The Crucible. How does Miller make vivid the triumph of superstition over reason and common sense in Salem?

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How does Millar make vivid the triumph of superstition over reason and common sense in Salem?

Robbie Morrison 11MCM

“Witchcraft is ipso facto, on its face and by its nature, an invisible crime is it not? Therefore who may possibly be witness to it? The witch and the victim.” In Arthur Millar’s ‘The Crucible’ logic and superstition are manipulated and entwined in a re-enactment of the Salem witch trials in America in the 1690’s. The governing system of Salem is a theocracy; the religious heads of the society make decisions and have power. Because the bible states that witches exist, when accusations of witchcraft start they’re taken as being reasonable before considering the circumstances surrounding them, thus superstition overcomes reason. Millar makes vivid the triumph of superstition by the symbolism of light in settings; light being symbolic of reason or goodliness and darkness being of evil or superstitions, His use of characterization of two key characters Proctor and Rebecca Nurse who are convicted and by the use of plot development, and also of reverend Hale's conflicting views throughout the play.

Millar makes vivid the triumph of superstition over common sense by the use of imagery and the symbolism of light in the settings in ‘The Crucible’.  In the first description of the reverend’s house, where Betty fakes her illness, there is a symbolic image of light; “there is a narrow window at the left. Through its leaded panes the morning sunlight streams.” This depicts a small window letting cracks of light into the room. The significance of the light entering being sunlight is important as the sun is often associated with gods, especially in the culture of American Indians who believe that the sun is their god. The sun comes from high above, like heaven, which is significant as the small cracks represent the small amount of heaven and therefore reasoning that is filtering through the room. Danforth later declares “we live no longer in the dusky afternoon when evil mixed itself with good and befuddled the world” Danforth is directly referring to darkness as being a symbol that is disguising goodness (In the form of light). The triumph of superstition is shown by the irony of what he says because it is clear to the reader that Salem’s way of life is cloudier of common sense than it ever has been. The words of the supposedly “highest intellectual” ; who has been entrusted by the community of Salem with the right to end the lives of John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse and many others shows no reason or analysis and his decisions are based solely on superstitious accusations. It is clear here that his sense of logic and reason couldn’t be more wrong, Millar’s presentation of this makes vivid the triumph of superstition over evil. In the last few lines of ‘The Crucible’ Elizabeth has accepted Proctor’s death as a condemnation of the church and has lost her husband for her cause, the common sense each of these Characters possesses is one that overcomes superstition. The goodness reflected in Elizabeth is shown in the last scene as the stage directions state that “the new sun is pouring upon her face” it underlines the goodness within her as heaven shines onto her. Elizabeth’s actions are deemed good so the actions of society are deemed bad. Thus the triumph of superstition over reason in the town is made vivid.

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Millar Makes vivid the triumph of superstition over reason by the characterization of Rebecca Nurse, a key characters in ‘the Crucible’. At The exposition of the play, when Reverend Hale meets Rebecca Nurse he states that “we have heard of your great charities as far as Beverly” this shows that Rebecca has a great deal of respect as a devout Christian woman not only in Salem but also abroad. There is a class system in Salem based on the Christian standing of the individual, Rebecca nurse therefore was in the highest class and had the highest level of respect in ...

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