Timeless Theme Present in The Crucible Essay Example for Free

Timeless Theme Present in The crucible Essay mavin timeless bow found in many pieces of literature is the abuse of great power. umpteen people who ar in power, abuse their power, and commonly become pamper or unjust collectible to the power. The essence of human nature is to beg power. Along with this craving of power in some military personnel is the depravity and injustice when one comes into power or on ones path to achieving power. This is a timeless theme, as power and human nature have al focuss existed in mans history. This theme may be detect in Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare in the an some other(prenominal)(a) quarter of the 17th cytosine and set in the 11th century. This can too be observed in The melting pot, written by Arthur Miller in the 20th century, and taking place in the 17th century.In the beginning, Macbeth is a guileless man, or at least interpreted as one by those who know him. He has been fantasy of power, but has not but made any decision upon it, and it is re totallyy just a thought, a dream even, in the back of his head, which he externalisems to have no real intention of pursuing. One may depend how Macbeth is virtuous when an injured Captain is coming back from the front, and tells Duncan and Malcolm about the battleAnd Fortune, on his darnd quarrel smiling, / Showed like a rebels whore but all s to weak / For gay Macbeth ( sound he deserves that name), / Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel, / Which smoke with bloody execution, / Like Valours minion, carved out his loss, / Till he face the break ones back Which neer shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, / Till he unseamed him from the nave to the chaps, / And fixed his head upon our battlements. (Act One, icon II, l.14-24 Shakespeare)In this story told by the captain, Macbeth is a virtuous man. The Captain qualifies Macbeth as brave and even comments on how Macbeth deserves that name. This may be considered Macbeth initial a nd noble stage, before power putrefyed him, to the point of committing numerous atrocities for the sake of power. Macbeth in time is soon corrupted by the thought of achieving supreme power over Scotland, brought forth by the witches copulation him that the crown would be his.The corruptness may be seen in Macbeth mostly seen in Macbeths path topower. The thought of obtaining power has pushed Macbeth to contemplating murder much more than before, and he stacks up the reasons of why he should not massacre Duncan against the reason to kill Duncan. One can see this in a monologue early in the book First , as I am his kinsman and his subject, / Strong both against this deed accordingly as his host, / Who should against his murder shut the door, / Not bear the knife myself. hath been / So clear in his heavy(p) office, that his virtues / Will plead like angels, trumpet tongued, against / The deep damnation of this taking-off / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / curvet amb ition, which oerleaps itself / And falls on the other - (Act One, Scene VII, l.1-28 Shakespeare)In this passage, one may understand that Macbeth realizes that the reasons not to kill are that Duncan is part of his family, that Duncan is a guest in his house, and that he is a subject of Duncan and therefore has swear loyalty to Duncan. He then realizes that his only motive to kill Duncan is his vaulting ambition. This vaulting ambition corrupts him and seems to be enough to make him want to murder Duncan to obtain kingship, and to murder many more to keep it.Macbeths corruptness comes up many more times in the play. In order to keep his kingship, he also kills Banquo. He visits the witches again to know his fate, and they tell him to be careful of Macduff. On his return he learns watchword of Macduffs departure for England. In this passage, one may see how Macbeth resolves this dilemmaThe castle of Macduff I will surprise, / seize upon Fife give th edge of the sword / His wife and babes, and all unfortunate souls / That trace him in his line. (Act four, Scene I, l.49-151 Shakespeare)This decision is an atrocious one, and is only being made in Macbeths confused fury to defend his throne. forcefulness has corrupted Macbeth enough for him to want to hurt Macduff by any means, even if this does not benefit Macbeth other than to have Macduff suffer. This passage shows just how lowMacbeth has sunk, and how twisted his actions have become since his initial stage.As one may now conclude, power strongly corrupts Macbeth. Originally he is a virtuous man, defending his native land from rebels, yet he slowly gets transformed by power into a ravaging terror, destroying everything in his way.In The Crucible, power as a corrupting force may be seen through many characters. The girls in the Crucible tell many lies to become officials of the philander. Mary Warren, for example, say may be seen in a scene where Mary Warren is speaking with Parris and ElizabethMary Warren You must see, sir, its Gods work we do. So bereavement be gone every day for some time. Im- I am an official of the court, they and I- She has been edging toward extensionProctor unfortunate official you He strides to the mantel, takes down the whip hanging there.Marry Warren Ill not stand whipping any more (59 Miller)In this passage one may see that Mary Warren seems to believe that she has gained power in the court, and we discover later, that this power was gained through lies. Originally she was considered to be part of one of the lowest classes in the Crucibles hierarchy of society, however telling these lies and giving false evidence has promoted her directly to official of the court, which is much more honorable and important than being a servant. She has therefore gained power through her corrupt practice.Another character in The Crucible who is corrupt is Danforth. He is an example of a character that has power, but then uses it unjustly. For example, in the passage wher e he accuses Giles of contempt one may see Danforth being unjustGiles I will not give you no name. I mentioned my wifes name erstwhile and Ill burn in hell long enough for that. I stand mute.Danforth In that case, I have no choice but to arrest you for contempt of this court, do you know that?Giles This is a hearing you cannot clap me for contempt of a hearing.Danforth Oh, it is a proper lawyer Do you wish me to declare the court in full session here? Or will you give me good reply?Giles, flutter I cannot give you no name sir, I cannot.Proctor, breaking in Your Honor- he has the story in confidence sir, and he-Hale We cannot blink it more. There is a prodigious fear of this court in this country-Danforth to Giles You are under arrest in contempt of this court. (98 Miller)In this passage one may understand how corrupt and evil Danforth is, as he has been told something by Giles in confidence, and he turns this into Giles being arrested. Both Proctor and Hale, twain characters wh o are portrayed as virtuous and fair, defend Giles, however Danforth goes in opposition and has Giles arrested. Another way one may interpret Danforths malice is by the terror of the court which Hale calls their attention to in this passage. Danforth obviously reigns in terror and only gets respected because people are afraid of being come out in jail if they oppose him, as in Giles case.A third character in The Crucible who is also corrupt is Parris. He uses his power as preacher in attempts for personal financial gain. One may see this when Proctor, a virtuous and honorable character, is telling Hale about ParrisSince we built the perform there were pewter candlesticks upon the alter. But Parris came, and for twenty week he preach nothin but golden candlestick until he had them. I labor the earth from dawn of day to blink of night, and I tell you true, when I verbalism to heaven and see my money glaring at his elbows- it hurt my prayer sir, It hurt my prayer. (65 Miller)In thi s passage one may see how selfish Parris is, and how he abuses of his position to get what he wants. We may every bit see Parris when he is speaking with Giles, Proctor and Putnam about the pay he should be receiving and many other financial affairsParris The salary is sixty-six pound, Mr. Proctor I am not some preaching farmer with a book under my arm I am a graduate of Harvard College.Giles Aye, and well instructed in arithmeticParris I am not used to this poverty I left a thrifty business in the Barbados to serve the Lord. (29 Miller)In this passage one can see how Parris is trying to use his position as preacher for financial gain. This is completely in opposition with what the religion is all about, and what a preacher is meant to be doing. He is therefore, also a corrupt character in The Crucible, as he is using his power for corrupt reasons which are in opposition with the message he is meant to be transmitting.As one may now conclude in The Crucible several characters are corrupt due to power, such as Mary Warren, Danforth and Parris just to name a few. Mary Warren is tells lies to run up in society, while Danforth is unjust withhis power, and Parris uses his power for financial gain.In conclusion, a timeless theme present in both The Crucible and Macbeth is that power corrupts. Power corrupts because it is in human nature to crave power, sometimes overly so which leads one to commit terrible acts. In addition to this craving for power, in some humans, is corruptness and abuse of the power.The Crucible and Macbeth were written and set in different time periods, yet the theme that power corrupts is recurrent and is therefore a timeless theme.