Crucible Blog 2

The trials in Salem were based entirely on here say and persuasion, lacking evidence, fact, and underlying truth. By targeting the societal outcasts first, Abigail and her motley crew of "afflicted" girls gain credibility which they will use down the road to victimize their true targets. Goody Osburn and Goody Good are not very highly regarded in Salem, so when the accusations against them arise, little fact is needed to persuade the public. With the public under this spell, judges and Reverend Parris, whose jobs depend on their approval ratings, have no qualms about making the lowly suffer. These people of power see no reason to attempt to bring out truth. In their eyes, no one substantial is suffering. The lies of the court have grown so large that it is hard for them to determine what is truth and what is not. Miller's portrayal of the trials and how the truth is lost depicts how he views truth as an easily manipulated and covered up ideal. He sees from his own life experiences, and those of the Salem Tragedy, that when power is in the right hands, truth can be put aside even in a life or death matter. Miller's message about truth is that it does not equate common consensus, truth should not be based on opinion or personal differences, rather facts, yet societies through history show one that this is not true. Societies claim to be so righteous, yet they turn a blind eye to their true flaws.