The crucible types of fear
Discuss the Various Types of Fear present in the crucible
In Arthur Miller’s, ‘The Crucible,’ Miller has displayed a society based around fear. Miller has used the symbolic representation of Salem throughout the notorious ‘witchcraft trial’ period to highlight the notion of fear that led to extreme hysteria. Such hysteria engulfed the whole community into a group of individuals whose actions were motivated by fear of condemnation. This representation has allowed miller to express his views on contemporary America throughout the McCarthy reign, as the similarity of fear as the ‘driving force’ for society is drawn attention too. Furthermore, Miller has identified the different types of fear, which influence individual’s actions throughout the play. Such fears have been categorized into three main areas, which are:
Fear of others
Fear of the Law/persecution
Fear of not being true to oneself
In a society filled with hysteria, and condemning of others, a lack of trust resulted. Subsequently, a fear of others came to fruition, as even close friends feared being condemned by each other.
Referring to quote one:
ABIGAIL, pulling her away from the window: I told him everything; he knows now, he knows everything we- BETTY: You drank blood, Abby! You didn't tell him that! ABIGAIL: Betty, you never say that again! You will never- BETTY: You did, you did! You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor! ABIGAIL, smashes her across the face: Shut it! Now shut it!
In a society filled with suspicion, such as the witch trial period in Salem, Miller has presented the notion of who can one really trust? This is as it is continually highlighted in ‘The Crucible,’ that individuals aren’t able to trust anyone but themselves. Thus creating a sense of fear surrounding all other community members, as the idea that someone was conspiring against them became a common thought.
The turn of events that occurred in ‘The Crucible’ derive
In Arthur Miller’s, ‘The Crucible,’ Miller has displayed a society based around fear. Miller has used the symbolic representation of Salem throughout the notorious ‘witchcraft trial’ period to highlight the notion of fear that led to extreme hysteria. Such hysteria engulfed the whole community into a group of individuals whose actions were motivated by fear of condemnation. This representation has allowed miller to express his views on contemporary America throughout the McCarthy reign, as the similarity of fear as the ‘driving force’ for society is drawn attention too. Furthermore, Miller has identified the different types of fear, which influence individual’s actions throughout the play. Such fears have been categorized into three main areas, which are:
Fear of others
Fear of the Law/persecution
Fear of not being true to oneself
In a society filled with hysteria, and condemning of others, a lack of trust resulted. Subsequently, a fear of others came to fruition, as even close friends feared being condemned by each other.
Referring to quote one:
ABIGAIL, pulling her away from the window: I told him everything; he knows now, he knows everything we- BETTY: You drank blood, Abby! You didn't tell him that! ABIGAIL: Betty, you never say that again! You will never- BETTY: You did, you did! You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor! ABIGAIL, smashes her across the face: Shut it! Now shut it!
In a society filled with suspicion, such as the witch trial period in Salem, Miller has presented the notion of who can one really trust? This is as it is continually highlighted in ‘The Crucible,’ that individuals aren’t able to trust anyone but themselves. Thus creating a sense of fear surrounding all other community members, as the idea that someone was conspiring against them became a common thought.
The turn of events that occurred in ‘The Crucible’ derive