The Crucible showed me how much morals influenced the Puritan society. The movie adaptation showed the darker side of Puritan society, because truth and good intentions suddenly twisted into lies and greed. Elizabeth Proctor, Abigail Williams, and Mr. Putnam are examples of this.

 

Abigail Williams and Mr. Putnam are the epitomes of the darker side of Puritan society. Abigail manipulates the other girls in order to get what she wants, John Proctor. This turns into a desire for power over others and their fates. Mr. Putnam also shows manipulation, but in a different way. Putnam shows greed by his want of land. He abuses the system by having his daughter accuse people that own land that he wants.

 

Elizabeth is the opposite of Abigail and Putnam, and she remains true to her morals throughout the movie. She holds John Proctor to it as well. Throughout the movie, we see Elizabeth and John arguing over his adultery, but I believe that she was made at him more because he hid the truth. That’s why she appears almost at peace at the end when John ultimately decides to die instead of lying and ruining his name.

Puritans were more heavily influenced by morals than I thought, but chaos ensues when they lack moral principles. Abigail Williams and Mr. Putnam are both examples of what happens when they lack certain morals. Elizabeth is the best example of someone who holds on to their principles and refuses to lie. Both sides are important for the conflict in the Crucible, and to show their contrasting actions.