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Essay About Women In The Crucible

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During the 1650s in Salem, Massachusetts, there were many beliefs about women perpetuated by society. They were considered to be impulsive, selfish and subservient. Women were pressured into conforming to these social standards. This is shown numerous times in Arthur Miller’s play, the Crucible. However, despite these social pressures, there were a number of instances where women we shown to have more power than men. The action of female characters were influenced by the beliefs, stereotypes and expectations promoted in their society. Beliefs Arthur Miller has shown the influence of the beliefs perpetuated by society on the actions of women throughout the play. The play is set in Salem, Massachusetts, a Puritan community. Their society values the sense of community …show more content…

In their society, one piece of “proof” was enough to condemn someone to death shows that beliefs were based on faith in their religion rather than logic. The strong faith their society had on religion meant that people were pressured into conforming to the idea society had of what was moral and correct. Two characters who conformed to those beliefs are Elizabeth “Goody” Proctor, the wife of John Proctor and Tituba, a slave from Barbados. The strong faith in religion meant that the people of their society lived their lives based on what was stated in the Bible. In The Crucible, wives are believed to be “good”, as implied by their nickname “Goody”. “Goody” Proctor, the wife of John Proctor continues to love and protect her husband despite his mistakes and forgives him for adultery. In the beginning of Act 2, “Goody” Proctor finds out that John Proctor was alone with Abigail, the girl he had an affair with and “suddenly loses all faith in him”. She questions his intentions and he in return defends himself “with a violent undertone”. He warms her and says “you will not judge me more Elizabeth…let look into your own improvement before you go to judge your husband anymore”.

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