The Crucible- Good Vs Evil Essay

In the past, every decade and every generation has had its momentous event that has shaped it and left a
mark on its history. The 1600's were no different. In The Crucible, the author, Arthur Miller, demonstrates
many examples of the complexity of “good” and “evil” in his characters. He does this through many
characters, seen and unseen. The entire village bases its belief system on the conflict between Good vs.
evil, or Satan vs. God. It may seem like evil is winning, as one innocent person after another is put to
death. The towns people are mislabeling people as good or evil like Mary Warren, although they have
very little evidence. Rebecca Nurse is an outstanding example of honesty, and a well-respected member
of the community and the church. Rebecca, is accused of killing Mrs. Putnam's babies and witchcraft.
Saving the last for the best Abigail Williams, uniquely gifted at spreading death and destruction wherever
she goes. She has an eerie sense of how to manipulate others and how to gain control over them. All
these things add up to make her a marvelous antagonist. So who really has a pact with the Devil? Or is it
just non-sense taking the lives of innocent people?

Rebecca Nurse is a pillar of the community, a devoutly religious woman in her seventies. When she is
accused of witchcraft, it makes the Reverend Hale pause and reconsider whether the proceedings are
just and fair. "Pray, John, be calm. Pause.This will set us all to arguin' again in the society, and we
thought to have peace this year. I think we ought rely on the doctor now, and good prayer. Rebecca, the
doctor's baffled! There is prodigious danger in the seeking of loose spirits. I fear it, I fear it. With a growing
edge of sarcasm: But I must! You think it God's work you should never lose a child, nor grandchild either,
and I bury all but one? There are wheels within wheels in this village, and fires within fires! When
Reverend Hale comes, you should proceed to look for signs of witchcraft here (28-29)." After her arrest
and conviction, Rebecca continues to be a pillar of the community, but this time, the community is falsely
accusing innocent people. "Against you? Against him and all authority! Why, then I must find it and join it.
He does not mean that. He confessed it now! I mean it solemnly, Rebecca; I like not the smell of this
"authority. " No, you cannot break charity with your minister. You are another kind, John. Clasp his hand,
make your peace." (27-28) She is an example of strength and resolve for those who choose not to
confess, even though it means going to their death.

Although the audience is aware that the categories of “good” and “evil” have gotten terribly mixed up in
this play, Mary is faced with a life or death situation: if she does what is really “good” she will die by those
who hold the power and declare it “not good;” whereas if she does what is wrong, she ends up lying.
"Mary, tell the Governor what they- when, seeing him coming for her, she rushes out of his reach,
screaming in horror. Don't touch me-don't touch me! I'll not hang with you! I love God, I love God. He bid
you do the Devil's work? He come at me by night and every day to sign, to sign, to- Sign what? The
Devil's book? He come with a book? My name, he want my name. "I'll murder you," he says, "if my wife
hangs! We must go and overthrow the court," he says! Mr. Hale! I love God, I bless God. Sobbing, she
rushes to Abigail. Abby, Abby, I'll never hurt you no more. What are you? Proctor is beyond speech in his
anger. You are combined with anti-Christ, are you not? I have seen your power; you will not deny it! What
say you, Mister? (118-120). Marry joins those with power who declare that this is, indeed, good. No
wonder many people chose to confess and align with powerful forces... Although Mary tires to do good in
the first place, and speak the truth she is out in a difficult situation. Her actions have consequences and
she knows that. "What'll we do? The village is out! The whole country's talkin' witchcraft! They'll be callin'
us witches, Abby! Abby, we've got to tell. Abby, we’ve got to tell. Witchery's a hangin' error, a hangin' like
they done in Boston two year ago! We must tell the truth, Abby! You'll only be whipped for dancin', and
the other things! (17-19)" What would you do in a life or death situation? The same thing or another
route?
Abigail Williams, the "Villain Extraordinaire" is vengeful, selfish, manipulative, and a magnificent liar. No
one would want to have this hound lady as a enemy; beware. Uniquely gifted at spreading death and
destruction wherever she goes, this all adds up to make her a marvelous antagonist. Abigail serves as the
spark of hate in the play. She tempts John Proctor into adultery and commits acts against the Puritan
Religion. " Oh, I marvel how such a strong man may let such a sickly wife be- You'll speak nothin' of
Elizabeth! She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me! She is a cold, sniveling
woman, and you bend to her! Let her turn you like a- Do you look for whippin? (22-24) " Though Abigail
pretends she’s angry at Elizabeth Proctor for damaging her reputation, the more powerful emotion is envy
of Elizabeth for her marriage to John Proctor. She resorts to petty name-calling in order to cast doubt in
John’s mind. To escape her punishment when found in the unlawful act of dancing she deflects her
actions and blames them on other girls. " Why can she not wake? Are you silencing this child? I love me
Betty! You have sent your spirit out upon this child, have you not? Why you say that, Abby? Sometimes I
wake and find myself standing in the open doorway and not a stitch on my body! I always hear her
laughing in my sleep. I hear her singing her Barbados songs and tempting me with- Mister Reverend, I
never- Tituba, I want you to wake this child. I have no power on this child, sir. You most certainly do, and
you will free her from it now! When did you compact with the Devil? I don't compact with no Devil!
(42-43)." Abigail falsely accuses Tituba of witchcraft and lays the foundation for the twisting of justice in
Salem, in which good and innocent people are accused and convicted by those without integrity. From
this point on, it is apparent to us that something is deeply amiss in Salem – that the beliefs and paradigms
of that society allow, or even promote, such unjust outcomes...

The towns people of Salem, are mislabeling innocent people of being good and evil. The worst part is
innocent people are the good ones, and the ones said to be "good" are evil. Imagine being in a life or
death situation like Mary Warren? Would you lie knowing that there could be other innocent people out
there being treated like you are? Well everyone has there own personal choices. Life in the 1600's talking
medicine wise, wasn't advanced as it is today. Mrs. Putnam's babies could of died because of an illness
or any other birth cause, Rebecca nurse a women in her seventies wouldn't have the heart to do that, in
my opinion. She's just an example of those who are innocent, but mislabeled as doing bad (evil). Abigail
Williams the the "Villain Extraordinary" is a whole different story. Williams being manipulated, and
vengeful because she's not the one married to John Proctor, is willing to do anything to make Elizabeth
get out of her way... All resulting in a big tragedy, all full of mislabeling.