Sample Essay
Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible shows the hysteria that took place in Salem in 1692. Although
the play is fiction, Miller based the plot of his play on historical events and his characters show how
paranoia and fear can escalate. A number of characters used this fear to benefit and they showed
selfishness and malfeasance. The two most despicable characters in the play were Rev. Parris and Judge
Danforth.
From the very beginning of the play, Rev. Parris demonstrated selfishness. Rev. Parris was
concerned more for his personal status in the town than even the health of his daughter in Act I. While
Betty lay unconscious in bed, Parris thinks about “a faction that is sworn to drive *him+ from *his+ pulpit
(Miller 10). He is more worried about his position than Betty. Later in the play, when John Proctor
states that he has proof that the court is unjust, Parris does not want to hear his evidence but assumes
that Proctor has “come to overthrow the court…” (Miller 82). He does not want to allow anyone to
threaten the court or his position of power within the court.
Like Parris, Judge Danforth is also unwilling to put his position of power in jeopardy. When John
Proctor and Mary Warren are willing to testify that the young women are faking their afflictions,
Danforth asks Proctor “what is your purpose here?” (Miller 83). Proctor states that he wants to save his
wife. Danforth says that he will save Elizabeth for a year if Proctor drops his charge. When Proctor
refuses, Danforth becomes defensive and states, “Then your purpose is somewhat larger” (Miller 85).
He did not want anyone to hear testimony that might weaken his court and bring uncertainty about his
rulings.
The Salem Witch Trials were horrible events in American history. Selfish, self-serving
personalities such as the characters Parris and Danforth could have easily perpetuated the injustice.
Although it is hard to believe that such injustice could happen in more modern times, the McCarthyism
of the 1950’s show that fear and hysteria is possible in any time period.