Crucible by Arthur Miller Whether Term Paper

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However, using today's less rigid religious standards make the outcome of the trials seem ridiculous and completely unjust. Today, most people do not consider witchcraft a reality, and so, basing a court decision on the confession of bewitched young women seems almost ludicrous. As critic Bloom maintains, "Today's audience cannot take the possibility of witchcraft seriously; the implication for us is that no enlightened citizen of any age would be able to take it seriously" (Bloom 45). Thus, if the reader places himself or herself in the 17th century, the verdicts against the accused might make more sense, but they still indicate a lack of justice and reliance on the law.

The American people trust the courts for the most part, and trust them to make impartial and balanced decisions. Up until the decisions, most of the people of Salem trusted the courts as well. The judge follows the doctrines of the courts of the time, and gives confidence he will make an informed and just decision, at least until he states that he believes in the supernatural. He says, "You know, Mr. Proctor, that the entire contention of the state in these trials is that the voice of Heaven is speaking through the children?" (Miller 82). Later he says, "I tell you straight, Mister, I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them stuck with pins and slashed by daggers" (Miller 84). Thus, he bases his decision on belief rather than fact. A decision based solely on the testimony of questionable persons, and not taking into account the background and standing of the other, is simply unjust and unjustified.

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The court system was not impartial, and people suffered because of the hysteria that took over a community. It is interesting to note that Harold Bloom notes the people of Salem had faith in the justice system, but in reality, the justices of the Massachusetts Bay Colony were not trained in law, in fact, they ruled according to the word of the Bible rather than legal precedent or understanding (Bloom 64-65).

That fact becomes even clearer when the truth of intervention is taken into account. Ultimately, concerned citizens stepped in to protest and then end the witch trials. Several Boston ministers ruled that testimony from "witches" was insufficient to sentence someone, and it was inadmissible as evidence in court (Bloom 66). After that, the executions stopped, and all witches still in jail were released the following spring.

In conclusion, the justice of the Salem courts began to be questioned even by other Massachusetts residents. In Miller's play, the accused do not receive justice, and many innocent people are hanged for a crime they did not commit. Justice was not served in Salem, and it may not have been served in the American colonies for decades, at least until judges and lawyers were trained, and justice relied on more than the word of the Bible......

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