Reilly 1

Alex Reilly

Mr. Bless

English Foundations II H

22 January 2017

Purity and Corruption in Millers Allegory

No matter how far the human civilization advances, many of the greatest

questions will remain unanswered, and the only relief to this issue is religion. Throughout time,

various religions grew more and more powerful until they dictated the very lives of the people.

These governments are referred to as theocracies, governments that uphold the word of God as

the ultimate law or truth. During the post World War II era, Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible, a

piece that depicts the Salem Witch Trials, and portrays the bond between the people and the

church. In Millers allegory, he illustrates the failure of a theocracy through a multitude of

characters and events. Overall, Millers main message of this piece is that theocracies have

always harmed society as a whole, and put many innocent lives to end for going against the

disastrous system.

Millers tragedy is based off of the Salem Witch Trials, which occurred between 1692

and 1693. The senseless events that had occurred during the trials is all linked back to the

founding of the village in 1626. The village was founded by Puritan Separatists, or those who

went against the Anglican Church, and thus defied the crown (Morone 33). As an effect to this,

the town of Salem had established a new government, a type in which the word of God meant

more than the king, and anybody who went against the church was to be legally punished. Over

time, the court of Salem became so powerful, that the government often became described as a

crusading religious spirit (Morone 33). In Millers allegory, Deputy Danforth, the strongest
 Reilly 2

believer in the Puritan law, states I will not receive a single plea for pardon or postponement.

Them that will not confess will hang (4:129). From this alone, Miller portrays the true

extremism in the Puritan society.

The government established by the Puritans was not completely accepted by the people,

however the opposition was easily silenced through unethical fear tactics. In the village of

Salem, nobody dared to go against the church, as in the eyes of the clergy it would be

committing crimes against God, and thus the good of the people. All those who dared go against

the church risked a multitude of legal issues, even as far as execution. If the opposers of the

government were to avoid legal persecution, they had also risked losing their status, their

position in society, their very identity (Levanture 2), as they would now be known as

worshippers of Satan, and ultimately very untrustworthy. With these consequences in the minds

of the people, this had prevented a mass uprising for years.

In addition to the consequences of protesting the Puritan rule, the fear tactics imposed by

the government itself created a mistrust amongst the people, and had most likely been the cause

of preventing a mass uprising for years. Once the people had seen the outcome of actions against

the church, very few had dared to say a word against the church. In addition to this, all who had

planned an uprising against the establishment now did not have the faintest idea who was with

the church or who would report their ideals, thus creating a quiet community which feared

sharing thoughts with one another. Therefore in addition to fearing the church, the people were

now ruled by the collective fear of each other (Lavanture 2).

The events of The Crucible were centered around the Salem Witch Trials. During

these times, the church had seen an ultimate opportunity to expand its influence over the people.

Once people were declared to be bewitched. (Schiff 1), they had only two options, either
 Reilly 3

falsely confess and have their identity shattered, or have their body be made government

propaganda and be publicly executed. During the trials, the court had known that the main

concern of the accused was of course saving his or her life (Rissanen 2). Due to this factor, the

court had exploited these false confessions in front of the whole village, as the court could

maintain and express its power in finding the accused guilty of witchcraft. (Rissanen 1). Once

one of the accused had falsely confessed to an illegitimate claim, the village would know of this

confession. This would cause many of the non-accused of Salem to start believing in the Church,

and boost the churchs authority even more.

Along with gaining influence from confessions, the court also used the public executions

of the communities beloved to their advantage. Any of those who denied the acts of witchcraft

were deemed guilty with no remorse, and all guilty were to be publicly executed in front of the

entire village. After being executed, the accused were not permitted a standard Christian burial,

as they had dealt with the devil. Instead of this, many of the bodies were either burnt, mutilated,

or in Rebecca Nurses case flung into a nearby ravine (Pelka 1). This had not only reinforced

the influence of the church, but had discouraged anybody in the village from speaking a word out

against the church, preventing the crusades end. By the end of the massacre, it was estimated

that Nineteen men and women had hanged (Schiff 1). While the slaughter of the innocent had

truly reinforced the power of the church, it had also caused so much disgust within the people

that it was ultimately the beginning of the end for the Puritan state.

In Millers play, the character Reverend Parris is used to represent the corruption of the

church. Parris is considered to be a very wealthy man in the town of Salem, and also preaches for

the church. These two factors begin give Parris a large influence over the village, and ultimately

gained him many allies. However, a select few of the village realizes that the church is corrupt,
 Reilly 4

and Parris is using this corruption to his own benefits. One of these select few, John Proctor,

Millers flawed protagonist, is very vocal about his opinions on Parris. Proctor describes Parris

as an extremist preacher who abuses his authority, and Proctor even goes as far as to state I like

not the smell of this authority (2:78). Parris knows about Proctor, as he tells his niece Abigail

There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit. Do you understand that? (1:10).

With this scene, Miller illustrates how a head of the theocracy could care less about the people,

and would rather preserve his power and undermine all negative opinions to his name.

In his tragedy, Miller also portrays the character Thomas Putnam as a member of the

corrupt state. Rather than being directly involved with the church, Putnam represents the

privileged few who use a crumbling society to their advantage. In the play, Putnam is often seen

arguing with others over land inheritance. In a debate with Giles Corey, an elderly farmer, Corey

claims that the disputed land belongs to Corey rather than Putnam, to which Putnam responds

with Ill have my men on you, Corey! Ill clap a writ on you! (1:33). In this scene, Putnam is

shown for his true character, a greedy man out for others territory. Once the witch trials begin,

Putnam continues his land war. During the trials, Corey states The proof is there! I have it from

an honest man who heard Putnam say it! The day his daughter cried out on Jacobs, he said shed

given him a fair gift of land. (3:96). Here Miller portrays how Putnam had his daughter falsely

accuse someone, and receives a lad gift over it. Due to Putnam's corrupt ties to the court,

however, Giles Corey is executed for not giving out the name of the villager who proves

Putnam's guilt, illustrating the true character of Thomas Putnam.

In The Crucible, the main antagonist of the tragedy is Abigail Williams. Abigail is one of

the girls found dancing in the woods, and after managing to fool the vast majority of the village

her uncle Parris declares her to be bewitched. Once declared to be bewitched, Abigail her power
 Reilly 5

to take out all of her enemies, one of which includes Elizabeth Proctor; John Proctors Wife.

Whenever Abigails actions are questioned, she simply responds with No, I cannot, I cannot

stop my mouth; its Gods work I do (3:115), and since the word of God is valued above basic

logic, the people do not object to this. Abigail eventually succeeds at imprisoning Elizabeth by

fooling Detective Cheever with a simple puppet. Cheever states Tis [sic.] hard proof. I find here

a poppet [sic.] Goody Proctor keeps. I found it, sir. And in the belly of the poppet [sic.] a

needles stuck (2:75). In addition to this, Abigail also succeeds at imprisoning the main

protagonist John Proctor, by faking an invisible crime (3:100). In the Salem Witchcraft Papers,

it states At night she complained of Goodm [sic.]: Proctor again & beat upon her breast & cryed

[sic.] he pinched her (Abigail Williams). Through this, Miller successfully shows how one

young girl had managed to exploit the corruption of the court, and successfully imprison two

innocent people, with little more than simple trickery.

In Millers Allegory, John Proctor is portrayed as the flawed protagonist, an imperfect

character who overcomes his shortcomings and sacrifices himself for the good of the people and

the township. In the tragedy, John Proctor is seen as the enlightened one, consistently preaching

how the church is corrupt and how innocent are being executed due to this. During a meeting

with Reverend Hale, Proctor had brings up an interesting viewpoint on the matter of confessions.

Proctor states And why not, if they must hang for denyin [sic.] it? There are them that will

swear to anything before theyll hang; have you never thought of that (2:69). From this,

Reverend Hale slowly begins to realize that Proctor is indeed right, and that the church knows of

this as well but solely continues with their actions to their own benefit. At the time, Proctor was

the only one to realize this, and finally starts the successful revolution that the town of Salem

desperately needs.
 Reilly 6

In the play, Proctor testifies against Abigail in court in order to save his wife, family, and

friends, however through the corrupt court system and Abigails lies, the protagonist of the

tragedy loses the case. Rather than falsely confessing, Proctor goes in front of the whole village,

and delivers the truth to the town. In front of the church, Proctor states I say - God is dead

(3:119). This had not only expressed Proctors opinion, but showed how the church was in the

situation for its own good, and how God is being silenced by the church. To follow this, Proctor

yells You are pulling Heaven down and raising up a whore! (3:120). With this, Miller

demonstrates how Proctor has defied the church, as he refuses to falsely confess, and goes out

arguing his innocence to the death, showing Salem who the real witches are.

In Millers The Crucible, the character Deputy Danforth is used to represent the old,

dying generation that refuses to move on from outdated cultures. Once Proctor says he wants to

keep his life, Danforth insists that Proctor is guilty and must confess, causing an argument with

Reverend Hale. Hale pleads to Danforth I have sought a Christian way, for damnations

doubled on a minister who counsels men to lie. (4:132), to which Danforth responds with It is

no lie, you cannot speak of lies (4:132), to which Hale ends the argument with It is a lie! They

are innocent! (4:132). After this debate Proctor falsely confesses to Danforth, but refuses to sign

his name away to the church. Danforth demands this, but Proctor persists to refuse, causing

Danforth to order the execution. Before Proctor is executed, Danforth states Hang them high

over the town! Who weeps for these, weeps for corruption! (4:144), truly portraying the

complete ignorance and lack of reason of Danforth

In Millers tragedy,the failing theocracy of the village of Salem was portrayed through

the actions of the characters in The Crucible. When the 19 innocent people were hung in Salem,

it had sparked the beginning of the enlightenment in the Americas, a period in which the mass
 Reilly 7

populous had realized that the church wasn't the only explanation for events, and crimes such as

witchcraft were finally realized to be false or came with much simpler consequences. Even after

countless events like the Salem Witch Trials had occurred, some areas of the world still believe

in this insanity and innocent people to this day are punished for false acts. Many ponder if

humanity ever reach a point in which it stops punishing itself for inexistent acts, or if it will it

continue to blindly follow anyone who calls themselves a prophet.

Works Cited

Abigail Williams v. John Proctor(SWP No.107.1) The Salem Witchcraft Papers:

Verbatim Transcriptions of the Court Records in Three Volumes Ed. Paul Boyer and

Stephen Nissenbaum. U Virginia 2010, Salem.lib.Virginia.edu/texts/transcripts.html/

Accessed 28 Dec. 2016.

Lavanture, Douglas. Fear as Governance Arthur Miller's the Crucible as Contemporary

Reflection. Steppenwolf, 2008, pp. 12. www.steppenwolf.org/articles/fear-as-

governance-arthur-millers-the-crucible-as-contemporary-reflection/.
 Reilly 8

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, Viking Press, 1953.

Morone, James A. Hellfire Nation: the Politics of Sin in American History. New Haven,

Yale University Press, 2003.

Pelka, Fred. The Womens Holocaust. Humanitarian, vol. 52, no. 5, 3 Sept. 1992,

Ebscohost.http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=930207024

5&authtype=cookie,cpid&custid=s7075486&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Rissanen, Matti. Power and Changing Roles in Salem Witch Trials: The Case of George

Jacobs, Sr. Studia Neophilologica, vol. 84, no. 1, June 2012, pp. 119129.Ebscohost,

doi:10.1080/00393274.2012.668079.

Schiff, Stacey. The Devils Tongue. Stacy Schiff. Smithsonian, vol. 46, no. 7, 2015, pp.

3439. Ebscohost

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=110592162&authtype

=cookie,cpid&custid=s7075486&site=ehost-live&scope=site