Arthur Miller’s Play Highlights That in Times of Adversity Some People Are only Interested in Self-Interest, No Matter What the Cost to the Innocent.

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of goodness in John Proctor”(125) The symbol of the crucible shows that the pressure changed John Proctor which allowed him to rise above. Parris remained self interested through the play despite John Proctor who changed when pressure was applied to do what is right.

Abigail was initially after Elizabeth, however Abigail’s evil selfish acts to protect her name has caused a lot of damage in the innocent town of Salem. Abigail manipulates the girls by threating them with “a pointing rekoning that will shreeder you”(26). Abigail has had a bad past, this tells us that she is not joking when she threatens the girls. Her ability to manipulate the court and those in authoity has allowed her to rise and get what ever she wants. When Abigail sees the consequences of her actions she blames it on someone else to avoid blackening to her name. Abigail blame Tibuta for when she laughs in church as she said “She sends her spirits on me in church”(46). Abigail initially wanted to “kill Goody Proctor!”(26), however John’s interested to save Elizabeth at all costs. The theme of self interest was mostly used by Abigail to deflect her sins to maintain her clean name. Abigail’s motivation caused her to become self interested to maintain her clean name at the cost of the innocent town of Salem.

Arthur Miller features that in times of hardship some characters become self interested and others make selfless decisions. Danforth show self interest in order to maintain his 30 year reputation despite Hale who shows some selfless about John Proctors hanging. John was interest to do what is right which resulted in the hanging, however Parris on the other hand did not want his 3 year reputation destoried because of the non sense created in his house. Abigails motivation caused here to become slef interested to avoid blackening to her name. The Crucible illustrates that humans can get swept away making decisions that can result with bad thing occuring the the innocent.

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