The Crucible was a timeless play by Arthur Miller, that divesinto the complexities of human behavior in the midst of the scenery of the Salem witch trials. Through the idea of Kohlberg’s moral precepts, we gain understanding into the motivations and actions of the characters inside the play. Kohlberg’s framework gives an important perspective for understanding the reactions of people confronted with ethical dilemmas.
Within The Crucible, various characters display pre-conventional behavior, driven by a desire to get reward or dodge punishment. For example, Abigail Williams, a central figure within the insanity, creates accusations of witchcraft, declaring, “I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil!” Abigail’s deceptions are meant to divert attention from her own wrongdoings and gatherfavor with those in control. Similarly, Reverend Parris coerces confessions from the defenseless Tituba, threatening, “I will take you out and whip you to your death.” Tituba surrenders to fear, falsely admitting to associating with the devil to avoidpunishment. Furthermore, John Proctor, filled with guilt over his affair with Abigail, acknowledges, “I have known her sir.” Proctor’s confirmation, motivated by self-preservation, underscores the unavoidable impact of pre-conventional thought processes in Salem.
On the other hand, the play also depicts characters who embodyconventional behavior, driven by a desire for group acceptance. Mary Warren, a clashed servant girl, succumbs to societal pressures, declaring, “Abby, I’ll never hurt you more.” Mary’s betrayal of truth allows her longing to belong within the other girls come to reality, even at the cost of integrity. Likewise, Elizabeth Proctor, striving to preserve her reputation as a ethical Christian lady, reverend hale said, “That woman never lies.” Elizabeth’s enduring denial of lies reflects her being faithful to societal standards and desire for god driven acceptance. Furthermore, the manipulative strategies of characters like Tituba, who announces, “I’ll not hang with you! I love God, I love God,” reveal the lengths to which individuals will go to comply to fall under group standards to fit into them.
In any case, from all the chaos of Salem, there are characters who display post-conventional behavior, guided by their ownindividual sense of values and morals. Giles Corey, a principled man, defiantly announces, “More weight,” as he faces deathrather than sell out his Mr. X. Corey’s faithful commitment to truth and justice rises above societal pressures, highlighting his independence of thought. Similarly, John Proctor, burdened by guilt and regret, defiantly declares, “Say what you will, but my name I cannot sign.” Proctor’s refusal to compromise his integrity, even at the cost of his life, exhibits his faith for his personal morals. Furthermore, Reverend Hale, frustrated by the injustices of the court, revokes his devotion to the court, announcing, “I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!” Hale’s abandonment of societal standards shows his commitment to truth and ethical quality over all else.
In conclusion, Kohlberg’s moral precepts give an idea that allows us to analyze the complex characters of The Crucible. The play shows the complexities of human behaviour, from pre-conventional motivations of self-preservation to conventional desires for acceptance, and ultimately to post-conventional faith to individual morals. By analyzing the characters’ actions through this system, we pick up a deeper understanding of the ethical dilemmas they confront and the underlying motivations that drive their behaviour .
