The Crucible

How does Miller explore the chaos present in Salem over the course of the play?

Miller uses the theme of chaos to bescribe ans show the extent to which the witch trials have affected the people of Salem. Over the course of the play, there is a shift in power as well as opinion which seems to have upset the balance in Salem.

Power is shifted from the adults to the children to show how desparetly the people of Salem want to cling on to their faith. 'Out of the mouth of babes shall come the truth'. Danforth, who is the head of the court, clearly believes that everything the children say is true because God said so. Chaos is shown in how the fates of the most well respected people in Salem lays in the hands of adaulecent children like Abigail who then abuses that power in order to 'dance on (Elizabeth's) grave'. This shows the chaos as Miller tries to convey that adults in Salem have lost the ability to see through thr lies of their own children but rather their devoted belief in God is their own down fall. This is because in was God who encouraged them to believe in everything the children have to say. The irony of it is that honest and God loving people such as Rebecca Nurse are persecuted because of the village's belief in God.

More chaos is seen in Salem as the heads of the witch hunt are, themselves, undecided. An example in Hale who 'quites this court'. Hale was the main leader of the witch hunt with all his knowledge and expertise. The fact that even he begins to doubt his word seems to make the playa more chaotic as if the witch trials have lost their cause and have left confusion and destruction in their steed. This also conveys chaos as it seems no one, not even the outsiders, has been left unchanged by the event and occurred. 'I shall fall like an ocean on this court' also show the chaos in Salem. Water from the 'ocean' is uncontrollable and a great force. Not even the greatest of forces, such as the true, are strong enough to fight it. It seems to...