The Crucible Essay: Mitchell 1

Mitchell 1
Mackenzie Mitchell
Mrs. ODonnell
English II
22 January 2015
The Crucible Essay
In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the town of Salem, Massachusetts has broken out in
hysteria over accusations of witchcraft. Soon almost everyone in town has been accused or has
accused another of the feared and hated crime. But the accountability of these claims is
questionable when many occur between people who have a history of personal conflicts with
each other. Accusations in The Crucible were based solely on grudges and personal rivalries
rather than on actual beliefs of a person possessing supernatural or bewitching powers.
Abigail Williams accuses Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft because Elizabeths husband,
John Proctor, is Abigails love interest, and Abigail wants Elizabeth out of the picture. Abigail,
the Proctors former servant, had previously had an affair with John which prompted Elizabeth to
fire her and kick her out. After Abigail and other girls of the town are found dancing in the
woods, it is revealed by Betty Parris in her home, when no one other than Abigail and the other
girls are in the room, that Abigail drank a charm to kill John Proctors wife (148), revealing
Abigails intentions since before the witchcraft accusations had even begun. A little while later,
John and Abigail speak in private at the Parris home where John tells Abigail that he no longer
has feelings for her and that their relationship is over. Abigail responds by insulting Elizabeth
and calling her a sickly wife (150). She is a cold and sniveling woman, and you bend to her!
(150) she then exclaims, exposing her hatred for the woman and for Johns obedience to her.
Later, when Elizabeth and John are speaking about the current events in their home, they learn
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from Mary Warren that Elizabeth has been accused of witchcraft in court. She is immediately
sure that it was Abigail that accused her, and urges John to speak to Abigail. John does not wish
to do this and Elizabeth realizes that this is naturally because he slept with her, and that, although
he denies it, there is a promise made between two people that have slept together. She tells John,
Spoke or silent, a promise is surely made. And she may dote on it now- I am sure she does- and
thinks to kill me, then to take my place (270). Even Elizabeth is aware of Abigails intentions to
rid Abigail and Johns lives of her.
Rebecca Nurse is accused of supernaturally murdering Mr. and Mrs. Putnams babies,
because the Putnams dislike the Nurses for being a part of a faction that prevented their family
member from taking office, because of a land dispute, and because they are jealous of the Nurses
for having so many children. When Thomas Putnams character is described by the author, it is
mentioned that his brother-in-law James Bayleys election as minister of Salem was prevented by
a certain faction. Later in the story, when Miller describes Rebecca Nurses character, he writes,
The Nurse clan had been in the faction that prevented Bayleys taking office (151). He also
mentions a land war he [Francis Nurse] fought with his neighbors, one of whom was Putnam
(151). It is also known that the Nurses have a large family full of many children and
grandchildren, while the Putnams had seven children that died during childbirth and only one
that survived. When Ruth Putnam, Mr. and Mrs. Putnams only living daughter, and Betty Parris
are in fear comas after being found dancing in the woods with Abigail and the other girls,
Rebecca insists that Ruth and Betty will wake when they feel like doing so, and that the answer
to the situation comes only from God. The impatient Mrs. Putnam replies, You think it Gods
work you should never lose a child, nor grandchild either, and I bury all but one? (152),
exhibiting her resentment for the Nurses success in having children. Miller writes, It was
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Edward and Jonathan Putnam who signed the first complaint against Rebecca (151) although
the general opinion of her was so high (151), proving that their grudges against Rebecca are
what prompted the Putnams to accuse her of witchcraft.
Lastly, Reverend Parris intends to have John Proctor jailed for trying to overthrow the
court and for not being godly because he knows that John opposes him and his teachings and
does not attend church often. When John, the Putnams, and Parris were in Parriss home because
Betty was in a coma, John, Thomas Putnam, and Reverend Parris began to argue after Thomas
accuses John of not attending church. John replies, I have trouble enough without I come five
miles to hear him [Reverend Parris] preach only hellfire and damnation. Take it to heart, Mr.
Parris. There are many others who stay away from church because you hardly ever mention God
any more (152). John also reveals his aversion of Reverend Parriss love and desire for money,
claiming, ...the last meeting I were at you spoke so long on deeds and mortgages I thought it
were an auction (152). John does not attempt to disguise his hostility towards Reverend Parris,
so Parris is very aware of it. For this reason, Parris would like for John to be arrested. After
Elizabeth Proctor is arrested for witchcraft, John goes to court with Mary Warren to attempt to
prove Elizabeths innocence. When he arrives, Parris tells Judge Danforth, Beware this man,
Your Excellency, this man is mischief (183). Throughout the scene, Parris is always very quick
to object to everything John says, and also does not neglect to brings up Johns absenteeism at
church. When John tells the court that Mary and the other girls only pretended to see spirits,
Parris says this to be a lie. He also tells the judge, Hes come to overthrow this court, Your
Honor! (185) and thinks all of Johns statements to be attacks against the court. At the end of
the scene, when after being pressured and harassed by Abigail and the other girls, Mary Warren
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untruthfully says that John has relations with the devil, Reverend Parris says, Praise God!
(198) He is relieved that John has finally been accused of witchcraft.
Belief of witchcraft was not the true basis off of which accusations were made in The
Crucible by Arthur Miller, as it was personal rivalries and grudges. The result of these
unaccountable claims being a widespread hysteria makes The Crucible a prime example of the
power that grudges and lies can have, and the destruction they can cause. Therefore, the story
admonishes readers to always investigate claims further before taking them as the truth, and
avoid being too naive or gullible. Otherwise, they may find themselves in the midst of their own
hysteria.

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