The Crucible; Fear and Suspicion essays

The Crucible; Fear and Suspicion essays In the story of the Crucible, by Arthur Miller, he tells of Colonial times and some of the issues the colonists faced. His main focus, however, dealt with the mental and emotional flaws of the early American people. Throughout the story we see how fear and suspicion can take over a person, and cause them to act unusually and rashly. It is this concept that the author focused on when righting the play, the frailty and instability of the human mind. In the beginning of the play, we are quickly shown the issue at hand. The young girls and Tituba have been seen performing some sort of ritual. Reverend Parris catches them in the act, and immediately his mind is full of fear. Fear that if the people knew his daughter, one of the young girls, was part of this sinful act, he might be punished as well. The girls are also afraid, because if they are found out they too might face harsh punishment. It is this fear that causes Abigail to threaten Betty to stay quiet, saying I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you . . .. I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down! She is the first to show the evil effect fear can have on a person. The others began to show these signs as well, as they began there false accusations and cause even more chaos among the people. Suspicion then sets in and takes control of the citizens, which is what caused the many deaths and hangings of the Salem Witch Trails. Suspicion blocks all trust among the citizens, and they act irrationally, beginning the large amount of accusations made and deaths that occurred. The entire colony then falls into a state of chaos, everyone afraid of one another, each person suspecting the other of working for the Devil. The chaos continues, and it isnt until the end when Reverend Hale states, It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Life, woman, life is God's most precious gift...