Essay/Term paper: Superstition in the play the crucible by arthur miller

Essay, term paper, research paper:  The Crucible

Superstition in the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller


Grade Level: 10th
Date Created: September 18, 1995
Grade Received: B
Written by:
Erica Hankinson
Erica.Hankinson@juno.com


Superstition and witchcraft resulted in many being hanged or in prison.
In the seventeenth century, a belief in witches and witchcraft was almost
universal. In Salem Massachusetts where the witch trials take place many people
who are suspicious is accused of witchcraft and hanged. Arthur Miller wrote a
play called The Crucible. It is based on the Salem witch trials. The Salem
witch trials change many peoples lives and even led to death for some. The
power of superstition and hearsay can distort from the truth.
Four ministers of Salem joined Matther, and they spent a whole day in
the house of the afflicted in fasting and prayer. The result of which was the
delivery of one of the family from the power of the witch. A niece and daughter
of the parish minister at Danvers were first afflicted. Their actions
frightened other young people, who soon showed the same symptoms, such as loss
of appetite and sickness. A belief quickly spread over Salem and throughout the
state that evil spirits are being seen in Salem. Terror took possession of the
minds of nearly all the people, and the dread made the affliction spread widely.
"The afflicted, under the influence of the witchery, "admitted to see the forms
of their tormentors with their inner vision" (Miller 1082). and would
immediately accuse some individual seen with the devil. At times the afflicted
and the accused became so numerous that no one was safe from suspicion and its
consequences. Even those who were active in the prosecutions became objects of
suspicion.
Revenge often impelled persons to accuse others who were innocent and
when some statement of the accused would move the court and audience in favor of
the prisoner. "I saw Goody Osborn with the devil" (Miller 1060). The accuser
would declare that they saw the devil standing beside the victim whispering the
words in his or her ear. The absurd statement would be believed by the judges.
Some, terrified and with the hope of saving their lives or avoiding the horrors
of imprisonment, would falsely accuse their friends and relatives, while others
moved by the same hopes, would falsely confess themselves to be witches. Many
of the accusers and witnesses came forward and published denials of the truth of
their testimony, to save their own lives. Mr. Paris in the Danver family, who
was one of the most strong prosecutors of alleged witches, was compelled to
resign his charge and leave the country.
The acknowledgments of error and pleadings for mercy, could not restore
the spirits of those who are hanged, nor make changes for the pains' others had
suffered. The trick had prevailed in greatest desire more than six months, and
it was not decreasing for more than a year. During that time nineteen had been
hanged, and Corey Giles who is killed by the horrid process of pressing to death
with stones because he would say if was guilty or innocent. He continued to say
"more weight" (Miller 1113); until he died. In doing so, his family could keep
his land. Others had been tortured or frightened into a confession of guilt or
imprisoned.
As one can see the power of superstition and the hearsay can distort the
truth. The Salem witch trials were horrifying and it changes many peoples lives.
The belief in witches did not end with the strange excitement. This strange
episode in the history of Massachusetts astonished the civilized world, and made
an unfavorable impression on others.

WORK CITED

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. Ellen Bowler. ed. et al. Literature the American
Experiance. Englewood cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1994.