The purpose of this essay is to discuss the play, the crucible. In particular, what will be discussed is how characters in the crucible behaved in a confusing manner. These behaviors can best be described and interpreted by using Kollberg’s moral precepts for explanation. Specifically, Kollberg has three distinct descriptions of perspectives that describe us as individuals depending on how react in a given group setting. These three common categories are pre-conventional behavior, conventional behavior, and post-conventional behavior. All three categories are factors that we consider when individuals decide to act in any given situation. If we understand the constitution and action, we will be able to achieve a better understanding of the character.
There are many characters in the crucible that are pre-conventional. Pre-conventional is when you behave in a certain way to obtain a reward and avoid punishment.
Tituba is a pre-conventional character when she is given a threat from her master, “(I) will take you out and whip you to your death.” (Reverent Parris Act 1) Due to the imminent threat of being punished Tituba thinks quickly of any possible solutions to avoid this outcome. Given that Parris was wanting her to confess to being in league with the devil, or have the outcome of being whipped to death for not coming to God. Tituba does not hesitate and starts making up a convincing story to persuade him that she has in fact come back to God. The quick action she takes demonstrates her immediate action to avoid punishment and obtain the reward of being freed from death.
Abigail Williams behaves in a way that allows her to obtain a reward. Such when John proctor flies before the court to state, “She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave.” (John Proctor Act 3) Her past brief relationship with John has caused her to desire more from him. However, he has now regained loyalty to his wife which is blocking Abigail’s path back to John. Now when the opportunity comes about to call out John’s wife (Elizabeth) as a witch, she takes it. Abigail thinks that if Elizabeth is dead, she can regain her relationship with John. Without his wife in the picture, she will have no punishment from John’s wife due to her being out of the picture, she will then have the clear reward of John now being uncontested.
And the final example is Judge Danforth, upon being threatened to delay the proceedings he responded with, “hang them high over the town! Who weeps for these, weeps for corruption!” (Danforth Act 4) After his court affairs with a previous town, the people were furious and threw him out. He does not want to delay any longer in Salem or he fears the same result may happen. This is a direct correlation to his power, if he loses in Salem, he will look like a joke compared to other high law officials. But, if he hangs everyone that’s declared a witch, and finishes quick he will look more powerful.
From the examples provided it is evident that many characters in the crucible behave in a way that allows them to avoid punishment and achieve a reward.
There are many characters in the crucible that are conventional. Conventional characters behave in a way that shows they want group acceptance. They want to fit into a particular group.
Mary Warren is a conventional character, when she defenders herself saying, “everyone cried spirits, spirits.” (Mary Warren Act 3) When put upon trial for supporting proctor she was trying to explain the reason she followed the group of girls even if she knew it was wrong. The only reason she was pretending was to fit into the group. If she did not follow the others she would be ostracized.
Reverend Parris is another example of a conventional person when he says, “you cannot hang this sort! There is danger in it for me.” (Reverend Parris Act 4) At first in the hunt to kill witches the only people that were being killed were the lowest class. People who were at the bottom of the barrel and not respected. However, when the topmost Chistian people (the pillars of society) were being hanged, the public was starting to connect Parris to the killings. After a dagger was thrown at his door he started to see the arising problem. This is why he wanted the hangings delayed to calm over the town before he is voted out or worse, killed.
The final example of a conventional character is Reverent Hale when he is confronted by Giles who mentioned, “And yet silent minister? It is fraud.” (Giles Corey Act 2) Once hale started to realize that the people being accused of witchery were nice people being accused of crimes they did not commit. He still stayed silent as he did not want to be excluded from the proceedings, for that would lose him power. Giles realized this, which was why he was asking why Hale would not pipe up and bring the truth to light before the courts.
You can see from the examples provided that many characters from the crucible show a real drive to be part of a group.
There are also many post-conventional characters in the crucible. Post-conventional behavior is when you have your own individual sense of values and ethics. Those values and ethics cannot be influenced by reward, punishment or group acceptance.
The first example of a post-conventional character is Giles Corey. After not giving the name of a person in court who could testify to Mr. Putnam’s claim of killing people just to get their land. He was pressed and during that process his only words were, “more weight.” At this point Giles had nothing to lose, he was determined not to get his friend involved with the courts therefore he was sticking to his opinion and only his, even if it involved his own death.
The next character that has an individual sense of values and beliefs to be discussed is Elizabeth Proctor. Such as her upfront motion of not going to church due to her not sitting next, “to something so soiled” (Reverend Parris Act 1) Ever since the confrontation of Abigail’s affair with John she has openly stated that she will not go to church nor anywhere near Abby. Even if people look down open her for this comment, she is sticking with it and will not change her opinion. Another common theme with Elizabeth is that she never lies, no matter what the outcome of her speech. This is why she is a great example of a post conventional character.
The final and arguably most significant example in the crucible of a post-conventional character is Reverend Hale. When he announces, “I denounce these proceedings, I quite this court!” (Reverend Hale Act 3) He was in the center position of power in court. However, he could not bare seeing people suffer for no reason whatsoever except revenge, he did not want to be a part of it. Even though this would completely end his power on the courts and lose him his job, he decided to go with what he believed was right. He threw everything out that he had just to be satisfied enough with himself, that he was doing the right thing.
You can see from the examples, that many characters from the crucible are confident in their sense of right or wrong.
In conclusion it is evident that Kollberg’s moral precepts have been a valued tool in allowing the reader to achieve a better understanding of the characters in the crucible. It has also demonstrated the reason in which individuals behave in the way they do when faced with certain situations. Through reading this paper we can clearly explore the people deeper and determine the way they acted to fit into a specific category. Pre-conventional people behave in a way to avoid punishment to achieve an award. Conventional people behave in a way that shows they want group acceptance. However, post-conventional people behave in a way that shows their own ethics and morals, which cannot be influenced with any punishments or rewards. In this essay I was able to clearly demonstrate the underlying reasons as to why the characters acted the way they did in the Crucible. Without Kollberg’s moral precepts it may have been more difficult to justify the actions taken by the people portrayed in the play.
