'I didn’t do it! – Fear In The Crucible Essay\r'

'â€Å"Fear is plain the consequence of e real untruth”~Fyodor Dostoyevski. Dostoyevski explains that timidity and finesse execute hand to hand. sexual congress lies creates a diswhitethorn of be nonice having told a lie. In addition, champion sole(prenominal) conjures a lie if thither is something to blur. whence the discovery of secrets similarly induces forethoughtfulness. Fear, whether it be attention of animation, or reputation, pot heavily form the actions of society. It possess the ability to impair the head and actions of people. Similarly, in The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the t professspeople argon completely ruled by caution. This caution is mainly caused by the nonindulgent punishments given to those who violate prude morals. It also brings along a scent come on that 1 mustiness protect his give life and inte perchs. This need for ego-preservation leads to widespread defense mechanism and in some boldnesss, even the explosive char ge of others. Governed by the bane of Puritanical law, the township memorise to attention its consequences and become quickly to decline and charge up others of becharmery to celebrate themselves, which in the end leads to the tragic death of unacquainted(p) citizens\r\n passim the play, a stifling atmosphere of idolize lingers over Salem. This apprehension is caused by the ever-growing orifice of be charge of witchery. During this period, even the mentioning of the enounce â€Å"witchcraft” struck a chord of uneasiness into people. Punishment for this crime was arrant(a) and â€Å"a attend toing error” (18). witchery is closely associated with feeding and being accused meant one is on his route to death. In addition, witchcraft, according to Judge Danforth, is considered â€Å"ipso facto, on its shell and by its nature, an invisible crime”(100). tho â€Å"the witch and the victim” (100) may tin witness to the crime and â€Å"w e must deposit upon the victims [to] […] testify”(100). The victims, in this case, are the children. Consequently, with much(prenominal) an unjust method of court, the townspeople’s forethoughts are further augmented. Not totall(a)y do they fear being accused, they fear that their lives bequeath merely become a switch that a few children can turn on or mop up at a whim.\r\nFurther more(prenominal), they are intimidate by the judge, Danforth. â€Å"Near to four carbon are in the jails and seventy-two [are] condemned to hang by [his] signature” (87). His power as a judge allows him to essentially toss off people with a flick on his pen and the facility to which he does so is terrifying. Therefore it is hardly surprising that rampant(ip) terror resides in the colonisation. Also, the accusation of witchcraft brings one’s reputation into perspective. The fear of having one’s reputation dishonored is a nonher key contri besidesor to the vi llage’s overall uneasiness. In the sum of the play, Parris is paranoid that being associated with witchcraft in any form will drop his pose as a reverend.\r\nHe fears that â€Å"there is a faction that is swear to drive [him] from his pulpit” (10) and that people may â€Å"compromise [his] very character” (11) if his â€Å"own household is spy to be the very center of some obscene lend one egotism” (11). In addition, tin can invigilate non only exhibits fear for his reputation, but fear for his life as well. Proctor fears for his own life because he had an interest with Abigail. Lechery was punishable by hanging. In addition, if others discover his affair, it will dishonor his name. As a reply of the strict laws imposed on Puritan society, fear visits its way into Salem, filling all(prenominal) possible aspect of life and expiration no crack overlooked. With nowhere to hide from this terror, the inhabitants of Salem are forced to find refuge in their lies instead.\r\nA fear for existence causes the townsfolk to instinctively rank their own well being in an attempt for ego preservation. This sense of self preservation naturally induces widespread guile and abnegation as the townspeople urgently struggle to maintain their own interests, whether they be life or reputation. Being affiliate with witchcraft automatically menaceened one’s life and status. Reverend Parris, being the religious leader of Salem, is expected to sanction Puritan ethic, and be an example for the rest of the town. However when his â€Å"daughter and niece [are] discovered saltation like heathen in the woodwind instrument” (10), he fears that his reputation is brought into question because he thinks, that people â€Å"will howl [him] egress of Salem for such corruption in [his] house” (14). As a result, when the intuition of witchery comes up, Parris instantly dismisses it and â€Å"pray[s] leap not to witchcraft† (14).\r\nParris’s role as minister means that any connector of his that has anything to do with witchcraft is a threat to the security of his position and it is shown that he is quick to deny it. Likewise, Abigail and the girls are trapped in a dilemma. After being discovered summoning charms, they find themselves hounded into a respite by the hunchs that are laid upon them. She and the girls lie well-nigh their witchcraft in the timber in an attempt for self-preservation, â€Å"Why†super C dancing is all” (42). Because calling the pose is hanging crime, the children deny their witchcraft and plead to have danced in order to fall their punishment which is other example of preserving oneself. John Proctor is another character whose fabrication is induced by his life sonorous secrets. As he once said, â€Å"there are them that will swear to anything originally they’ll hang” (69).\r\nBoth him and Abigail abide by this precept. In Proctorâ €™s case he denies his former relationship with Abby because it ruins his compass in his wife’s eyeball and because it is lechery. He tells Abby to â€Å"wipe it out of listen” and claims that â€Å"we never touched” (23). By denying their affair, it is shown that Proctor fears the consequences that may arise and possesses an innate sense of self-preservation. Abigail on the other hand, goes to even greater lengths to protect herself from the harsh penalties of the law. Her need for self preservation is so strong, that she even lies to the judge, denying that she had an affair with Proctor and that she was previously take a chanceing in court.\r\nWhen Abigail is asked to confirm her affair with Proctor, she threatens Danforth saying, â€Å"If I must answer that, I will see and I will not come back again!” (111). This demonstrates that Abigail is aware of her actions but will not admit it for doing so will mark her as a perpetrator of innocent mur der. In addition, her denial is influenced by the risk of death by lying to the court. It is evident that the widespread fear in this society is a ride force that compels the characters to behave in slipway that will protect their status and lives. However, this denial becomes an issue when others are dragged into the fire.\r\nWhen denial does not sufficiently channel away the suspicions laid upon them, some characters go so off the beaten track(predicate) as to accuse others. This leads to undesirable consequences, such as the loss of many innocent lives, that soon become unstoppable. bloody shame rabbit warren is one of many characters who point fingers to others in order to hold open themselves. Characterized as an unsteady, and unconfident person, Mary is easily overcome by the fear of execution. During her testimony to the court, Proctor’s aim to prove Abigail as a witch goes terribly wrong. Rather than rhaving Abigail accused, Danforth charges Mary with lying to th e court and she suddenly finds that she has become the victim. As a result, she blames Proctor, â€Å"You’re the bewilder’s man! I’ll not hang with you! […] you come at me by shadow and every day to sign […] The jaw’s book” (118). This shows that after being overwhelmed with fear, Mary’s anxiety explodes and she decides to accuse the very person who dragged her into court in an attempt to free herself from the spotlight. Consequently, John Proctor, a man innocent of witchcraft is hung.\r\n much crucial however, are the accusations made by the children. Led by Abigail, the children, at first, pretend to be bewitched because it was considered sport. They soon involve that by doing so, they are exempt from witchcraft as they are considered ‘God’s fingers’. By taking this position, the girls free themselves from accusation and all suspicion which is the ideal position to be in. During Mary’s testimony, Danforth becomes more and more convinced that she is telling the truth. This places more suspicion on Abigail and the girls. As a result, they renovate to accusing Mary Warren of displace her spirit out to them, â€Å"Mary, do you publicise this shadow on me?” (109).\r\nIn another instance, while the girls are being questioned about who they precept with the lambaste, they proceed to chant out the names of random townsfolk, â€Å"I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil! I saw George Jacobs with the Devil! I saw proficienty Howe with the Devil” (48). Furthermore, Abigail herself, partakes in these accusations even while she is outside of court. When Hale presses her with questions relating to her witchcraft, her slave enters â€Å"and instantly Abigail points at Tituba” saying, â€Å"She made me do it! She made Betty do it!” (43).\r\nAgain, Abigail frames someone in order to save her own life. With the blame now in Tituba, she, in return, claimed she sa w Goody Good and Goody Osburn with the Devil. These repeated accusations continue unrestrained and soon, the entire town is enveloped with an atmosphere of fear. These bogus accusations also cause the trials to be prolonged. Because of all these accusations, more and more people are sent to court. With the corrupt children as juries, more and more are sentenced to the grave. The extent to which the townspeople go to in order to save themselves ultimately results in widespread inequity and executions.\r\nFor the entirety of the play, the townspeople are strangled with an ever-growing atmosphere of fear. With its cold judges, corrupted juries, and repelling punishments, it is not surprising that such an factor of fear was present in Salem. In return, the people develop an instinct for self preservation which requires denial to achieve. However, such widespread denial and lies result in ungoverned accusations. These accusations are often carried through and the fear of death soo n spreads. Therefore a never ending cycle of terror is the outcome and the town ultimately gives way to chaos.\r\n'