Essay on Conformity in 'The Crucible'

Act 1

• Quote
• Analysis

“We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone, and I must tell you all that I shall not proceed unless you are prepared to believe me if I should find no bruise of Hell upon her.” (Hale, Act 1, p. 35)

The significance of this quote is that it marks a huge turning point for the conflict of the story and that gives the reader insight into what is going to happen next. When we look at the quote, we can see that Hale is warning the people of Salem and this causes them to be hysterical and conform to his teachings at the same time. Conformity takes place in the sense that witches are evil and if you don’t want to be hanged then you must do what you are told and tell another. In the end, conformity and hysteria start to spread causing major plot turning points and developments.

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“Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (John, Act 1, p.39)

John Proctor says these words at the end of the play while deliberating whether to sign the confession. Proctor realizes his situation and tries to conform with the rest of the group in pleading who is a witch and who isn’t. John Proctor in the end didn’t want his reputation slandered upon and wanted to keep the good Proctor name. Conforming is deliberately implied in this quote because if you look at it you can see that John Proctor would conform in desperation to save his name.

Act 2

• Quote
• Analysis

“PROCTOR: She does not mean to doubt the Gospel, sir, you cannot think it. This be a Christian house, sir, a Christian house.

HALE: God keep you both; let the third child be quickly baptized and go you without fail each Sunday into Sabbath prayer; and keep a solemn, quiet way among you. “(Proctor, Act 2, pg.50-53)

Reverend Hale is informing the proctor that Elizabeth is a god-loving Christian who is no witch. Hale is trying to understand why John is protecting her and see if he has become a heretic. This connects to conformity because Hale is trying to ease John into a position where he will admit that Elizabeth is a witch. After this event occurs internal and external conflicts start to fall into place.

PROCTOR: And so condemned her?

MARY WARREN, now a little strained, seeing his stubborn doubt: Why, they must when she condemned herself.

PROCTOR: But the proof, the proof!

MARY WARREN, with greater impatience with him: I told you the proof. It's hard proof, hard as rock, the judges said.” (Proctor Act 2 pg.61-62)

Mary is caught up in the prestige and bare shock the church has brought upon her. John is in disbelief that Mary is a witch because there isn’t solid evidence to condemn her. John is in bitter disbelief and despair when she starts to make him look bad and then starts to conform to the mass hysteria. Mary was conforming to the court and wanted a way out of this, so she used John as a scapegoat. The people of Salem are still questioning them at this current part.

Act 3

• Quote
• Analysis

“I—I cannot tell how, but I did. I—I heard the other girls screaming, and you, Your Honor, you seemed to believe them, and I—It was only sport in the beginning, sir, but then the whole world cried spirits, spirits, and I—I promise you, Mr. Danforth, I only thought I saw them but I did not.” (Abigail Act 3 pg. 79)

This quote gives into conformity in several ways. Abigail is trying to persuade Danforth to conform to seeing the girls screaming. Abigail is trying to undermine the authority of the court by getting the judge on her side. Abigail is doing this to get Elizabeth convicted as a witch. This is a major conflict in this play.

“A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud—God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!” (Abigail, Act 3, Pg.89)

In this quote, we can see that everyone has conformed to Abigail because the amount of hysteria she caused made everyone believe that she wasn’t lying so they all sided with her. Abigail turned into the real witch here when she started to scream out the devil’s name and caused a major scene all because she was losing the trial against the proctors. I am assuming she was acting like she was possessed to halt the continuation of the trial because it would not end in her favor. Major development can be seen throughout this quote and act. The significance behind this act would be that Abigail got what she wanted to happen all along.

Act 4

• Quote
• Analysis

“Now hear me and beguile yourselves no more. I will not receive a single plea for pardon or postponement. Those who will not confess will hang. Twelve are already executed; the names of these seven are given out, and the village expects to see them die this morning. Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now. While I speak God’s law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering. If retaliation is your fear, know this—I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolution of all the statues. Now draw yourselves up like men and help me, as you are bound by Heaven to do.” (Hale, Act 4, pg.133)

This speaks volumes because it signifies the reassignment of Hale Hale saw that his actions were against god even though all this time he thought he was doing good for the world even though he was squashing God's name. He is now a man without a purpose or even a will to indicate right from wrong. This connects to conformity because it shows how others bend to another’s will based on sheer resolve and obedience to authority. In the end, Hale leaves Salem never to be heard from again.

“Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook my own. I came into this village like a bridegroom to his beloved, bearing gifts of high religion; the very crowns of holy law I brought, and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died; and where I turned the eye of my great faith, blood flowed up. Beware, Goody Proctor—cleave to no faith when faith brings blood. It is a mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Life, woman, life is God’s most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it. I beg you, woman, prevail upon your husband to confess. Let him give his lie. Quail not before God’s judgment in this, for it may well be God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride.”

This Is another quote by Hale that shows the downfall of himself and the proctors. Hale wants Elizabeth to get Proctor to confess so the mass hysteria in the town of Salem to stop. Conformity is present because he conformed to God's will and now wants Elizabeth to conform and make John confess, that he is a heretic. Many have been suffering from the continuous onslaught which is the Salem witch trials. In the end, many had their beliefs questioned and their undying and loyal fate to god.

In a well-developed paragraph, please explain why this is an important topic in this play. Be sure to include relevant textual support!

Conformity is an important topic in this play because it outlines plot development and social norms that a said society has set in place. In The Crucible this is exceptionally important because it gives way too many deaths all because one person had the mindset of following another. When people do this, it creates a loop where the innocent can’t escape being charged guilty. In the book where Abigail was acting possessed, the girls were acting possessed as well and this led to the immediate finger at Mary Warren. The struggle of having so many people opposed to one thing sets the stage for something of disgust.

In a well-developed paragraph, please discuss how this topic is relevant in your own life. Be sure to include references personal experiences, other things you have read/watched, and/or examples from people you know.

Conformity is relevant in my life because everyday people at school conform to rules, others, and standards. In my life, conformity means to fit in and be average. I conform to the norms set by society by following street rules, school rules, and any standard of safety that may apply to me. I’ve seen people conform to others, for example choir. In choir, others start to follow one another not because they want to but because they must. Obedience to authority also intertwines with conformity in a way because every time I see people following orders from someone else it transfers to the next person and so on.

To see the ways that this topic is relevant in American society (past or present), please find an article on an event that demonstrates this topic. You will provide a link to the article and then explain how this shows your topic AND why you selected this article. For example: An article discussing how teenagers tend to follow certain trends in fashion could be a way to show conformity. An article about the fear after 9/11 might highlight hysteria.