Human
nature can sometimes make us do what is not the right thing to do. This is very
true in the first three parts of The Crucible.
Human nature is what we as humans do instinctually. We can control some parts
of human nature, but some we just cannot control. Whether we control them or
not, it affects the way we react when we are put in certain positions, such as the
characters in the play.
To
begin, there are many examples of human nature from the girl’s actions to trials
and allegations of witchcraft. The very first sign of human nature is to cover
up and deny something we regret, or something we can or will get into trouble for.
This is exactly what the girls do. In the beginning of the novel, they all get
their stories straight of who to blame and what to deny (Miller). In order to
further cover up their mess, the girls make a list with over thirty five names
of people that they are accusing of taking part in witchcraft (Miller 48). This
kind of behavior is obviously not something we cannot control, but it is our
instinct to do just as they did. Along with the girls, Elizabeth and one of the
other women accused of witchcraft try to find any excuse not to be hanged, and
to buy them more time. Elizabeth and Sarah Good both tell the judge that they
are pregnant (Miller 59 and 92). This is also human nature, they try and find
any reason to postpone or stop something from happening to them they do not
want to happen.
Additionally,
human nature also works the other way in The
Crucible. Along with blaming others, human nature that is shown in the play
is the instinct to find any reason to prove someone wrong or guilty. This kind
of human nature is shown by Danforth and Cheever. They try to prove that
Proctor is telling lies about his affair with Abigail in order to clear his wife’s
name by attacking his religion. They question him about how often he goes to
church and why he works on Sunday, which is not a very religious thing to do,
especially in Salem (Miller 96-98). As humans, we want the fault to fall on
someone else, so it will not fall upon us. We also do not want to proven wrong,
which is what Proctor was doing to Danforth and Cheever. No one wants to be
proven wrong. It is embarrassing, and these men were no exception.
Overall,
human nature plays both small and large roles in The Crucible. However, there is no denying human nature is shown
all throughout the play, and plays a large role in the plot. It affects the characters
decisions, actions, and reactions. These aspects are what makes the play what
it is, and why it is a classic piece of American literature.
Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY:
Penguin, 1996. Print.
No comments:
Post a Comment