Draft Essay On The Crucible

Resource Description

‘Storytelling hints at human imperfections. Where there is perfection, there is no story to tell.’

Use Statement to consider how stories about the human experience can challenge assumptions or ignite new ideas. Discuss with close reference to The Crucible (Essay only talk about Crucible).

Consider: Representation, what human experiences? 

The human experience is a term for the realities of human existence including the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical characteristics of human life.

Paradoxes, abnormalities, inconsistencies – -> motivations, beliefs, attitude

Categories of human experiences: spiritual, physical, intellectual, cultural, emotional

Human Imperfections are part of the human experience

What Human imperfections were displayed in the Crucible?

Righteousness (Christian context? Current definition: the quality of being morally right or justifiable.)

– Rebecca Nurse, Reverend Hale, John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, Corey Giles

These people are considered righteous yet there are imperfections as they may be ‘unrighteous’ for the sake of loved ones, conscience, morals, etc. John Proctor ultimately had a righteous nature but did not commit unrighteous deeds such as adultery with Abigail, but he did show righteousness by forsaking his pride, image, reputation in an attempt to prove the innocence of Elizabeth. He also refused to sign the confession which states he had dealings with the devil although it would have saved his life but would have tarnished his name and his children ‘s. Corey Giles refused to expose the man that gave him proof of why his wife was innocent of witchcraft, in order to protect him from persecution from the court. Giles was then also lead into the accusations of witchcraft; even in death, Giles refused to ‘confess’ to witchcraft so his sons could inherit his farm and was pressed to death. Reverend Hale had a genuine desire to rid Witchcraft from Salem but after realising the fraud that the girls were, he realised that he had contributed to the killing of innocent people. In an attempt to salvage the last of his conscience he attempts to make Rebecca Nurse, Maria Giles and John Proctor lie about witchcraft. In some ways he was righteous in his intent but failed to be righteous in his actions, his attempt to save people can also be interpreted as a way to compensate for his own misdoings. He did stand up to Danforth and Parris in an attempt to convince them to not kill innocent people but to no avail. Rebecca was all around a righteous woman and she displayed the injustice of the court when she was arrested and convicted to death. Elizabeth Proctor was similar as she had mainly lived and thought righteously but lied to the court believing she was protecting her husband’s image.