The Crucible Conformity Vs Individuality Analysis

Most people, at some point in their life, either struggle with the temptation to fit in by doing what everybody else is doing, or to take a leap of faith and do something others aren’t. The ideas of conformity versus individuality are still major struggles that people deal with today. But in times during the origin of the U.S.,government. these views were often seen as black or white. The first ideology of Puritanism took place while the colonists were still under British rule, and they were therefore expected to follow the rules Britain set forth. They were forced to conform. Once America declared independence from Great Britain, we entered an ideology that combined the structure of conformity and the freedom of individuality. The final ideology …show more content…
Although the book The Crucible was not written by a Puritan author, Arthur Miller tries to depict the Puritan way of life as he follows the story of the witch trials in Salem Massachusetts. There is one instance where the town reverend, rev. Parris had his authority challenged by one of the townspeople. At the end of his long, defensive retort, He pronounced "there is either obedience or the church will burn like hell is burning”(Miller 1112). In a selfish attempt to hold his position of power in the church, rev. Parris reveals a way of life that is expected of all Puritans. One must obey the church above all else, even if the church is thought to be wrong. This blind faith is a dangerous way to live, yet puritans are expected to follow not only by the church but by the scornful watch of their neighbors. Throughout the course of the Crucible Rev. Parris says many things in trying to defend his best interests, such as “this is a clear attack upon the court,” or “all innocent and Christian people are happy for the courts in Salem”(1141). The implication that all people are happy with the courts is just another example of the type of power that Puritan leaders have over their citizens. By saying that only innocent people are happy with the courts there are two choices …show more content…
A speech given by Patrick Henry called Speech to the Virginia Convention accurately depicts the ideas of Deism towards individuality. While talking about the incompetency of his peers he states the “I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience”(Henry 122). By saying that he has a single lamp to light his path, which is experience, Patrick Henry refers to himself as the sole influence in his life for both now and moving forward. No one else dictates how he should live his life, only his prior knowledge and experience guides him. He displays individuality as opposed to conformity. This sense of individualism is also seen in the writings of Thomas Jefferson. In his original draft of the Declaration of Independence, he stated that “[we] reject and renounce all allegiance and subjugation to the kings of Britain” (148). Through Thomas Jefferson's brutal honesty, he makes it abundantly clear to the reader his desire for independence from Britain. Although Jefferson wanted independence from Britain and it's tyrannical government, he did not desire anarchy. In fact, he believed in the importance of having a Government structure, which is why he drafted the Declaration of Independence. It was time to establishing a government that spread power amongst many individuals. Although Deism

Show More

The Crucible Conformity Vs Individuality Analysis

Related Documents: The Crucible Conformity Vs Individuality Analysis

CRM 1301 Midterm uOttawa Carolyn Gordon Essays