Without understanding, one cannot truly belong. However, when understanding is present, a sense of belonging will flourish. If there is a lack of comprehension between individuals regarding their beliefs, it is unlikely that a complete sense of belonging will be felt. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, the town is torn apart by intolerance, hysteria, suspicion, greed (for wealth, land, power), and corruption of power. These factors result in divisions among the different groups in the town and determine whether they are accepted or excluded by the rest of the community. A greater understanding of each group could greatly impact these dynamics.
The novel “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding explores how contrasting viewpoints and desires for power between Ralph and Jack divide the group, leading to a loss of innocence and humanity as they turn towards savagery instead of civilization. Similarly, George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” depicts the manipulation of society, the breakdown of laws, and the formation of class divisions, illustrating how different groups within a society can either contribute to its success or bring about its downfall.
The Crucible, published in 1953, tells the story of the Salem witch hunt in 1692, which coincided with the heightened suspicion against communists in America. The play explores the theme of intolerance, highlighting how the town of Salem operated under a theocratic government. Speaking out against the trials to protect their wives or themselves, John Proctor, Giles Corey, and others were perceived as attacking both the Government and the Church, in addition to God. Danforth’s declaration emphasizes that individuals must either support the court or be seen as opposing it, with no middle ground.
In Salem, those who do not belong to God are believed to belong to the devil, and thus responsible for acts of witchcraft. Therefore, they are seen as part of witchcraft. The townspeople’s lack of understanding about supernatural phenomena is attributed to witchcraft, giving them a false sense of understanding. The individuals originally accused of witchcraft were the town’s outcasts – those whom the majority already had little tolerance for. These individuals belonged to the lower class and were easily accused because they lacked the ability to defend themselves.
Abigail Williams opportunistically utilized the doubt and suspicion arising in the town as a result of respected individuals being accused, thus gaining complete control. By exploiting the court’s ignorance and intimidating both the girls and Proctor with damaging knowledge about their reputations, she wielded the authority to determine who lives and who dies. The belief that their neighbors could be guilty of the alleged crimes is fueled by hysteria and suspicion.
If the townspeople had believed in the innocence of the first accused individuals, without any suspicion towards them, and had understood Abigail’s motives, the witch trials might have been prevented, and the guilt would have fallen back on Abigail and the girls. The hysteria also provided an opportunity for certain townspeople to express repressed emotions and settle old scores, as seen when Abigail falsely accuses Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft. She uses the poppet as a means to have Elizabeth executed so that she can be with Proctor.
In the courtroom, a clear example of mass hysteria occurs when Miller employs the use of dramatic irony. This happens when Abigail and the girls make false accusations against Mary Warren, claiming that she is a bird and has attacked them. Abigail’s statement, “Oh, please, Mary! Don’t come down. Mary, please don’t hurt me!” embodies dramatic irony since they are aware of Mary Warren’s innocence. This showcases how Abigail expresses repressed emotions towards Mary, who initially posed a threat by potentially revealing the truth. However, with Proctor’s support, Mary gains the courage to speak the truth before ultimately betraying Proctor. It is important to note that the prevailing hysteria and suspicion exist solely because certain individuals stand to gain from it.
Greed in “The Crucible” is primarily centered around Reverend Parris, Thomas Putnam, Judge Danforth, and Abigail Williams. Reverend Parris demonstrates his greed for wealth, as seen when he tirelessly preaches about acquiring gold candlesticks and engages in arguments over his pay, including money for firewood. Through this argument, Miller provides the audience with a clear understanding of Parris’ true character. Putnam exploits the witch trials as an opportunity to seek revenge on his neighbors and seize their land. Overall, these characters demonstrate a lack of empathy and comprehension.
Judge Danforth demonstrated his greed for power by refusing to cancel the hangings for the respectable citizens of Salem, fearing a potential uprising against the court. Abigail’s greed lies in her desire for another woman’s husband, Proctor, leading her to attempt to have Elizabeth Proctor executed. Additionally, Abigail’s selfishness manifests in her willingness to betray Proctor, whom she claims to love, in order to protect herself from any blame or suspicion. Parris, as the minister of the church, is driven by his desire for power.
Parris has a change of heart regarding the witch trials once he realizes that the townspeople are turning against him and his power is slipping away. Similarly, Proctor’s greediness is not for material wealth but for his own pride, as shown when he refuses to sign the confession. He passionately declares, “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 those who hang! How can I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” Proctor ultimately decides that maintaining an untarnished reputation and a good name hold greater value to him than his own life.
Miller uses the entire fourth scene as a climax to balance out the rather mild death of Proctor. Uncontrolled greed can lead a person down a destructive path, which is exactly what happened in Salem. With more understanding from the town, this path of greed could have been stopped by the people of Salem. The Witch trials would not have occurred if it were not for the corrupting power of Abigail. She had power over the other girls who were dancing in the woods, and she maintained this power by threatening them. She warns them, “Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you.” Abigail fully comprehends the consequences of being found guilty of witchcraft and admits to dancing in the forest but threatens the girls not to disclose her drinking a potion to kill Elizabeth Proctor.
Reverend Hale inadvertently abuses his authority by believing in the honesty of Abigail and the other girls. His reputation as an educated and virtuous man makes him an ideal figure for the townspeople to base their views on the witch trials. “Do not make the same mistake I did in neglecting your duty. I arrived in this village like a groom to his beloved, bringing gifts of devout religion; I acquired the highest ranks of religious law, but anything I touched with my unwavering confidence perished; and wherever I placed my faith, disaster followed.”
Hale comes to the realization that he has been deceived by Abigail and the girls, causing irreversible harm. Desperate to correct his mistake, he persuades Elizabeth Proctor to try and convince her husband, John Proctor, to confess and save his own life. Putnam is influenced by his reputation both within and outside of Salem. When Hale arrives, he expresses surprise at the presence of such a well-known figure as Putnam.
Putnam exploits his reputation to falsely implicate innocent individuals, including his own daughter, for his own selfish motives. In the trial scene, the Court room is depicted as “Empty, but for sunlight pouring through two high windows in the back wall.” This description alludes to the divine light of God, possibly implying that God is present in the courtroom. However, this is a clever technique employed by Miller to deceive and create a false sense of security among the audience. Moreover, it also suggests that “God” holds no genuine authority within the court proceedings.
In Salem’s crucible, the puritan lifestyle should prevail, but it does not. Abigail wields power over the other girls through fear, the court, and the church, consequently extending her dominion over the entire town. As for the law, it lies in the hands of corrupt figures like Danforth, Hathon, and Parris. The Putnam family follows in the power hierarchy without true authority, yet their esteemed reputation empowers them to exert influence and spread falsehoods while still being trusted.
Tituba, a Barbadian slave, is powerless. However, her confession of allegiance to the devil and her claim of wanting God render her innocent, although she does not belong to any specific group within the town. The nurses, Coreys, and Proctors are connected by their faith and virtues, but they are ostracized from the rest of the town because they have been accused of witchcraft and refuse to sign a false confession, as they value truthfulness. John Proctor not only belongs to the group of nurses and Coreys but also becomes alienated from them when he denies his faith by stating that ‘God is dead’.
The novel Lord of the Flies recounts the tale of a bunch of schoolboys who become stranded on a deserted island following a plane crash. It all begins when Ralph and Piggy encounter each other on the coastline. During their exploration, they stumble upon a conch shell, which the author, Golding, employs as an emblem of authority and democracy. Gradually, all the boys gather on the beach where Jack arrives with his followers, all clad in uniforms, signifying his status as their leader. However, Ralph is elected as the leader and insists on establishing a signal fire, representing their hope for rescue and salvation.
Soon, the breakdown of rules occurs and Jack forms his own group centered around hunting, aggression, war, the hunt, and primal instincts. The society and reason completely collapse when Piggy dies and the conch is shattered. In “Lord of the Flies,” there are two main contrasting views presented by Ralph and Jack. Ralph assumes the role of a democratic leader, receiving significant support from Piggy on the island. He devises a plan to unite the group and utilizes the conch as a symbol of his authority over the other boys. “Ralph sat on a fallen trunk, his left side facing the sun.
On his right were the majority of the choir, while on his left stood the older boys who were previously unacquainted due to the evacuation. Before him, young children sat on the grass. Golding utilizes this visual representation to illustrate how the boys instinctively form specific groups based on preexisting alliances and age, influencing their interconnections. Additionally, this image highlights Ralph’s position of authority. Following him in terms of power are the older boys, while the small children, who contribute little to the society, rank at the bottom.
Throughout the novel, there is a constant conflict between Jack and Ralph due to Jack’s desire for complete leadership. Unlike Ralph, Jack acts as a dictatorial ruler. He leads the boys towards savagery by overthrowing Ralph’s leadership, raiding his camp, and engaging in intense hunts. Initially, these hunts target wild pigs, but eventually, Jack turns his hunt towards other boys who do not obey his rule, such as Simon, Piggy, and Ralph. “He began to dance and his laughter turned into a bloodthirsty snarling.” During a pig hunt, Jack gives in to his primal instincts and encourages others to do the same.
Despite his initial lack of ambition for power, Ralph is compelled to take on a leadership role to maintain safety and unity among the group on the island. Unlike Jack, who desires power from the start, Ralph is initially satisfied with the freedom from adult authority. However, when faced with the responsibility of leadership, Ralph embraces it and strives to protect and unite the boys. His main objective becomes ensuring the safety of the group and increasing their chances of rescue through the signal fire. This newfound need to protect and guide the boys arises when Jack attempts to usurp Ralph’s position.
After creating his own society, Jack’s power and influence lead Ralph and Piggy to compromise their own values. They willingly sacrifice their principles in order to join Jack’s group and gain acceptance and access to food. In the face of the looming threat above them, Piggy and Ralph find themselves strangely drawn to participating in the twisted ritual of pretending to attack a pig. Despite conflicting feelings of right and wrong, they cannot resist the allure of the partially secure but deranged society. Meanwhile, Jack, already the leader of the choir boys, harbors a strong desire to lead as he considers himself a superior leader. Initially, he accepts Ralph to be the leader, emphasizing the need for rules and obedience.
Despite claiming to be civilized as Englishmen, Jack initially respects democracy, the conch, and Ralph’s rules. However, he quickly grows weary of the rules when he believes that his abilities are being ignored by Ralph. This sense of exclusion leads him astray and prompts the boys to descend into anarchy. As a result, the nearby forest erupts with chaotic sounds and demonic figures appear, causing panic among the young children.
Ralph noticed Piggy running from his peripheral vision. Two individuals hurried towards the fire, causing Ralph to ready himself for a possible confrontation. However, they seized partially burned branches and turned away towards the beach. The remaining three individuals remained immobile, observing Ralph. Ralph observed that the tallest person among them, who only wore paint and a belt, was Jack. According to Golding, the boys’ nakedness symbolizes their abandonment of the norms of English society and Ralph’s authority in favor of Jack’s notion of “freedom”.
The belt worn by Jack distinguishes him from the other boys, symbolizing his authority. This is the moment when Jack holds complete control, nearly. The narrative concludes with the tragic loss of life, the demise of innocence, the revival of humanity, and an overwhelming comprehension that the boys were insufficiently mature to grasp entirely. “Ralph cried for the end of purity, the evil within human beings, and the tragic descent of his genuine friend, known as Piggy.” Ralph sheds tears in front of their savior just moments before his life could have been taken away.
Animal Farm is the story of a group of animals that overthrow the humans on the farm. The pigs take control and establish a society even harsher than the one previously ruled by humans. This new leadership becomes totalitarian and manipulates society, causing the breakdown of laws. The pigs, being the smartest animals on the farm, naturally assume control and create seven commandments. Originally, there was just one commandment stating that anything with two legs is an enemy and anything with four legs or wings is a friend. Other commandments include no wearing of clothes, no sleeping in beds, no drinking alcohol, no killing of other animals, and equality among all animals. However, throughout the story, Squealer secretly adds to some commandments to benefit the pigs without the knowledge of other animals. This allows the pigs to avoid accusations of breaking the laws. The additions include “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess” and “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.”
The laws are replaced with the phrase “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” The chant “four legs good, two legs bad” is taught to the sheep, but is changed to “four legs good, two legs better!” when the pigs learn to walk on their hind legs. Orwell employs this motif to unite the working class and erase their individuality. Additionally, this portrays the pigs in a positive light as they are the main focus of these songs and slogans.
The pigs are differentiated from the other animals by the change in these laws, as they are deemed superior and the other animals are not allowed to be part of this exclusive group. The animals considered inferior are obligated to obey the commands of the pigs because they are gullible and unaware of the pigs’ true intentions. Napoleon, the overall leader, takes control of some puppies and trains them to become his personal bodyguards and “muscle.” He uses the dogs as a constant threat to deter the animals from rebelling against him. “Outside, there was a terrible baying sound, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars entered the barn with great speed. They went straight for Snowball, who managed to evade their snapping jaws just in time.” Additionally, Napoleon utilizes the dogs as a weapon to eliminate any potential competition for leadership. He forces Snowball off the farm and fabricates lies about him in order to discredit him and make him unwelcome on the farm.
At the beginning of Animal Farm, all the animals come together to fight against a common enemy. However, once they overthrow the human oppressor and eliminate the common enemy, they become divided and stratified into different social classes, despite the original goal of animalism being total equality. During a party, Napoleon, one of the pigs, tells his human guests that while they may have lower animals to contend with, the animals have their lower classes. The humans remark that they have never seen animals work so hard for so little food. This revelation leads the other animals to realize that they have been deceived, but by then it is too late for them to take any action. The Pigs and Dogs separate themselves as the upper class, considering themselves as the brain workers, while the rest of the animals are classified as the working class. Orwell uses the barn as a symbol of collective memory from the past society and the amendments to the commandments represent a fresh perspective on the current nation.
Animal Farm was written by Orwel without focusing on the perspective of any single animal. This choice was made to portray the animals’ collective emotions and thoughts. It is impossible for an individual to comprehensively grasp another person’s words, thoughts, or actions. Neglecting attempts to understand can lead to disastrous outcomes. Furthermore, when individuals are made to feel excluded, it negatively impacts the entire society and can ultimately lead to its collapse.
