Based on Arthur Miller's drama The Crucible, the Nicholas Hytner directed film "The Crucible" readily illustrates the mob mentality and irrational fear of Puritan society that led to the Salem Witch Trials. The characters in the film also clearly express the values of Puritan society that fueled mob fury and fear during the events involved in them. Abigail Williams, played by Winona Ryder, is a teen girl accused of witchcraft after she is seen drinking blood and dancing naked with other girls in a pagan type of ritual. To save herself, she accuses others of being witches and involves John Proctor, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, a man who has spurned her affections. These events result in Judge Thomas Danforth, a noted witch hunter, coming to town to preside over the trials. This analysis will explore how "The Crucible" and its characters illustrate the mentality and values of Puritan society that were responsible for leading to the Salem Witch Trials.
"The Crucible" makes it clear that Puritans were a culture of people who viewed themselves as "God's chosen" people, with Puritan leaders believing they could detect good or evil in individuals. Puritans believed they served as agents to rid society of evil, believing rigid controls on behavior were necessary to curb evil or lustful desires in people. We see this capacity to determine good and evil and the mixing of the temporal and spiritual world in the value system of the Puritans expressed by Judge Danforth when he says to John Proctor, "John Proctor, I've seen your power. You are combined with the anti-Christ" (Hytner 1996). Puritans such as Danforth believed they were God's chosen and, as such, it was their job to rid society of evil.
Danforth is relentless and lacks any manner of compassion in his zeal to prosecute others as witches, even when the evidence against individuals is slim or nonexistent. We see some Puritans like John Proctor quest...