PLAYS - THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur MIller - THEMES - FEAR

THEMES FROM ‘THE CRUCIBLE’ by Arthur Miller

FEAR

‘The Crucible’ highlights the issues in Colonial Times in the New World America, in the recently-arrived Puritan community, particularly in this case, Salem.

The play demonstrates the following regarding FEAR.

FEAR can:

·         Take over a person

·         Cause people to act strangely/unusually

·         Reveal the frailty and instability of the human mind, especially when under unusual stressors

RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PLAY FEAR IS REVEALED.

·         Reverend Parris’s mind is filled with fear – why? If people knew his daughter Betty was part of a sinful act, he might be punished as well, so his fear is predominately selfish.

·         The girls are afraid – if they’re found out they might be severely punished

·         Fear causes Abigail to threaten Betty to stay quiet – “I will come to you in the black…night…”

·         The girls are more afraid of Abigail and her threats than anyone else in the town – unusual in a village where men reign supreme and women are regarded as powerless

·         Fear is infectious

·         Fear results in hysteria

·         Fear destroys order – order becomes disorder/chaos

·         Fear causes loss of rational thought

PLAYS - THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller - THEMES - FEAR - WORKSHEET

THEMES FROM ‘THE CRUCIBLE’,  a play by Arthur Miller

FEAR plays an important role in the play. It is one of the THEMES. FEAR is present from the beginning of the play, and permeates throughout, affecting the whole population of Salem.

Draw a two-column chart of examples of people acting from FEAR that is justified and FEAR that is irrational. Write the name of the person, what they are reacting to, a quote, and a reference from the play.

Consider how FEAR CAN:

• Take over a person
• Cause a person to act unusually
• Reveal the frailty and instability of the human mind

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PLAY:

• Reverend Parris' mind is filled with fear...why? Perhaps he was afraid that if the townspeople knew his daughter was part of a 'sinful' act, he might be punished as well.
• Girls are afraid - if they're found out they might be severely punished.
• Fear causes Abigail to threaten Betty to sty quiet - "I will come to you in the black..."
• Fear is infectious. It results in:
• hysteria
• destruction of order into disorder (chaos)
• loss of rational thought

JUSTIFIABLE FEAR	IRRATIONAL FEAR