Crucible Essay

                What 3 characters were most responsible for the Salem Witch Trails in "The Crucible"?

           In the small town of Salem Massachusetts the possession of power was the driving force throughout the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Control over the town quickly became a power struggle between the main characters. Power can often lead people to do irrational things in order to obtain. Arthur Miller tells the story of how the struggle for power can cause catastrophes such as the Salem Witch Trials, a tragic event in American history. There were many contributors to the Salem Witch Trials in the play, but when considering the people involved at the heart of the trials it is apparent that they were all connected to the struggle for power. In the play The Crucible Reverend Parris, Abigail Williams, and Mary Warren were the three characters most accountable for the Salem Witch Trials-all driven by the yearn for power.

            Reverend Parris was a heavy contributor to the start of the witch trials.  As reverend, Parris had the position of the leader in the town. However, just because one might hold the role of a leader it does not guarantee that person has the characteristics or qualities to be a leader. Parris is not a leader, although he tries to be one. Many times throughout the story Parris shows his weakness and inability to command the situation. When Betty falls ill Parris is worried most about his own reputation in the town. He refuses to tell anyone of how he discovered Betty and Abigail dancing in the forest, for he is afraid that it will look bad on him. Parris says, “Now tell me true Abigail. And I pray you feel the weight of truth upon you, for now my ministry is at stake, my ministry and perhaps your cousin’s life” (11). This line shows how much he cares about his reputation in the town for he emphasizes that over his own daughter’s life. He is scared that the town will judge him for the way the girls acted under his care, therefore lowering his authority and control in the town. If Parris had admitted in the beginning that he had come across the girls dancing in the forest, startling them him he might have stopped the snowball of events that lead to the hangings and trials. But because of the fear of losing his power Parris inadvertently confirms the witchcraft accusations, resulting in the Salem Witch Trials.

            Abigail Williams not only contributes to the beginning of the trials, but also influences the trails to continue, killing more people each day. In the play Abby is a leader. She snatches the position and keeps a firm grip on it. She tells Parris, “I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him; I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil” (48)! Abby confesses this only a few minutes after she swore to Parris that she had never trafficked with the Devil. But once she realizes the power that the even the slave Tituba has received, she confesses receiving the power herself. She and the other girls who follow behind her have become saintly in the community. As Abby recognizes this she decides to use this newly obtained power for her own excitement and to be with John Proctor--which she will stop at no ends to do. With the help of the girls she preserved the witch trials and accusations by playing on the fear of others.

            Although Mary Warren did not initiate the trials or accusations, she did help them to continue on. Mary was a follower. She was a weak and vulnerable girl who was sucked in by Abigail. By following Abigail’s lead in court she had gained herself a sense of power over the people in the town. When Abigail charged Elizabeth Proctor for sending her soul upon her and stabbing her, Mary had the power to stop Abby’s reign right there and then, which could have ended the hangings and trials. All Mary had to do was stand up and admit that Abby was faking. If she had said that Abby was sitting next to her and stuck it in herself than all of Abby’s authority would have been stripped away because good Christians do not lie. Instead Mary proved how truly passive she was by letting Elizabeth Proctor be taken away for witchery. When asked if she stuck the needle in the poppet herself Mary replies, “I-I believe I did, sir, I-” (75). Although she knew that Elizabeth had not stuck the needle in the poppet she did not admit that Abby did either. Instead she gave a submissive response that was overlooked by all which left Elizabeth guilty but also let the trials proceed.

            In The Crucible Reverend Parris, Abigail Williams, and Mary Warren were most responsible for the Salem Witch Trials. The story signified the importance of power. It showed what having it can lead to, but also what not having it can lead to. Reverend Parris and Abigail contributed greatly to the trials because they wanted to keep or gain power. However Mary Warren let the trials go on even when she had the power to stop them by not having the power to speak up and stop Abby. In the end all three characters contributed to the trials in a significant way.