the Crucible is, a lamp hanging in front of a crucifix. This definition ironically shows how religion plays a huge part in “The Crucible” and effects the characters fate.
Reverend John Hale is a huge character in the Crucible who ultimately accuses some of Witchcraft. Hale was summoned to Salem, Massachusetts, after they found out that Betty may have become ill after participating in Witchcraft. This put Salem in a complete uproar and everyone was worried what would happen next. Hale was looked upon as a “spirit” who would help decide who should be accused of witchery. Reverend Hale had studied witchcraft comprehensively. When Hale had first
…show more content…
arrived he questioned Proctor and Giles.
Hale uses the power of god and persuasion to get answers out of Tituba and Abigail. Although Hale tries to be as authoritative and demanding as possible, he still remains “vulnerable.” Abigail notices this and apprehensive takes advantage, manipulating him to think that she is innocent. In the end John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Martha Corey were hung as witches.
Due to Hale’s great influence in “The Crucible” he mainly relates to the lamp that is hung in front of the crucifix. Reverend Hale seems to shed light on the situation, to serene those in Salem. Reverend spreads composure and tranquility as he uses his faith to guide them through what they had believed to be witchcraft. Like a light, Hale directly focuses on one object, being John Proctor and others accused. In relation to the definition of crucible, the lights shines on the
crucifix. Hale questions proctor in saying, “Mr. Proctor, your house is not a church; your theology must tell you that.”(II.219-232) Hale directly focusses on Proctor and his true relation with witchcraft, just like a light directly focuses on one object. The light placed above the crucifix draws attention to faith and christianity, just like Reverend Hale did to those accused. Hale exclaims, “God keep you both; let the third child be quickly baptized, and go you without fail each Sunday in to Sabbath prayer; and keep a solemn, quiet way among you.” (II.277-292) Hale says this in response to Proctor who tries standing up for Elizabeth in Act II. According to the bible (Psalm 119:105) God’s word is often characterized as a lamp that illuminates the darkness. Throughout “The Crucible” Hale is the one to spread the word of God, and how he believed he would shed his own light on the situation. Along with illuminating darkness of the crucifix, light reveals what's hidden in obscurity. As the trail comes to an end, Reverend John Hale, reveals his accusation in which Rebecca Nurse, and Elizabeth Proctor become guilty of witchcraft. Rebecca Nurse and Elizabeth Proctor, along with Mr. Proctor, are now the focal point in the darkness of salem, just like the Crucifix.
Reverend Hale is a dynamic character in Miller's The Crucible as he is challenged by John Proctor's courage. He starts out very convincing and seems to know exactly what he wants. John Proctor is a very strong and courageous character. He influences Reverend Hale so much that Hale completely changes his mind about Salem, the court, and witches. Reverend Hale enters Salem as a very strong character that knows what he wants to do.
Arthur Millers The Crucible possesses many examples of interesting character development. A character who one initially finds to be worthy of mercy or pity can easily become the last person deserving of sympathy. This relationship is not only formed between the reader and the characters, but between the characters and the scenario of the story itself. The victim may become the accuser, or the scholar may become the humanitarian. This manner of characterization is best shown in the relationship between Reverend John Hale and Deputy Governor Danforth. Each is objectified to the events in Salem as they come into the situation with no attachments to any of the other characters and are unfamiliar with any of their mannerisms or personalities. Hale is a well-read minister who relies upon his books. Danforth is a reputable judge who relies on consistent input and prodding. Both of these men enter the trials with very similar goals. The places they stand at the finish, however, could not be more different. This is due to the personal relationships and opinions Hale develops concerning Salem. Reverend Hale is a dynamic character who learns his role as a minister while Judge Danforth is a constant force who voices others opinions through his authority.
The Salem witch trials of 1692 was an event that shaped the history of this country, as well as the lives of those whose wives and husbands were condemned to death. In order for such an event to occur, there must be a set of people who catalyze the event, and others who speak out against it. In “The Crucible”, certain characters help contribute to the rising hysteria of witchcraft, and others contribute to the disapproval of so many wrongful convictions. Reverend Hale is a character who actually contributes to both sides. Reverend Hale is seen as a catalyst in the beginning of the play because he protects the authority of the court, along with its laws, he later realizes how false the accusations of the accused are; thus, making a dramatic change in his dependency of the law, as well as his belief in witchcraft.
A crucible refers to a harsh test, and in The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, each person is challenged in a severe test of his or her character or morals. Many more people fail than pass, but three notable characters stand out. Reverend John Hale, Elizabeth Proctor, and John Proctor all significantly change over the course of the play.
A crucible is a severe test as of patients or belief, a trial. The play The Crucible is a journey through the trials of many townspeople caused by the superstitious belief of witchcraft. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller progresses and evolves the outlooks and views of the townspeople of Salem and shows how events, people, and catastrophes cause the characters to change their views on whether the people prosecuted were guilty or innocent of witchcraft. Reverend John Hale changes his view, more and more drastically as the play advances, as a result of the events that he underwent and the experiences he had. Soon he had total belief in the innocence of all those convicted and hung in Salem.
Nationwide, students in history classes study and learn about the infamous incident known as the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Through textbooks and research, students learn about this event from a factual and objective point of view. Students learn such facts like 19 men and women were hanged because they were convicted of witchcraft. Students learn the essential information as deemed important by their teacher; yet, students do not have the opportunity to learn about the trials from a subjective and personal point of view. Arthur Miller uses such a view point in his play The Crucible, which personifies the sentiments, attitudes, and standpoints of the people in Salem who were directly involved in the trials. Through Miller's poignant perspective, he shows the readers another side of the witch trials through the eyes of the actual participants. One such participant in the play who provides the readers with this valuable perspective is Reverend John Hale, a minister from Beverly who is called to Salem to investigate Salem's eccentric problem. Nonetheless, Reverend John Hale's perspective does not stay constant throughout the entire play. In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, the beliefs and principles of Reverend John Hale change dramatically, as the events of the Salem Witch Trials cause him to question his moral values and initial intentions.
Because he is forced to accept that his beliefs have been messed with and realizes that he has sent people to their deaths, he loses faith in the law and questions his faith in God. Arthur Miller put many events into the story and tells about Hale’s mindset. In the middle of Act I, Hale comes and what he is called by the townspeople “The truth seeker”. Hale is called upon to determine what sort of witchcraft is going on. Hale arrives admired by the people who wants him to calm this nonsense of witchcraft down. He understands he being led toward the conclusion of witchcraft by the town’s wrong doings. He also begins to see a weakness in the position of the townspeople of Salem and tries to not let common things be the support for his
Crucible- a severe test, a hard trial or also could be define as a pot for melting metals. A severe trail could be as other then a physical it also could be mentally a severe trial like person verses self. In The Crucible, Miller reflects the theme that pressure can force people from there can force their morals. The characters in The Crucible have morals that they must up hold to be accepted into the town and church. It is a struggle to keep these values when there are moral hazards like desires, greed, hate, and obsession.
All of a sudden there was a witch outbreak in Salem Massachusetts. The following day the girls were found in bed inert. The doctor attempted to figure out the sickness the girls could have. However, he could not give the sickness any name. Then Reverend Hale was called in to help the town cure its unnatural problem. Throughout the play Reverend Hale contributed to both sides of the arguments. At the beginning he believed the court was doing God’s job. Towards the end his character changes and is less in favor of the court and more in favor for the people being wrongly accused. Reverend Hale’s is seen to be independent, confident and outspoken. These traits end up changing towards the end of the play. Reverend Hale is a dynamic character in The Crucible written by Arthur Miller he changes from protecting the authority of the court with the strict laws, later realizing the court's accusations were unjust, to finally changing his beliefs in the false accusations and supernatural rumors.
What does the word crucible mean? The word crucible means a severe test or trial. Throughout the novel, The Crucible, many of the characters go through their own crucible. These trials have a major or minor impact on the characters life throughout the novel. These trials all come together creating the story based on the calamity in America around 1952, which inspired Arthur Miller to write this well known novel. In the novel, there are many different examples from various characters about life lessons and choices. Although the book and play are very similar they do share many differences.
The Crucible written by Arthur Miller is a play that takes place in the sixteen nineties during the famous but tragic witch trials. Reverend Hale who is a minister and an expert of the demonic arts and witchcraft is sent from East Hanover to Salem where there is a spreading fear of witchcraft. When Hale arrives in Salem he finds the entire town in total chaos. At the beginning Hale is adamant in believing that they’re where witches and that nothing but good could come of his being there. Near the end when the truth has been exposed, Hale with so much blood on his head pleads : ‘‘ I come to do the Devil’s work. I come to counsel Christians they should belie themselves. There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!’’ (Miller,131).
Miller also puns on the other meaning of 'a crucible' which is: 'a severe test or trial'; to tie in with the events that take pace in the play- the trials of the accused witches and the extent of the consequences (death by hanging.)
The Crucible is a 1953 play by Arthur Miller. Initially, it was known as The Chronicles of Sarah Good. The Crucible was set in the Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts. It talks of McCarthyism that happened in the late 1600’s whereby the general public and people like Arthur Miller were tried and persecuted. The Crucible exemplifies persecutions during the Salem Witch Trials. The people were convicted and hung without any tangible proof of committing any crime. Persecutions were the order of the day. When a finger was pointed at any individual as a witch, the Deputy Governor Danforth never looked for evidence against them or evidence that incriminated them; he ordered them to be hanged. This can be seen through his words “Hang them high over the town! Who weeps for those, weeps for corruption!” (1273), the people were persecuted aimlessly. The four main characters in the play, John Proctor, Abigail Adams, Reverend Hale and Reverend Parris, are caught in the middle of the witchcraft panic in the religious Salem, Massachusetts in late 1690’s. Persecution is the most important theme in the Crucible, the leaders and citizens of Salem attacks and persecutes one of their own without any tangible evidence against them.
When Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible he intended to create a symbolic story. An obvious sign of The Crucible having a deeper meaning is that it was written to satirize the Red Scare of the 1950s. In addition the powerful title of The Crucible has several meanings that relate back to the play. The first meaning of the Crucible is “a container for melting or purifying metals,” and the second meaning is “a severe trial or test.” As a third meaning one could also say that the word “crucible” is related to the word “crucifix” and by extension the word “bible” if we extrapolate. Fourthly and lastly the Crucible can also be thought of as a literal kettle. Upon analysis it is striking at how aptly the title fits the story.
Arthur Miller cleverly picked the title "The Crucible" for his play about the Salem witch hunts of the 1660's because of the word's many meanings. Throughout the play, Miller has characters face severe tests that make them question their own self. A crucible is also an earthen pot that is used for melting metals. In a way the town of Salem was a crucible as people were brought before the court and blasted with allegations from others as being witches. They were either forced to give in and live a lie or be hanged.