Authority in "The Crucible"

Paper Summary:

Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" examines the nature of power, the sources of authority, and the actions undertaken by men to maintain power and authority. Within this framework, the writer points out that Miller directs us to compare existing sources of authority as opposed to what should form them.

From the Paper:

"Authority, as in what it means and what it derives from, is a dominant theme in The Crucible. Throughout the play, the various sources of authority, from God and the Church, to men and morality, to books and the law, are analyzed. Each is dismissed because each is distorted and abused by the various characters. Finally, the objective truth, honesty of character (as compared to hypocrisy) and honour emerge as the only legitimate sources of authority and, include within them the concepts of justice and unselfish, or pure, morality. Therefore, while Miller appears opposed to authority that is based in religious faith and the church, as seen from the characterization of Parris and Hale, or authority as rooted in books and law, as clear from the characterization of Danforth and Hathorn as completely blinded to the truth and justice, he is supporting a higher form of authority that is derived from the unselfish, unhypocritical and objective truth that both religion and law call for but, few men are capable of."

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