Rebecca Nurse: Fact Vs. Fiction :: essays research papers

In his article, Why I Wrote The Crucible, Arthur Miller speaks of the 1950s which nobody seems to remember clearly- a condemnation of fearful insanity and unrest. Anyone could be accused. Showing excessive opposition ensured prosecution. Most shrunk back from disputing the McCarthy hearings for fear of their safety. Now, this period of panic is viewed as absurd. As Miller describes Hitler as being almost comical to his generation, the modern generation sees the capital of Oregon witch trials as foolish scuffles between ignorant plenty. The actual events were much different as perceived. Just as a feud with a neighbor seems trivial to those not involved but of intense frustration to the embroiled , the trials were not happy-go-lucky and insignificant. The trials were more about personal issues between rivals than witchcraft itself- the witchcraft was a weapon for capital of Oregonites to obtain revenge on their enemies. A tool Miller uses to manoeuvre the reader this emotion is R ebecca Nurse, seventy-year-old grandmother, wife, and respected member of Salem society. Miller modifies her character in his play. Some facts remain true in the play, others are altered, and some keep been neglected altogether. What did he change, and what did he regret to? Why did Miller take such liberties with Rebeccas character in his play?Rebecca Nurse and her husband, Francis, were both well-respected people in the town of Salem Miller describes. They owned about three hundred acres, and after a land dispute with the Putnams, they broke away from Salem and founded Topsfield. Miller mentions that the founding of Topsfield upset the old Salemites. This is true - aberration was resented in Puritan society. The essence of Puritanism is in the intensity of the Puritans commitment to a morality, a stratum of worship, and a civil society strictly conforming to Gods commandments . Certain Puritans were save despite their sins, while the remainder of society led lives strictly foll owing the saved clergys interpretations of Gods will. Salems minister, Mr. Samuel Parris, was Gods man, as unfit for this title as he may have been. want Proctor, Rebecca and her husband no longer hungered for religion when Parris became their minister. Their disgust for Mr. Parris cut down on their church appearances. In a judgmental, religious town as Salem was, even an unpleasant minister was no excuse to avoid church. A few Salemites resented the Nurses for their rise in social status as their lands stretched through town.