Human Nature In The Crucible

Words: 1157
Pages: 5

The Crucible: A Study on the Primitiveness of Human Nature
Mankind will never truly rise above its savage predispositions. The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, takes place in the colony of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Rumors of witchcraft, originating from a small group of girls, cause the town to descend into madness and ultimately result in the punishment of hundreds of innocent lives. The play offers a commentary on human nature during times of great fear, in which a civilized society is reduced to a pack of irrational and anxious animals. Self preservation and greed cause individuals to abandon their morals regardless of the circumstance. Humanity will always be enslaved by these primal instincts, allowing societies to condone unspeakable acts of evil.
Fear caused by the witch trials motivate one to act selfishly in the name of self preservation. Mary Warren, one of the girls who began the rumors of witchcraft, is brought to court to testify against Abigail, the leader of the girls. When Abigail feigns a fit and accuses Mary of witchcraft, Mary loses all hope of defeating Abigail. She quickly turns to Abigail’s side and tells her opponents, “No, I love God; I go your way no more... Abby, Abby, I’ll never hurt you more!” (Act III; 119). In
…show more content…
Although The Crucible is historical fiction, the play captures patterns and events that have repeated themselves throughout history. One such event would be the Holocaust, where most communities chose to stay silent out of fear that the Nazis will make them their next target, while Nazi officers refused to question Hitler’s orders because they enjoyed having power over people’s lives. Though mankind can never fully overcome its fear or greed, it must learn to recognize the evil that results from their actions. Humanity must evolve beyond its selfishness and look to benefitting the majority in order to achieve a peaceful