Essay/Term paper: The crucible: fooled by the innocence of youth

Essay, term paper, research paper:  The Crucible

The Crucible: Fooled By the Innocence of Youth


In the play "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller, Miller displays how easily
people can be fooled by the innocence of youth. He also exposes the gullibility
of common people, even people such as Danforth and Hathorne, who play the role
of the "wise" judges. A single girl, Abigail, causes the downfall of the whole
society. Abigail scares the younger part of the society into submission. The
people who must decide the fate of the rest of the society, see only her
innocence and truthfulness.
Abigail seeks the affection of John Proctor, a farmer who is respected
and feared by most of the townspeople. Proctor makes a foolish mistake when he
has an affair with Abigail. Later on he regrets having this affair, and he wants
Abigail to forget that it ever happened. Abigail does not want to let him go,
she wants him to decide between his wife, Elizabeth Proctor or her, Abigail.
Abigail is deprived of attention and she seeks it from the community.
Abigail's parents were killed when she was younger, and her uncle,
Reverend Parris, does not pay very much attention to her. She attempts to give
people the impression that she is a very tough person. John Proctor and
Elizabeth Proctor know what she is really like and wants to have nothing to do
with her. In Act One she says, "I saw Indians smash my dear parents' heads on
the pillow next to mine, and I have seen some reddish work done at night, and I
can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down." From this we get the
impression that she might be a little bit mentally disturbed. The way that she
acts in front of John Proctor reveals that she is not as sure of herself as she
would like us to believe.
Mary Warren decides to confess to the fact that they are all lying, and
that she never saw any spirits. In front Abigail, however, she breaks down and
returns to her side. When Judge Danforth calls for Abigail to be summoned to
court he is told that she has stolen her uncle's money and left the town.
Despite this fact Judge Danforth does not think ill of it. Judge Danforth feels
so secure in his position that he will not accept the fact that he can be wrong.
During the trial Danforth is completely sure that he