Salem Essay -- essays research papers

ESSAY SALEM In 1692 in Salem Massachusetts a horrible chain of display cases occurred. A massive witch hunt began and a tidal wave of upkeep and suspicion swept over the tight knit Puritan townshipship of Salem. A small group of little girls began accusing the towns mint of witchcraft and the legal age of the town believed these claims and full trials were held. If the accused victims did not confess to committing witchcraft it was more than likely that they would be put to death, hung in front of the town. Arthur Miller portrays this event in his novel The Crucible. The floor of Authority and Power is vital in The Crucible because of the abuses of power, the need for command and the absolute belief in agency figures lead to the witch hunt. Throughout the witch hunt the abuses of power ar prevalent. The abuse was broad spectrum and everyone from the accusing girls to the judge are involved. Abigail Williams is the leader of the girls. She begins this fraud in order to s ave herself and the other girls from the punishment that they would have been give down for them dancing in the woods. Abigail being a conniving girl sees the opportunity to save herself and seek revenge on people from the town who she feels "hate her and are trying to blacken her name in the society"(p.24 ). Abigail forces the other girls to go along with her plan by threatening them and forcing them to pursue her "either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, any(prenominal) the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckon that will shudder you "(p.20). Together the girls begin to destroy what was once a close community. Abigail is not alone in the abuses of power. The judge, Danforth has fallen under the girls enthrallment and believes in them completely. Since he believes that the girls are right and decides that there is no commission and accused person could actually be innocent. Due to this and judge Danforths self-importance he sends many people to their deaths still claiming innocence. Not only does Danforth turn away to hear op blot to the existence of witchcraft he creates the front that anyone who doubts that witchcraft is in Salem is trying to undermine the court (p. ). However it is discernible that he just does not want his authority to be questioned or his reputation tarnished. Danforth and Abigail are able to accomplish this becaus... .... Their beliefs that the girls are right has coerce them to fear that they might be accused next. Abigail even dares say this to Danforth " permit you beware, Mr. Danforth. Think you be so mighty that the power of Hell whitethorn not turn your wits? Beware of it" (p.108) Danforth does not pay worry to this but other members of the community do. They are afraid to do or say anything against Abigail or the girls even though the town believes that the girls are vocalizing the truth. The witch hunt that occur red in The Crucible can be attributed to the theme of Authority and Power and since the community believed in those in a position of power, the abuses that these people did and their need for control increased the severity of the events. Had the town not placed such power in the detainment of these girls and in the hands of strangers such as Rev. Hale and judge Danforth many lives would have been saved. The beliefs of the town gave those in a position of power a want for control and they began to stop at nothing to achieve that. The massacre of innocent people in Salem is a tragic event in chronicle which is portrayed quite accurately in Arthur Millers The Crucible. Word Count 1223