The Crucible

Theme: Intolerance

Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.

Authors Purpose

• Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible, mirroring it to the concept of the puritans way of life.

• Showing the contrast of modern day life to 17th century. The consequences of the accusations wouldn’t be as severe, due to the lack of religious communities as one.

Authors attitude to theme

• If they were true Christians they would believe in forgiveness and not believe in killing people. Those who oppose the Government are therefore opposing god. Anyone who looked to be acting in a way that wasn’t the “norm” was seen as being a Witch as the puritans were very strict about how they were portrayed to each other and outsiders.

• John Proctor and Giles Corey spoke out against the court they were also going against god.

Textual Analysis

• The Crucible is set in a theocratic society, in which the church and the state are one, and the religion is a strict,

austere form of Protestantism known as Puritanism.

• (He turns to Abigail, his eyes narrowing) “Abigail what sort of dancing were you doing in the forest?” - Hale to Abigail

• Dancing is a sign of communicating with the Devil which is again being intolerant to Christianity

Character development

• There is no room for deviation from social norms, since any individual whose private life doesn’t conform to the established moral laws represents a threat not only to the public good but also to the rule of God and true religion.

• “Do you know your commandments, Elizabeth?” “And you, Mister?” – Hale questioning Elizabeth and Proctor about their dedication to Christianity

• They are also questioned about why they have not attended church recently which would suggest intolerance (going against the Christian way which is seen as the only way of life in Salem)

• Danforth is seen as intolerant and a narrow-minded judge.

• “…the entire contention of the star in these trials is that the voice of Heaven is speaking through the children”

• This shows that children now seem to be running the Court as who ever they accuse is seen as being a witch.

• In Salem, everything and everyone belongs to either God or the devil; dissent is not merely unlawful, it is associated with satanic activity.

• This dichotomy functions as the underlying logic behind the witch trials. As Danforth says in Act III, “a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it.”

• The witch trials are the ultimate expression of intolerance (and hanging witches is the ultimate means of restoring the community’s purity); the trials brand all social deviants with the taint of devil-worship and thus necessitate their elimination from the community.

Causes of Intolerance

• Fear of consequences and cowardice

“she’ll kill me for sayin’ that” – Mary Warren

• Showing puritans’ strict religious ways