Threre are many different themes that can be found throughout'
The Crucible'. Intolerance, hysteria and reputation are some that are
explored in Act III.
Salem is a village of strict religious Puritanism beliefs. The
Puritans do not celebrate Christmas because they see it as a sacrilege.
In Salem, at this time, a person's sins and matters of the heart and
soul are a public concern. This is when religion and state where as one.
When a person's private life doesn't adhere with the town or poses a
threat, as being different, to either the public or true religion and the
word of God, there was severe punishment. An individual was in one of
two categories: a person of God or of the Devil. And for this time
period, the Salem Witch Trials and witchhunts are a prime example of
intolerance. This community felt that the hanging of the supposed
witches would restore purity to the village.
Hysteria was a major theme in Act III. This hysteria caused
neighbors, who have known each other for years, to suddenly believe
that the people around them are associated with evil. This hysteria may
have escalated so because people were taking out aggression the may
have had towards someone or grudges that they have held on to. In
Abigail's case, she would accuse anyone who looked at her the wrong
way, especially Elizabeth. Reverend Parris goes off of hysteria to make
a scapegoat of John Proctor, who undermines his authority and doesn't
agree with his methods of preaching by fear. Thomas Putnam gets
Rebecca arrested as a way of gaining revenge of Francis Nurse. In this
situation, hysteria only survived because people thrived on it and
benefited from it. Hysteria makes the acting upon every dark,
despiteful desire hidden under a cover of righteousness.
Salem was at this time an environment where reputation meant
everything. The people of Salem fear that the sins of the people they
know, will somehow taint their names and reputations, which means
they base their actions upon how the town will percieve them. For
example, Reverend Parris fears for his reputation when Abagail starts
to act suspiciously, and hints towards witchcraft. John Proctor, for a
different reason, doesn't want to tarnish his name by telling the truth
about the girls, and confessing to witchcraft. He goes to his death,
honorably, knowing he didn't make a fake confession to save his life.
John Proctor instead refuses to sign the paper of confession to keep
his good name. With this, John feels that he has redeemed himself
from previous failures and kept his integrity.
