"The Crucible"

Book Review # 114663

Drama and Theater > American
English > Analysis

"The Crucible"

An analysis of the theme of pride in Arthur Miller's "The Crucible".

905 words () | 0 sources | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

"The Crucible" by Arthur Miller is a story about the Salem witch trials that occurred in 1692. The story takes place in a Puritan town that is consumed by accusations of witchcraft. A group of girls lead by Abigail, a niece of Samuel Parris , accuse many men and women of witchcraft; they accuse anyone they wish and have the power of a military dictator. This paper discusses how the three main characters, Rebecca Nurse, Samuel Parris and John Proctor, each have pride which they use in different ways to benefit themselves and how their pride helps them to overcome many of the obstacles that are placed in their path to the finish line, survival.

From the Paper:

"Unlike Rebecca, Samuel Parris takes pride not in his life but of his name and what people see of his name. "Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time. But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and the will ruin me with it."(I.10.) Parris is telling Abigail that she must tell the truth in order to save him the pain of being harassed about lies within his family. There are some people, most famously John Proctor, in the town that do not like Parris due to the ways he preaches the word of God. Parris' foes would attack him if they found that his niece attempted witchcraft."