The purpose of this essay is to discuss the play, the Crucible. In particular, what will be discussed is characters in the Crucible that behave in a confusing manner. This behavior can best be described and understood by using Kolberg’s moral precepts for explanation. Specifically, Kolberg has three distinct descriptions of perspectives that are taken by individuals that motivate them to behave in certain ways. These three categories are pre-conventional behavior, conventional behavior and post conventional behavior. All three categories are factors that are considered when individuals decide to act in any given situation. If we understand the consideration and action, we will be able to better understand the character.
There are many characters in Crucible that are pre-conventional. Pre-conventional is when you behave in a certain way to obtain reward and avoid punishment. The first character to illustrate that they are pre-conventional is Tituba. This is shown in the first act of the play, when Parris tells Tituba that he will “whip [her] to [her] death”. Tituba, to avoid the punishment of getting whipped, she lies to Parris and confesses of seeing spirits of people killing Putnam’s kids. Next character to lie to avoid a punishment is Abigail. She tells Parris that “it were sport” when asked about the event that took place in the woods. Abigail went into the woods with Tituba and other kids and started conjuring spirits. When she was caught by Parris, knowing that he was going to punish her, she just plays it off by not telling the truth. The last character is Elizabeth. This is displayed when she tells the judge “No sir” when asked a question about John Proctor. Proctor confesses about his affair with Abigail and the court calls Elizabeth who never lies if the claims were true. She lies to protect John from discrimination or punishment, but it does not go well. In conclusion, there are many characters in the crucible who behave to avoid a punishment or to obtain a reward.
Secondly, there are characters in the Crucible that are conventional. This is when you behave to fit in with the environment that you are in. The first conventional character in the story is Mary Warren when she shouts at John that she will not go ‘[his] way no more”. Mary Warren, in the midst of confessing, is pressured by the girls acting as if she is casting her spirits to attack them. She feels that it is better for her to go back to the girls as they held more power in the court than John Proctor and chooses to lie and fit in with the majority. Another character that behaves to fit in is Susana Walcott. Susana lies about the “claws stretching” when Abigail pretends to see Mary Warren’s spirit in the ceiling. Abigail starts to copy everything Mary Warren is saying in the court to make it seem like Mary Warren is lying about her confessions and is casting her spirits on them. Susana seeing this, she adds to what Abigail says and starts describing Mary Warren spirit to the court pretending that they are being attacked by her spirits. The last character to act conventionally is Giles Corey. Giles, when Hale first arrives, Giles tells him about the books his wife “hides” to be part of the mysteries taking place in the town. Giles, wanting to be entertained, tells Hale about the strange books she is reading. Ultimately, getting her arrested and hanged due to that reason. In conclusion, many characters in the crucible can be seen behaving in a way to fit in with society.
Lastly, post-conventional characters can be found in the Crucible. Post-conventional is when a character behaves righteously, even with the possibility of a punishment. The first character to behave post-conventionally is John Proctor. Proctor confesses to the court that “[he has] known her” when Abigail was lying to the court. Proctor, knowing that his reputation as a good man could be ruined in the village, confesses about the affair that he has had with Abigail to tell the court about all the nonsense and the craziness that is happening in their town. Next character to behave this way is Hale when he quits the “court” during the trials. Hale recognizes that something is off with the girls’ confessions and sees the game Hathorne is playing, Hale quits the court to send a message to the court that something chaotic is happening in the court, knowing that he is going to lose the power that he was holding being part of the court. The last character is Elizabeth. Elizabeth tells Hale that if he thinks that she is a witch then she believes that ‘there are none”. Knowing that she will be punished for speaking falsely about the Bible, she makes this comment to Hale to emphasize the fact that she is not being controlled by the devil, and that she is a woman of God. In conclusion, many characters are seen behaving righteously despite the backlashes in the Crucible.
In conclusiong of this essay, it is shown that the Crucible is a play filled with characters that follow Kolberg’s law in falling under a conventional, pre-conventional or a post-conventional character.
