God created humanity in his own-image and gave them one instruction. However, Eve disobeyed God's instruction and influenced Adam to do the same. According to the book of Genesis 3:16, God speaks to Eve to say, "Unto the woman He said...your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you." In Arthur Miller's novel, The Crucible, the role that women portray through society is inferior to that of men. Evidence for women's inferiority is found through the strong impact religious beliefs have on Puritan. Furthermore, since the devil can easily motivate woman to act selfishly they are inferior. Lastly, women are inferior beings because of their weak-willed hearts and untrustworthy nature.
First, women are inferior because of the way the church beliefs portray them. Puritan's live by a strict religious code. They greatly rely on the book of Genesis, where it establishes that women are inferior because Eve is born from Adam's rib. Marry Warren and John Proctors' relationship is a prime example of how men believe they have the right to dominate women. After authorities arrest John Proctor's wife, Elizabeth, he tells Mary to testify that she brought the poppet into the house. He also tells Mary to testify all the girls' are lying when they say they spirit's posses them. When Mary argues she cannot, the author indicates that John Proctor disciplines her by",-grasping her by the throat as though he would strangle her" (Miller, 80). Mr. Proctor constantly threatens Mary Warrens' life through abuse, to beat obedience and moral rights into her. Furthermore, Puritan society limits the role's women fill. Their most important responsibilities consist of tending to their chores, taking care of their families, and reproducing. Elizabeth Proctor portrays the ideal housewife as the author writes", She brings the plate to the table and indicating the food;"(Miller, 50). According to the Bible, a woman is to fulfill her duties by tending to her husband, like a slave. This is punishment for Eve's original sin. In addition, during the late 1960s Puritan's believe they were fighting against devil who materializes in the figure of the Indians, which adds to the fear and hysteria of witchcraft. Abigail Williams is a victim of this war. The traumatic events she faced during her young age wrap her psyche ", And you know I can do it; I saw Indians smash my dear parents’ heads on the pillow next to mine, and I have seen some reddish work done at night, and I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down!" (Miller, 20) The quotation above tells one that Abigail witnesses Indians slaughter her family. This proves that Abigail Williams is fragile because her psyche is deeply affected by this traumatic experience. In conclusion, the way Puritan religious beliefs and history portray women result in their inferiority.
Secondly, the devil motivates women to act selfishly because sin is selfish. Abigail Williams is a prodigious example of how her selfish desire kills the man she loves. This play indicates, that before it begins, that Mrs. Williams was once the Proctor's servant. However, when Mrs. Proctor learns of the affair, her husband John is having with Abigail, she dismisses the young girl from her position. Cheever tells what happens to Abigail, at dinner in Reverend Parris's house, when he interrogates Elizabeth ",Stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out…-testify it were your wife's familiar spirit pushed it in"(Miller, 74). Selfishness motivates Abigail because she wantsto acquire vengeance, by murder, and win John Proctors' heart. This is whyAbby accuses Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft. In addition, self-interest motivates Elizabeth because she refuses to forgive her husband. She is constantly suspicious of his actions. John is remorseful, but one night Mr. Proctor has had enough of his wife's interrogation, and he argues. "You forget nothing' and forgive nothing." Her refusal to forgive him is a manipulative way to stop him from cheating ever again. He goes on to say. "I have not moved from there to there without I think to please you" (Miller, 54). John Proctors happiness depends on his wife's forgiveness. To conclude, women are inferior because they are selfish. Since, self-interest is a sin, women are easily susceptible to the devil.
Third and foremost, since Puritan's believe the devil tempted Eve first, women are weak-willed and untrustworthy beings. This belief makes the witch accusations worse because the high authorities are corrupt by illogical fear. Mrs. Williams is the spark, which ignites the witch allegations. At the beginning of play, Reverend Parris' daughter, Betty, is sick. He questions Abigail Williams about the girls dancing in the forest. In a desperate attempt to avoid any trouble she maybe in, Abigail points fingers at Tituba, a servant from Barbados. However, when she sees Tituba confess to being with the devil she confesses ", I danced for the Devil; I saw him; I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil!" (Miller, 48). The Puritan-males believe Abby right away because their beliefs tell them to. Abigail Williams is untrustworthy and cowardly because she constantly lies. At the end of the play, Abigail steals Parris's money ", Excellency, I think they be aboard a ship.....My daughter tells me how she heard them speaking of ships last week, and tonight I discover my - my strong-box is broke into" (Miller, 126) The quotation proves that Abby is untrustworthy because she steals the money from the strong-box and she is cowardly because she uses the stolen money to run away since her plan to murder Elizabeth Proctor and take John Proctor for herself fails. Additionally, Miller shows a stereotypical woman of the 1600s through Mary Warren, a weak-willed character. When Mary speaks the truth about the accusations, the assumption carried out by the court is that Mary has conspired in witchcraft. When she says, "My name, he wants my name. ‘I'll murder you, ' he says, ‘if my wife hangs! We must go and overthrow the court, ' he says!"(Miller, 119). At the end of act two, Mary does not want to tell the court that the girls are lying, but after John Proctor persuades her, she does. Soon after, the girls being accusing Mary of witchcraft. To protect herself, Mary betrays the truth and Mr. Proctor. To summarize, women are inferior because of their are untrustworthy and cowardly nature.
To summarize, in Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, women in Puritan Society are inferior. This is proven through the view of Puritan religious beliefs. Furthermore, women are easily susceptible to the devil because they are morally weaker than men are. Lastly, even though women are inferior to their selfish ways help them dominate one another and their husbands.