Topic > Puritan Beliefs Related to Women in the Crucible by Arthur Miller

As individuals, we all come from different aspects of society, we are all distinguished by different experiences and this causes us all to have different understandings about certain situations. These contrasting views allow everyone to see the world in a variety of ways which in turn changes how the truth is told. The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, discusses the events of the Salem witch trials and explains how the people of Salem's unjust opinions towards women shape the truth by allowing prejudice to take control of decisions in the play. The males in the play are faced with expectations of a strong and tough figure who plays a role in the decisions that are made. Women are forced to play a delicate victim role due to male power oppressing them, which prevents them from getting the full respect in court that they deserve, thus they make tragedy happen. Religious beliefs within the people of Salem are the main factor causing gender inequality and the existence of witchcraft in Salem. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Puritans had traditional beliefs about male and female roles. Men held every position of power and worked on farms to provide for their families. They were the only ones who could be elected leaders or ministers. However, women were dependent on men. They were expected to take care of the children and the home. They had no reason to leave their homes except to go to church. Furthermore, the religion of the people of Salem has taught them that witches exist, and they believe that it is possible that a witch exists among them and that they are unaware of her true identity and allegiance to the Devil. The Bible says, “You shall not suffer a witch to live,” and so they believe not only in the existence of witches but in their religious obligation to cast them aside and hang them. These witches could theoretically, anywhere and anyone, regardless of how devout they may seem. For example, people would automatically think of witchcraft when no one could explain the conditions of two sick children. Overall, it is clear that women were not afforded the same rights, respect, and status as men in Salem society and this clearly explains why people were so sure that witchcraft, rather than wizardry, occurred in Salem. The way women are mistreated in “The Crucible” is a reflection of the Puritan beliefs of that time. This can be seen when Parris said, "You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to death, Tituba!". Putnam then also said: “This woman must be hanged! She must be caught and hanged!” Tituba, terrified, falls to her knees: “No, no, don't hang Tituba! ..." This quote shows female oppression because Reverend Parris threatens to hurt Tituba. Tituba is simply a woman from another society. When Tituba falls to the ground, she lowers herself, which symbolizes that women will always be inferior to men in this society, as men look down on her. Many men believe they have the right to enforce obedience on women. An example of physical abuse is when Proctor yells, "I will whip you if you dare leave this house again!" to his wife. Then Elizabeth became silent and submissive to her husband, in other words, his personal slave. This clearly shows that this woman is controlled by a man in this case and he does not allow her to express the rights she should have. Arthur Miller accentuates the oppression of women in “The Crucible” through numerous.