Martin1

H.Martin
Ms.Martin
English10
13October2015
IntroductionandBodyParagraphExamples

FormerU.S.PresidentFranklinDelanoRooseveltoncestated,Wehavenothingtofear,
butfearitself.ThedestructivenatureoffeartowhichPresidentRooseveltalludesstandsinthe
foregroundofArthurMillers1952play
TheCrucible
.Millersplayretellstheeventsofthe
SalemWitchCrisis.Intheyears1691and1692masshysteriaandparanoiaeruptedinthesmall
PuritancommunityofSalem.Whenthechaosfinallysubside,twentySalemiteshadendured
accusations,stoodtrial,andbeenexecutedforallegedactsofwitchcraft.Historiansstilldebate
thepossiblecausesofthecrisis,butMillersaccountprovidesreaderswithasenseofthe
underlyingmotivations.Theflamesoffear,lust,andgreedgrowintoaragingfirethatburns
throughouttheSalemWitchCrisis,leavingonlytheashesofdestructionanddeathasgrim
remindersofhumanfallenness.
Volatileandvengeful,Millersantagonist,AbigailWilliamsusesherpersuasive
personalitytostrikefearintheheartsoffellowSalemitesafearthatplaysanintegralroleinthe
unfoldingcrisis.Todeflectattentionfromherownevilacts,Abigailfirstaccusesthepowerless
Tituba,aslaveinAbigailshome.Surroundedbyaccusersandintimidatedbythreats,the
atmosphereoffearoverwhelmsTituba,leadinghertocryoutNo,nodonthangTituba,Itell

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[thedevil]Idontdesiretoworkforhim(Miller44).Succumbingtofearsheaccuses,...[the
devil]cometomeonestormynight...andtherewasGoodyGood...andGoodyOsburn(47).
Marginalizedbyherstatusasaslave,Titubahasnorecoursebuttoturnonotherinnocentsinan
attempttospareherlife.ContinuingtospreadthroughoutSalem,thefearofdeathalso
confoundsMaryWarren,Abigailsfellowaccuser.AttheendofActII,whenJohnProctor
insiststhatMaryexposetheliesoftheafflictedgirlsinopencourt,sheexclaims,[Abigail]will
killmeforsayinthat,perpetuallyprofessing,Icannot,[theotherafflictedgirls]willturnon
me(80).Abigailsformerthreatstoshudder(20)anyonewhomayutterthetruthoftheirlies
provokesMarystrepidation.Fearfully,Maryremainstornbetweenarealitythatcouldspare
livesandadesiretoprotectherownwellbeing.Fromfalseaccusationstodangerousdeception,
fearrisesasoneprominentcauseoftheSalemWitchCrisis.
Egotisticalandinflated,ReverendParris,amanwhobelieve[s]he[i]sbeingpersecuted
whereverhe[goes](3)setsthetoneofparanoiathatpervadestheplay.Duringthefirstpivotal
momentsof
TheCrucible
,ParrischastisesAbigailforluringhisdaughterBettytotheDevils
lastpreserve(5).Ashisafflicteddaughterlaysmotionlessbeforehim,ReverendParris
admonishesAbigail:Nowlookyou,child,yourpunishmentwillcome...Butifyoutrafficked
withspiritsintheforestImustknowitnow,forsurelymyenemieswill,andtheywillruinme
withitlaterreinforcing,Abigail,doyouunderstandthatIhavemanyenemies?(10).
Neglectingtodemonstrateconcernforhissickdaughter,Parrissobsessivereferencestohis
enemiesrevealtheparanoiainherentinhispersonality.Tochannelthisanxiety,Parrispinpoints
JohnProctor,alocalfarmer,ashisprimaryenemy.ParrisaccusesProctorofleading,apartyin
thechurch...against[God]andallauthority(3031).Theministersflawedperceptionenergizes

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hissuspicionladencrusadeagainstProctoraswellasotherrespectedmembersofhis
congregation.Withinthemakeshiftcourtroom,ParrisseekstoundermineProctorsreputation
withsuggestionsthat[heenters]tooverthrowthecourt(88).Inactuality,Proctor,alongwith
others,enterthecourtinanattempttovindicatetheirwiveswhostandfalselyaccusedof
witchcraft.Parrissparanoidthoughts,onceprivatemurmurs,nowpermeateaspectacleofpublic
persecution.Bytheendoftheplay,Parrisheedstheillegitimateandmisguidednatureofhis
paranoia.Seekingabsolution,Parrispetitionsforthewronglycondemned.Heimplores,
Tonight,whenIopenmydoortoleavemyhouseadaggerclatteredtotheground.Youcannot
hang[JohnProctor].Thereisadangerforme.Idarenotstepoutatnight!(128).Ironically,
ParrisscampaigntovanquishProctorsdissent,facilitatestherealizationofhisdeepseated
fearsintheformofactualenemies.Pitifulandpowerless,Parrisseeksthesympathiesofa
barbariccourtone,thatinmanyways,hehelpedtocreate.