What Does The Crucible Suggest About Human Behavior

What does “The Crucible” suggest about human behavior in a crisis?

“The crucible” written by Arthur Miller, narrates that through the accusations spread in Salem, in times of immediate danger, it becomes human nature for individuals to resort to self preservation and push their responsibilities to others in a resort to save themselves. In result, in order to live, they resort to confessing false truths and assumptions. On the contrary, although is it human nature to resort to self preservation, there are individuals who use this opportunity to benefit themselves and others who tend to sacrifice themselves to uphold their own principles and morale beliefs. Portraying the contrasts between morale conflicts within the up holdings of human behavior,

as there other factors that persuade another’s reason to act, shown through the Arthur Millers depictions of an individual’s greed and self preservation or morale principle.

To live, is to sacrifice, this is evident among the villagers in Salem.

This is highlighted through Abigail’s remorse within the development of the story, as the village spreads false accusations and rumors of witchcraft out of refute. Abigail is interrogated and Minister Hale becomes evident of her undertaking of displaying “witchcraft” she resorts to confessing false truths on Tituba’s undertaking and the “power” she possesses, “She made me do it! She made Betty do it!”. By pushing away another’s responsibilities, it provided false peace among the villagers, under the plead of the victim escaping of the Devils compacting. This is further narrated through Tituba’s plead to live, as Tituba originally declines her “compact” with the devil, she becomes persuaded by the threats of Reverend Parris to be hanged “She must be taken and hanged!” into enlisting others and accusing them under working for the devil “I do believe somebody else be within’ these children” in the attempt to plead for mercy, referring back towards individuals tending to show human behaviors that resort to self preservation and desperation. As to live was to lie, since “life is God’s most important gift” victims tend to sway from the truth in the resort to save one’s

self.

In contrast, distinct characteristics of individuals sacrificing themselves in the attempt to uphold their morales was evident with in the text. As there were characters who found facing death to be more reluctant than tarnishing their own self morales and pride. From the characters, Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor, we are able to gain the understandings of how unjust the society and court upon another good will to reveal the truth.
As Rebecca Nurse is accused of undertaking witchcraft, although she lived a life of goodwill and was prospered of “great charities”, she was brought under the accusations of being account for Ms.

Putnam’s loss, in the end, she sacrificed herself trying to uphold her own morales in the acts of going against god’s will. Moreover, John Proctor sacrifices his own pride in the attempt to reveal the truth “a man will not cast away his good name. You surely know that”, he is ultimately brought turned down upon. As he finds himself revealed to the harsh realties of life, he is ultimately left isolated by his peers, “He wakes me every night, his eyes were like coals and his fingers claw my neck, and I sign, I sign.” in the attempt to uphold his truth and morales“I say – I say – God is

dead!”.

Concluding, human behavior in times of crisis to be factored by an individual’s principle, either to lie in order to save ones self or sacrifice themselves to uphold their own principle; they are all driven by an individual’s morale and balance; that being lust, morale or self preservation. An individuals priority upon their principles ultimately decides the actions they will partake. As Abigail prioritizes self preservation she resorts to lying and blaming others for her own actions and responsibilities. In contrast, John Proctor prioritizes his own morales, he sacrifices both name and pride in the attempt to reveal the truth.