Both books explore the consequences of sin when living in a puritan society in the early days of the Massachusetts colony. The setting in which The Scarlet Letter and the Crucible take place is very important to the stories. Both books take time around the late 1700 and early 1800 in the Massachusetts, colonies in Both America. Around this time people were still highly religious affecting the way people viewed certain actions and the way they lived. Both their towns were ruled by Puritans whose religious beliefs and laws seemed to go above reason.
The puritans lead their life an orderly fashion the way they believed God intended them to. The Crimes and sins people committed back then were not en as different because both were believed to go against God by the puritans. All this impacted the way people in both towns viewed each characters actions in both books. Hester affair was seen so severe that it leads for her to be publicly embarrassed and to be an outcast of society all her life along with her daughter. The dancing the girls do in the forest lead them to hide it by claiming it witchcraft ,which leads to multiple deaths and ruined reputations.
If both of these characters had committed these actions in a modern period of time then the story lines would occur very differently. Hester affair would not have been such a big deal and would have resulted in a divorce at most. The girl’s actions would have been normal for teenage girls and their claim of witch craft would have been seen as a lie. The consequences of their actions would have been very different and in modern society it wouldn’t have such a great impact at all. The setting that both take place places great importance on a person’s reputation.
If someone is accused or even linked to any scandal or sin, the puritan community had consequences for them also. This way the concept of society vs.. Individual is a major theme in both books. “Letter, haughty smile, and a glance that would not be abashed, looked around at her townspeople and neighbors. ” This quote from The Scarlet letter, explained that Hester did not shame away from the towns people when publicly humiliated, but stood strong and unafraid. This act is important because it lets the reader know that she was not apologetic of what she did and knew full well the consequences of her action which she fully accepted.
This sole action set her apart of the society who expected her to be apologetic and ashamed of her actions. Hawthorne uses symbolism for to enforce the idea that Hester is no longer part of this community any more. He makes us focus on two things before he even talks about Hester: the prison and the rosebush. The prison door is described as heavily timbered with oak and studded with iron spikes which are meant to symbolize the force of the puritan’s civil and religious force on its town (Sparseness). The door is supposed to keep people locked up and it does keep Hester for a while.
Outside the prison door is a rosebush that symbolizes Hester, her scarlet letter and anyone who stands apart from society (Sparseness). The rosebush was only meant to convey this idea, like Hawthorne wrote “it may serve… To symbolize some sweet moral blossom that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close tale of human frailty and sorrow’ (74). The rosebush does not fit in with its surroundings; Just Hester no longer fits in with her community. She now stands out because of her sin and her scarlet letter, leaving her to be expelled from society.
She will forever be someone who will stand against society. The same theme of society vs.. Individual is seen in the crucible and it is seen when the town sees against John Proctor. John proctor is a common puritan with a family and farm to look after. Like any common man he has flaws, he commits adultery and this single action sets off the entire story plot, but he is an honest men. The Puritans see things differently; they overlook the fact that he is a common good man. Society tries to attack him by questioning his morals, character based on their religion.
In the play, reverend Hale visits proctor to let him know, his wife’s name was mention in court. While talking to proctor, he asks if he can question the “Christian character” of the souse. Hale questions proctor about his absence by saying ‘l note that you are rarely in church on the Sabbath day’ (Miller 61). Proctor tries to explain his absences but Hale also questions him about why only two of the three boys are baptized and also questions him on whether he knows his commandments. John replies by saying only nine commandments but forgets adultery.
After all this he tells them he prays that there is no Satan in the house and tries to leave with a smile but his character is already in question, leaving hale unconvinced. (Miller 64). The fact that his character s already in question because of his absence in church and lack of faith, this is first time proctor is singled out by the puritan society and his holiness is questioned. Later in act four, John proctor has been taken to Jail and sentenced to be hanged unless he confesses he forced Mary Warren to interact with the devil.
Proctor never did anything of what was accused of him; the community didn’t let him explain because they believed Mary words were more trust worthy than proctor’s explanation. Proctor’s community questioned his words because his ties to the church were already in question. Like explained in Jean-Marie Bonnet’s essay “Society s. Individual Arthur miller’s the crucible”, “They there by cut all answers short, do not allow the accused to express their opinion fully, or lead them into mazes of syllogisms”(part 13). The community was not fair to the accused like proctor but expect them to confess their crime or be hanged.
Proctor does not confess because it would be a lie. Proctor confesses he cannot because it is his name and he cannot have another one. And if he lies, then he signs his name to lies (Miller 133). He refuses to confess and give into what the community wants. He stands up for the truth rather than to save himself by lying. This sole action is the same Hester took from The Scarlet Letter; they both stood their ground, and separated themselves from society. Both individuals were the few in their community to go against their community which left an impact in heir society as a whole.
Revenge is another strong theme in The Scarlet Letter and in the Crucible. In The Scarlet Letter revenge is brought out by the character Roger Chlorinating. Roger is Hester actual husband in England but came to Boston to Join Hester. When learning of Hester problematic situation, he keeps identity a secret and seeks to revenge on Hester lover. Chillingly revenge is driven by sexual Jealousy. Revenge makes him crazy and seeks hints after hints to find Hester lover. He finally finds out Arthur Dimmest is Hester secret lover and plans to kill him.
Dimmest becomes sick and Chillingly watches over him as his doctor. Rather than taking this perfect opportunity and killing him, he plans something bigger. In chapter 1 1, the narrator explains that roger had a clear path of revenge to take, and although he seemed calm and reasonable there was a hidden side of anger that lay inside his heart and it “led him to imagine a more intimate revenge than any mortal had ever wreaked upon an enemy’ ( Hawthorne 218). The narrator explains that Chillingly plans to befriend Dimmest and keep him alive as possible.
Then make him trust him so he could use all the remorse, fear and sinful thoughts Dimmest has confined in him and use it to get revenge by punishing him psychologically. Revenge leads Dimmest to befriend a holy man and punish him in the cruelest way. In The Crucible, sexual Jealousy is what also leads Abigail Williams to want revenge against John proctors wife Elizabeth. Abigail used to be John Proctor’s slave and who he had an affair with. Proctor’s wife Elizabeth kicked her out because she suspected of the affair. Abigail is still in love with John and will do anything to be with him.
Abigail is so determined to get revenge on Elizabeth that she threatens her friends with death. “Let earthier one of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you” (Miller 19). Confirming that Abigail like Chilling will go at extreme acts to obtain their revenge. Both stories have similar themes, concepts, story plots and share the same time period. Each book questions whether the puritan society was as perfect as it seems.
