Salem Essay -- essays research papers

ESSAY : SALEM In 1692 in Salem Massachusetts a horrible chain of events occurred. A massive witch hunt began and a tidal wave of fear and suspicion swept over the tight knit Puritan town of Salem. A small group of girls began accusing the townspeople of witchcraft and the majority of the town believed these claims and full trials were held. If the accused victims did not confess to committing witchcraft it was more than likely that they would be put to death, hung in front of the town. Arthur Miller portrays this event in his novel The Crucible. The theme of Authority and Power is vital in The Crucible because of the abuses of power, the need for control and the absolute belief in authority figures lead to the witch hunt. Throughout the witch hunt the abuses of power are prevalent. The abuse was broad spectrum and everyone from the accusing girls to the judge are involved. Abigail Williams is the leader of the girls. She begins this charade in order to save herself and the other girl s from the punishment that they would have been handed down for them dancing in the woods. Abigail being a conniving girl sees the opportunity to save herself and seek revenge on people from the town who she feels "hate her and are trying to blacken her name in the community"(p.24 ). Abigail forces the other girls to go along with her plan by threatening them and forcing them to follow her "†¦either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you †¦"(p.20). Together the girls begin to destroy what was once a close community. Abigail is not alone in the abuses of power. The judge, Danforth has fallen under the girls spell and believes in them completely. Since he believes that the girls are right and decides that there is no way and accused person could actually be innocent. Due to this and judge Danforths ego he send s many people to their deaths still claiming innocence. Not only does Danforth refuse to hear opposition to the existence of witchcraft he creates the front that anyone who doubts that witchcraft is in Salem is trying to undermine the court (p. ). However it is apparent that he just does not want his authority to be questioned or his reputation tarnished. Danforth and Abigail are able to accomplish this becaus... .... Their beliefs that the girls are right has forced them to fear that they might be accused next. Abigail even dares say this to Danforth "Let you beware, Mr. Danforth. Think you be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits? Beware of it"! (p.108) Danforth does not pay attention to this but other members of the community do. They are afraid to do or say anything against Abigail or the girls even though the town believes that the girls are telling the truth. The witch hunt that occurred in The Crucible can be attributed to the theme of Authority and Power and since the community believed in those in a position of power, the abuses that these people did and their need for control increased the severity of the events. Had the town not placed such power in the hands of these girls and in the hands of strangers such as Rev. Hale and judge Danforth many lives would have been saved. The beliefs of the town gave those in a position of power a want for control and they began to stop at nothing to achieve that. The massacre of innocent people in Salem is a tragic event in history which is portrayed quite accurately in Arthur Millers The Crucible. Word Count: 1223