Fear is usually Something being Feared
The word fear can be explained as: a distressing emotion turned on by approaching danger or pain. In his play The Crucible, Arthur Miller details the fear embedded within Puritan society. Based on the Public Broadcasting Service, “Puritans lived in a consistent state of spiritual panic, searching for indications of God’s favor or anger. ” This anxiety powered the Salem Witch Trial offers and made these people extremely challenging to stop. Therefore , Miller shows that dread had been the Puritans’ perilous flaw.
First and foremost, Tituba starts the chain of accusations because of fear. When ever Abigail accuses her of calling satan, Tituba can be backed to a corner. The girl confesses to witchcraft following Parris poises, “You can confess your self or I will take you out and whip one to your death, Tituba! ” (Miller 44). Then, Tituba is pressured into accusing others of witchcraft. Hale asks her, “When satan comes to you does he ever come with somebody else? ” With this question, an accusation could be prevented, but Parris interrupts with, “Who came with him? ” implying that Tituba need to name a person (45). Afterwards, Tituba comes up a series of demanding questions just like: “Did you ever see Debbie Good with him? Or Osburn? ” and “Was it man or woman came with him? ” until she finally cracks and begins describing who she accuses (46). Thus, Tituba is given not any other choice but to choose: confess to and hang something on others of witchcraft, or be wiped out. Consequentially, Tituba’s fear of death results in the start of the Salem Witch Studies, in which 19 people were unjustly sentenced to death. The Salem Witch Trials considerably contributed to the conclusion of Puritanism because that they revealed the worry and file corruption error that was hidden in Puritan society.
Moreover, Jane Warren’s anxiety about exclusion triggers her to start up Proctor. Of course , Mary worries for her existence, but she feels safe when ever she is a group. For instance, she has no issue pretending to be cooled by fabricated spirits when she is with Abby as well as the other ladies. However , the girl with unable to reenact this simply by herself to prove to the court that the girls are merely pretending to find out spirits. When she is in court as Proctor’s see, she tries really hard to be truthful. But , when Abigail as well as the girls imagine to see her spirit as being a bird, she cannot stand to be designated and excluded. The stage directions examine: “Gradually Abigail and the young ladies leave away, until only Mary is left presently there, staring up at the “bird, ” screaming madly (118). The moment Jane Warren is definitely left by herself, the lady turns on Proctor and accuses him of dealing with the Devil. Therefore , Martha Warren converts her back on the truth because she is afraid to be the outcast. Fear not only demonstrates to be perilous to Ruben Proctor, nevertheless also to Puritanism itself because it demonstrates the pressure to fit in Puritan world was so great that people had been willing to get away from their honnête to do so.
Last but not least, Danforth fails to end the Witch Trials because he fears dropping his comfort. He sees that he provides convicted many people of witchcraft, and he will not know how he will live with him self if they turn out to be blameless. This leads Danforth to continue hanging persons in an attempt to convince himself that he is performing the right issue. Danforth says, “Them that will not confess will certainly hang. 12 are already accomplished, the names of such seven are given out, and the village desires to see these people die this morning. Postponement right now speaks a floundering on my part, reprieve or excuse must ensemble doubt upon the guilt of them that died right up until now” (129). Through this, it is crystal clear that Danforth’s fear of staying wrong requires him to lie to himself and continue the vicious circuit of croyance. The fear of being wrong was devastating to Puritan world because it directly related to corrupt leadership.
Overall, throughout the consequences of his characters fears, Callier is able to provide evidence that fear is definitely the Puritans’ perilous flaw because it drove the society to a state of immorality and corruption. Every single individual’s fear for his/her own lifestyle cost the lives of countless others. Dread has often battled with morality, and it often will.
Works Offered
Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York: Penguin Books, 1976.
People Ideas: The Puritans. PBS. PBS. Web. 16 December. 2014.
