Themes Of Power In The Crucible

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Recommended: Puritans role in the salem witch trials

1. The structure in Salem and its Puritan society is that those who are working for the government are considered to be at the high rank because they have more power. This is because they can all whether or not someone is a witch or not. Danforth, a judge, portrays the kind of power that he has. He says, “And do you know that near four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature” (Act III page 1190). Also he says, “Remove that man, Marshal” (Act III page 1187). The things that he says help show the audience that those who work for the government have power over the people. In the first quote, Danforth told Francis that he allowed four hundred people to be in jail because of him and the decision that he made. Cheever …show more content…

The evils of jealousy, greed, and ambition can be more powerfully destructive than any other type of evil because it can cause corruption to someone in an instant. For example, Abigail is one of the major representatives of this theme because she caused so much chaos because of her greed, jealousy, and ambition. In Act I, she has an affair with John and because of her jealously of Elizabeth; she seduces him and creates this sort of argument with her and Elizabeth. She then accuses many people for being involved in witchcraft, which was very rash and irrational. However at that time it could’ve seemed rational because everyone was in the state of confusion. She quickly called out the names of those who were in the forest with Betty. Abigail said, “I saw him; I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil” (Act I pg 1156)! Betty said, “I saw George Jacobs with the Devil! I saw Goody Howe with the Devil” (Act 1 page 1157)! Because of what she said, Proctor asked Mary to testify in court. The man that Abigail was lusting for was sent to prison because he refused to answer to Danforth’s question. Danforth says, “What are you? You are combined with anti-Christ, are you not? I have seen your power; you will not deny it! What say you, Minister” (Act III page 1212)? Proctor responds to Danforth’s question by saying, “A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours Danforth” (Act III pg 1212&1213)! Abigail’s action created a chain of effects. Not only did it hurt Danforth, but it also hurt others as well. Such as Tituba who had good intentions from the start. Abigail made her look bad by accusing her without knowing her true intentions. . Tituba, accused by Abigail, told Hale that she did not make Betty give her soul to the Devil. She firmly stands her position by saying that she loves Betty and how

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