Crucible by Arthur Miller Whether

¶ … Crucible by Arthur Miller [...] whether justice was denied to those accused during the Salem Witch trials. The characters in "The Crucible" who go to court expect fair justice against the false accusations by some vindictive members of the community. However, what they find is not justice at all, but rather superstition, fear, and "spectral evidence" that only clouds the judicial system and creates injustice and unfairness. The court in "The Crucible" does not give justice to the accused, and they suffer the ultimate fate because the court cannot see past superstition and false accusation.

At the heart of this story is the 17th century justice system and how belief systems, superstition, and religion blended to corrupt the system and condemn innocent victims. At first, Reverend Hale has complete and utter faith in the justice system. He advises Francis Nurse not to worry, that his wife, Rebecca, will be vindicated by the court. He says, "Let you rest upon the justice of the court; the court will send her home, I know it" (Miller 67). Yet, at the end of the Third Act, Hale's ideas have changed dramatically. He says, "I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court" (Miller 111) in an entire turnaround of his previous trust in justice and the law. He has seen the court taken in by a vindictive child, and he understands the law is not infallible, and neither is justice in this court. Famous literary critic Harold Bloom states, "At bottom Abby knows that her prophetic fit is self-induced, that the witchcraft she denounces is non-existent; but once the fit is on her, she can produce a convincing performance and induce the same kind of hysteria in the children" (Bloom 43). Thus, the court bases its opinion on hearsay, there is no solid evidence other than the testimony of the supposed possessed against other "witches." This is not justice, it is hearsay, and basing a legal decision on hearsay is the worst form of legal perversion and injustice.

Indeed, critic Bloom notes that the entire theme of this play is perversion of the law, as well. He continues, "Miller, in the Crucible, deals with the perversion of the Law in the township of Salem and, by extension, with a persistent threat to any democratic system" (Bloom 39). While the play may be a moral commentary on law and justice, the theme is intertwined with religious beliefs and superstition as well. Judges of the time ruled by the word of the Bible, rather than study and contemplation of the legality of their decisions, as noted below. The Bible's word was the final word, and it was difficult to appeal what the judges felt was Biblical law and spiritual guidance.

If only considering the facts of the play, which are based on historical characters and documents, it is easier to see how the courts could and would rule for witchcraft. The pious Puritans of the day took the Devil and his powers seriously, and it was entirely possible to them that the Devil could (and would) bewitch children in order to bring new, innocent blood into his demonic world. However, using today's less rigid religious standards make the outcome of the trials seem ridiculous and completely unjust. Today, most people do not consider witchcraft a reality, and so, basing a court decision on the confession of bewitched young women seems almost ludicrous. As critic Bloom maintains, "Today's audience cannot take the possibility of witchcraft seriously; the implication for us is that no enlightened citizen of any age would be able to take it seriously" (Bloom 45). Thus, if the reader places himself or herself in the 17th century, the verdicts against the accused might make more sense, but they still indicate a lack of justice and reliance on the law.

The American people trust the courts for the most part, and trust them to make impartial and balanced decisions. Up until the decisions, most of the people of Salem trusted the courts as well. The judge follows the doctrines of the courts of the time, and gives confidence he will make an informed and just decision, at least until he states that he believes in the supernatural. He says, "You know, Mr. Proctor, that the entire contention of the state in these trials is that the voice of Heaven is speaking through the children?" (Miller 82). Later he says, "I tell you straight, Mister, I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them stuck with pins and slashed by daggers" (Miller 84). Thus, he bases his decision on belief rather than fact. A decision based solely on the testimony of questionable persons, and not taking into account the background and standing of the other, is simply unjust and unjustified. The court system was not impartial, and people suffered because of the hysteria that took over a community. It is interesting to note that Harold Bloom notes the people of Salem had faith in the justice system, but in reality, the justices of the Massachusetts Bay Colony were not trained in law, in fact, they ruled according to the word of the Bible rather than legal precedent or understanding (Bloom 64-65).