The Devil wears Prada. As the saying goes, the demonic figure does not take the form of a scary, disfigured being but uses a disguise (such as high-fashion) to hide their desires. The people of Salem are portrayed the same way. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, the powerful role of female characters such as Abigail Williams, Tituba and Mary Warren portray their own example of McCarthyism, proving that their actions shape the plot of the play.
Abigail Williams plays the role of accuser as she uses her own form of McCarthyism to persuade the people of the village in her favor. For example, when talking to John Proctor, she states that “She (Elizabeth) is blackening my name… John, pity me, pity me!” (Miller I.22). Abigail falsely accuses Elizabeth …show more content…
For instance, the first accusation of Tituba comes from Abigail when she exclaims, “I never called him! Tituba, Tituba…” (I.40). This leads to Reverend Hale responding, “I should like to speak with Tituba” (I.40). Solely based off Abigail’s words, Tituba becomes accused of witchcraft because of her “outcast” appearance. This proves how the ideals of McCarthyism are intertwined throughout the plot, picking on the minorities of the play. To get out of this, Tituba proclaims to Reverend Hale that she “love God with all my bein’ “(I.42). The idea of Tituba acting as a follower of God is unknown, however she states that she does because if not then she will be executed. This further proves how these “witch trials” are sprinkled with the ideals of McCarthyism in which Tituba takes the side of God to avoid execution. Moreover, Tituba furthers attempts to prove that she lives as a follower of God, finally when she states,” He say Mr. Parris must be kill!…he bid me rise out if my bed and cut your throat! I tell him ‘No! I don’t hate that man!” (I. 44). Although she states that this was told to her by the supposed “Devil”, Tituba’s motives are once again unknown. However, this shows her ability to say whatever she wants under this idea of McCarthyism, if her virtues of being a follower of God are …show more content…
To exemplify, when talking to John Proctor she tells him that “She’ll kill me for sayin’ that! Abby’ll charge lechery on you” (III. 76). Mary Warren has a relationship with both Abigail (accuser) and Goody Proctor (accused), however the pressure that Abigail withholds on her ideally leads to the final decision of Mary Warren. In addition, Mary Warren shouts her final decision stating that, “I cannot lie no more. I am with God, I am with God” (III.94). As, she reaches her breaking point, she can no longer “lie” to the court and accuses John Procter in the process of saying it. This proves how McCarthyism overall shapes the plot of the play because Mary Warren can no longer fight for the side of John Proctor. Finally, Mary Warren’s accusations are to be questioned as she states that,” I-I used to faint because I-I thought I saw spirits” (III.99). Her beliefs of spirits should not hold any justification in court, as is everything that she says. However, because she supposedly proclaims it in the name of God, the decision of executing John Proctor falls into her favor. This proves how Mary Warren’s falling into the temptation of McCarthyism leads to the execution of John Proctor and the climax of the plot.
In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, the Scapegoat Effect shapes the plot through the actions of Abigail Williams, Tituba, and
Abigail Williams plays the role of accuser as she uses her own form of McCarthyism to persuade the people of the village in her favor. For example, when talking to John Proctor, she states that “She (Elizabeth) is blackening my name… John, pity me, pity me!” (Miller I.22). Abigail falsely accuses Elizabeth …show more content…
For instance, the first accusation of Tituba comes from Abigail when she exclaims, “I never called him! Tituba, Tituba…” (I.40). This leads to Reverend Hale responding, “I should like to speak with Tituba” (I.40). Solely based off Abigail’s words, Tituba becomes accused of witchcraft because of her “outcast” appearance. This proves how the ideals of McCarthyism are intertwined throughout the plot, picking on the minorities of the play. To get out of this, Tituba proclaims to Reverend Hale that she “love God with all my bein’ “(I.42). The idea of Tituba acting as a follower of God is unknown, however she states that she does because if not then she will be executed. This further proves how these “witch trials” are sprinkled with the ideals of McCarthyism in which Tituba takes the side of God to avoid execution. Moreover, Tituba furthers attempts to prove that she lives as a follower of God, finally when she states,” He say Mr. Parris must be kill!…he bid me rise out if my bed and cut your throat! I tell him ‘No! I don’t hate that man!” (I. 44). Although she states that this was told to her by the supposed “Devil”, Tituba’s motives are once again unknown. However, this shows her ability to say whatever she wants under this idea of McCarthyism, if her virtues of being a follower of God are …show more content…
To exemplify, when talking to John Proctor she tells him that “She’ll kill me for sayin’ that! Abby’ll charge lechery on you” (III. 76). Mary Warren has a relationship with both Abigail (accuser) and Goody Proctor (accused), however the pressure that Abigail withholds on her ideally leads to the final decision of Mary Warren. In addition, Mary Warren shouts her final decision stating that, “I cannot lie no more. I am with God, I am with God” (III.94). As, she reaches her breaking point, she can no longer “lie” to the court and accuses John Procter in the process of saying it. This proves how McCarthyism overall shapes the plot of the play because Mary Warren can no longer fight for the side of John Proctor. Finally, Mary Warren’s accusations are to be questioned as she states that,” I-I used to faint because I-I thought I saw spirits” (III.99). Her beliefs of spirits should not hold any justification in court, as is everything that she says. However, because she supposedly proclaims it in the name of God, the decision of executing John Proctor falls into her favor. This proves how Mary Warren’s falling into the temptation of McCarthyism leads to the execution of John Proctor and the climax of the plot.
In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, the Scapegoat Effect shapes the plot through the actions of Abigail Williams, Tituba, and