How is human nature displayed in "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller? First, let us brain storm some common characteristics of human nature. One, we are SELFISH. I do not care what you say. Humans are probably the most selfish species ever. This is not always a bad thing, necessarily. Some times it is for the preservation of one's self. Usually, however, we are just more concerned about ourselves as opposed to the rest of the world that continues to revolve no matter what. Abigail exemplifies the trait of selfishness splendidly. Not only does she show great signs of selfishness in Act III, but the whole book. In the beginning when she is being interrogated, she completely throws everyone else under the bus in order to preserve herself. She doesn't think about anyone else and how her actions could possibly effect them. Then in Act III when they are in court and Abigail is being questioned, she does not even hesitate to think about anyone else. She is focused on herself and only herself and the only way to get herself out of any trouble. She does not care about the truth or the lies, as long as what is being said puts her in a position of power.
This blog is going to be contradicting in some ways, I am warning you now. It will be with good taste, though. I just went on a little tangent about how selfish humans are. This is very true. HOWEVER. We have shining moment when the opposite is proven. In my opinion, humans predominantly are focused on themselves and how this or that can benefit them. PREDOMINANTLY. Sometimes though, we are the most caring species ever. There are some people in this world who are simply incapable of thinking about themselves. They are only concerned with how they could be helping someone else. This magnificent trait is shown through John Proctor in Act III. Just to clarify, I am not saying John Proctor is a perfect little angle. He is not. However, he has a shining moment in Act III where he puts himself and something that he cares a whole lot about on the line for someone else. His wife, Elizabeth is being accused of being a witch. *sarcasm* Wierd, right? That does not happen very much in "The Crucible"... Well, in order to free his wife and reveal Abigail as the little liar that she is, he tells of the affair that the two had (John Proctor and Abigail). In order to save his wife from most certain death, he ruins his good reputations which is something that is very important to him. He shows that sometimes it is in human nature to help others at all costs.
The last characteristic of human nature that really popped out at me from "The Crucible" was that of social conformity. In other words, people want to be liked, they want to be accepted at all costs. There are some people who do everything in their power to do their own thing and be able to take credit for everything they do, that is not the case in this book. Witch craft is the things, so everyone goes with it. We can make a pretty sure guess that none of these people actually experienced anything they are saying they did. They are lying. Why may you ask? In order to fit in! Duh! They want to be liked, so when Abigail begins accusing someone of witch craft, they go with it! It might also be that they don't want to be the next victim, but also they want to fit in and be apart of something. Humans want to be liked and accepted, it is in our nature, and pretty much everyone in this book reflects that.
Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY: Penguin, 1996. Print.
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