Causes of Conflict - The Crucible

Causes of conflict: “Conflict is often the result of differing beliefs.” “Power imbalances will inevitably produce conflict.” Expository Plan: The Crucible – causes of conflict     Claims that people practice witchcraft John Proctor does not believe in the existence of witches which is a huge inconsistency with the rest of society – Salem Fear Deep Desires Differing beliefs  Witches exist vs. Witches don’t exist Power imbalance     Danforth – everything that he says goes Hale doesn’t agree with Danforth John Proctor tries to gain power Abigail has a lot of power – she is able to trick people into thinking others are witches through her very convincing deceitful tricks and lies and also make the girls all play along with her lies “Power imbalances will inevitably produce conflict.” The 1996 film ‘The Crucible’, directed by Nicholas Hytner, based on a play of the same name written by Arthur Miller, is a film set in the late 17th Century that explores the trials of witches. Many different types of conflict arise very often in the film; including: religious conflict and political conflict. Power – in The Crucible – comes in two forms; there is political power, religious power and social or manipulative power. People in the society with more power are usually greedy for more power, or abuse the power that they have to get what they want – their selfish desires. This means that people with less or no power have no chance to gain power, therefore, resulting in conflict. Conflict – the state of disharmony between or within individuals with incompatible ideas, interests or desires – is inevitably caused by the imbalance in power between people. Judge Danforth, the presiding judge in Salem for witch craft, is a man with a lot of political power. He is seen as a tyrannical judge who dictates the courtroom. Danforth believes that he is doing the right thing by using his power to eliminate all evil and make the existence of witches a thing of the past. Even though he does not abuse the power he has, Danforth is a gullible person who thinks that the young girls are incapable of being so wicked as to lie and accusing innocent people of witchcraft then watching them bet hanged. The power that Danforth possesses is not abused, but he uses this power to make wrong judgments which results in murdering the innocent and causing conflict between the accusers and the victims. For example, when Mary is testifying that she had never seen a spirit, Judge Danforth does not believe her and trusts ’innocent, pretty’ Abigail instead, who is acting as if Mary is sending her spirit to harm everyone. This results in conflict between Mary, Abigail and John who all want to be innocent. Therefore, Judge Danforth’s authoritative power is used against people with no power by a manipulative Abigail. Abigail Williams possesses manipulative power towards her community and she uses her power to get what she wants. Abigail Williams is still only a girl and this is the thing that gives her the most power. Abigail gets away with lying and threatening people because she is young, nobody expects her to be so evil. Girls in the Puritan society in Salem are considered to be of much lower status than men, therefore, nobody expects a girl to possess so much power. Abigail ruthlessly controls all the girls to act the way she wants by threatening them. For example, when Abigail wants all of the girls to pretend that they did not do anything but dance, she threatens them by telling them she “will come to you (the girls) in the black of some terrible night, and I will bring with me a pointy reckoning that will shudder you.” By using these kinds of threats, Abigail gets people to act the way she wants them to. Consequently, Abigail’s manipulative power is able to control the whole society and cause havoc in Salem. Since Abigail possesses more power than the girls, she is able to control them so that she can get what she wants. Reverend John Hale uses his power as a ‘man-of-God’ to hunt down people who are believed to be witches and this causes conflict. As the best ‘witch-hunter’, Hale has a certain amount of power that he can use. However, Hale changes throughout the film and Nicholas Hytner’s film ‘The Crucible’ cleverly portrays the imbalance in power between people. Where people in the society with a lot of power use their power in different ways: some to get what they want and some to act the way they think is righteous. The imbalance of power is evident in the puritan society of Salem where God and religion rules first. Where men are more powerful than women. Key Characters: Abigail Williams A passionate young woman who knows her desires and tries to achieve them by carrying out underhand methods, such as lies and deceit. Abigail Williams is also a very threatening person. She uses threats to get the girls to do what she wants. “Shut up! All of you. We danced. That is all, and mark this, if anyone breathe a word or the edge of a word about the other things, I will come to you in the black of some terrible night, and I will bring with me a pointy reckoning that will shudder you! And you know I can do it. I saw Indians smash my dear parents' heads on the pillow next to mine. And I have seen some reddish work done at night. And I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down! “ She also goes so far as to eliminating her competition and anyone that stands in her way. When reverend John Hale was becoming suspicious and starting doubt the court, which was going to risk Abigail’s lies being exposed, she went to Judge Danforth and claimed that Hale’s wife was a witch. Abigail tells Danforth, “A woman comes to my bed every night now and tears out my eyes,” who responds by asking, “Can you make out who she may be?” Abigail says that the woman is John Hale’s wife and continues by saying that “Satan may reach anyone,” after Judge Danforth dismisses the idea. Abigail is ruthless and will not stop at anything to get the one thing she wants – John Proctor. John Proctor John Proctor is a man that has many flaws. His past actions influenced his future and he tries to suppress his guilt of cheating on his wife by treating her with extra care and love. “It is not on a boat we will meet again Abigail, but in hell.” “I like not, the smell of this authority” Reverend John Hale Reverend John Hale is referred to as the best witch hunter around and throughout the film he goes through a huge revelation. Elizabeth Proctor Elizabeth Proctor is also known as ‘Goody Proctor’ showing that she is a very good person, because people will only get nicknamed ‘Goody’ when they truly are good people. She was a puritan, which is a person that is devoted to giving their life to God. She also dislikes Abigail because she committed adultery with her husband. However, Elizabeth realizes, in the end, that it was partly her fault that her husband cheated on her. Near the end, as Elizabeth was saying her last words to John this is what she says. “It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery” When reverend John Hale visits their home and asks Elizabeth and John about the commandments, Elizabeth replies that he should ”Question Abigail Williams about the gospel, not myself!” Judge Danforth Judge Danforth is a righteous man, in his own opinion. The tyrannical ruler of the Salem courtroom who thinks he is doing good by ruling out witchcraft. Giles Corey A man who is known to be quick to file law suits. “The man is killing his neighbours for their land!” Key Scenes: When Elizabeth is brought into the courtroom and asked whether John had committed adultery  Key example of internal conflict When the girls pretend that Mary was sending their spirit onto them  Key example of conflict caused by fear When Elizabeth is brought into the courtroom and is asked whether John had committed adultery. This scene is a key example of internal conflict. Danforth asks Elizabeth “To your knowledge, has John Proctor committed the crime of lechery? Answer my question! Is your husband an adulterer?” Elizabeth is battling, in her mind, what she should say. If she says that her husband committed adultery, he would be saved and Abigail would be punished, however, if she said that John was innocent of the crime, he would be sent to jail. In the movie, she battles whether or not she should turn him in or say that he is innocent. When the girls falsely accuse and pretend that Mary was sending her spirit on them. This scene is set in the courtroom where Mary says that she had never seen any spirits, but the girls, led by Abigail, pretend that Mary is sending her spirit onto them. This causes conflict between Mary and the girls. This is due to the fear that the girls have towards Abigail. Her previous threats to them such as “I will come to you in the black of some terrible night, and I will bring with me a pointy reckoning that will shudder you!” Inflicted fear on them and their actions are now controlled by her. Because they accused Mary of sending her spirit to them, it causes conflict between them. The Crucible Themes:  Intolerance Puritanism causes intolerance as there is no room for variation from social norms. Since anyone who does not conform to the laws represents themselves as a threat to the public good and a threat to God and their religion. In Salem, everything belongs only to God or the Devil. People who do anything out of the social norms are considered to be working with the devil. As Danforh says, “a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it.” The witch-trials in Salem are an example of intolerance in the society. Hanging witches is the way of restoring the purity in the community. The trials discriminate against people who are slightly different and target those that are weak and eliminate them, which clearly shows the intolerance of difference within the society.  Reputation Reputation is very important in Salem, to maintain Salem’s public reputation, individuals fear that the sins of their friends and family will taint their names. Various characters act a certain way so that they can protect their reputation. For example, Parris fears that his name will be blackened due to his niece’s – Abigail – actions and the hints of witchcraft surrounding his daughter’s coma. John Proctor also fears losing his good name in Salem, however, in the end, he made the heroic choice not to sign a false confession, meaning that he would need to be hanged.  Hysteria Hysteria plays a part in tearing apart the community of Salem. Logic is replaced by hysteria and this enables people to believe that their neighbours are committing absurd crimes. In the Crucible, the hysterical atmosphere not only allows people to turn in those who they believe are witches, but also gives them the chance to turn in people and act on those who they have grudges on.  Conflict Internal People are accused of being witches and they argue, with themselves, whether or not to lie and confess that they have been working with the devil or stay true to themselves and get hanged. Elizabeth proctor is internally conflicted when she is asked by Danforth in the courtroom “To your knowledge has John Proctor committed the crime of lechery?” She does not know what to say. If she says that he has committed adultery, his good name in Salem would be ruined, but if she lied and said that he didn’t commit adultery, then she would be going against God, her religion and her morals. Hale is mentally challenged when he realises his ignorance to the fact that he has been signing death warrants to innocent people. His spirituality is challenged as he goes against the court and act on his own consciousness. John Proctor is also mentally and emotionally challenged when he decides whether to sign the confession and live, or stay true to himself and die. Political The jury’s – Danforth’s – inability to recognise which accusations are true and which are false, leading to people to try and prove their innocence to the court which is received by Danforth who says “a person is either with the court or they must be against it.” Religious Most people believe that witchcraft exists and those who are witches work with the devil, however, some people (eg. John Proctor) firmly believe that witches do not exist. This causes conflict between the two groups of people. The majority rules over the minority, so the people that so not believe in witches are condemned by the court and believed to be ungodly and working with the devil. Promoted by Fear Subverting the natural order Abigail Williams Social hierarchy where God comes first, then men and then women. Important quotes: John Proctor “I like not the smell of this authority.” (Lack of faith in the court) “It is not on a boat we’ll meet again Abigail, but in hell.” “The little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law.” (Children, Abigail and the girls, possess all the power in the society) “I lie and sign myself to lies!” “Because it is my name…I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (When he dies, only his name is left, he does not want to be remembered as a bad man, so he doesn’t sign the confession. Obsession with his reputation after he finds out that the court intends to publicize his confession. Would not feel good, if he signed the confession and he lived, while other innocent people died. He dies with integrity) Abigail Williams – Uses lies and threats to get what she wants “Satan may reach anyone” “I will come to you in the black of some terrible night, and I will bring with me a pointy reckoning that will shudder you!” “My name is good in the village! Elizabeth Proctor is an envious, gossipy liar!” “Let you beware, Mr. Danforth. Do you think yourself so mighty the devil may not turn your wits?” Elizabeth Proctor “Goody Proctor” “Question Abigail Williams about the gospel, not myself.” Judge Danforth “A person is either with the court, or he must be counted against it.” “To your knowledge has John Proctor committed the crime of lechery?” (Elizabeth Proctor) Giles Corey “The man is killing his neighbours for their land.” (Thomas Putnam) “A fart on Thomas Putnam.” (Cursing Thomas Putnam) “More weight” (would rather die staying true to himself than breaking a promise he had made) Reverend Hale “There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head?” “I quit this court.” (After so many people were hanged, Hale finally sees the error of his ways and tries to convince people to confess so that they would not be killed.) “The Devil is alive in Salem!” (Hale confirms that there are witches in Salem which causes a chain of events to happen and he eventually regrets this)