Theme Of Corruption In The Crucible

The Source of Corruption

According to Aung San Suu Kyi “It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.” The issue of corruption causes controversy all over the world. Many will argue with Aung San Suu Kyi’s statement, however, no matter the argument, corruption is inevitable in any society.

In The Crucible by Arthur Miller multiple characters abused their authority in fear of losing something precious or dealing with the consequences. Out of all the corrupt people in The Crucible, Abigail abused her power the most. Even though she was only a child, she was feared, followed and trusted by adults. This gave her power, which she abused several times in fear of getting in trouble and dealing with the consequences and losing her love, John Proctor, to his marriage and love for his wife Elizabeth. “She comes to me while I sleep: she’s always making me dream corruptions” (Miller 44). Abigail and the girls did something atrocious and to avoid the consequences, she uses her authority to accuse Tituba of witchcraft, blaming all of their improper actions on her. She accused Tituba of something so heinous, it can get her killed.

In fear of getting in trouble and dealing with the consequences she uses her power for personal gain. Seeing that her attempt to get out of trouble worked the first time, she uses her authority
Tsoy 2
again, to get rid of Goody Proctor, in fear of losing the once she loves. When Abigail first accused Tituba of witchcraft, she of course denied it and tried to explain the truth. When that didn’t work, her life was on the line. Being pressured to confess, she had a choice to make, weather to continue telling the truth and being hanged for “lying” or tell a lie, and increase her chances of survival. Although this was a life or death decision, it was still a choice which gave Tituba an ounce of power over her own story and her own life. In fear of being hanged, Tituba made a choice to lie and admit her association with the devil (Miller 44-45). This gave her the power over her own life. She chose to get the authority of saving herself, and blaming someone else of witchcraft. Both Abigail and Tituba used their authority, in fear, to save themselves. No matter what society and its people, corruption is inevitable because it is driven by fear and everyone is afraid of something.
In The Public Must Protest Police Corruption by Kelly Sarabyn the author discusses the major controversy of police corruption.

She explains that the public must fight, and do everything in their power to try and fix the problem, but also states why many victims don’t do anything about it. “As long as police corruption is directed toward poor minorities, middle- and upper-class Americans will continue to allow innocent people to be abused by police” (Sarabyn 1). The author says that a major reason why many who is victims of police corruption, don’t do anything to fix this problem is because they don’t have the power to. The problem of police corruption is that the majority of the victims are poor minorities. Police corruption is a

major

Tsoy 3
problem because, police have major authority, and they are trusted to protect the people and those who abuse that trust are abusing their power. Looking at the police and those who are victimized, it clearly show the social class difference, putting the police on top and the victims on the bottom. Every society has a class system, there is always someone ranked higher. As long as such systems exists corruption is inevitable, because there is always someone with more power and they are bound to abuse it. Corruption is all over the world, although there are some who try to fight it, many ignore it. In the US Supreme Court Has Upheld institutional Government Corruption it explains that many countries ignore corruption. Major cause of corruption is wealth greed and ambition. None of these things are unavoidable which in the end means corruption in always inevitable.
On the other hand some individuals may argue that is certain measure are taken, corruption can be avoided. According to The Public Must Protest Police Corruption “people can write their representative or governor and let elected officials know corruption is an issue. Representatives can enact legislation that provides for checks and balance on police abuse.” (Sarabyn 1). According to The US Supreme Court Has Upheld institutional Government Corruption “some members of Congress are working hard to introduce new laws that will cure the defect by either imposing a ban on political advertising…tightening rules…” (The US Supreme Court Has Upheld institutional Government Corruption 4-5). Yes, there are ways to decrease corruption, and such measure are being put into action. There were many attempts to fight corruption and many measures taken to avoid it in the future, however there has not been
Tsoy 4
an instance or a society without any corruption. In the Crucible, John proctor, along with several others, died trying to avoid corruption and hoping that they will be believed. Many ended up dying, proving that no matter what and how many people stand up to corruption, it is inevitable
There has been corruption for years and years and even today its no different. Some people ignore the problem and some even try to fix it but in the end corruption is inevitable. Charles de Secondat once said “But constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go.” As long as everyone is unequal in the social structure, there will always be someone with more power, so there will always be someone who abuses it. As long as there are human emotions, which make you feel fear of losing something precious, there will be the human instinct to protect it, which in the end will only be possible by corruption. It is important to remember that such things are impossible to get rid of, therefore you cannot get rid of corruption. You can take some measures to decrease it, but in the end corruption is inevitable, it’s part of human nature and that’s something that can never disappear.