Conformity in the Crucible

Conformity is defined as doing and thinking as others and; or behavior that is socially acceptable or expected. The act of conforming can be seen in all shapes and sizes and in any medium; including literature. Two works of literature in which conformity is prominent are The Crucible by Arthur Miller and The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. One being the story of the corruption of a small new england town, and the other a tale of a community long since corrupted. In both the play and the short story, conformity is used as the catalyst and sustainer of evil actions.

In The Crucible, It is apparent that there is a need to conform to the church's views and that of its authoritative figures; and this puts the town of Salem in a lose-lose situation. they could turn their backs on what they believe in and lie by admitting to having had "stood with the devil", therefore conforming with the church's desires, or they must listen to their personal conscious and refuse to lie. The initial madness begins in the household of the stern Reverend Parris, when Tituba is called out as the instigator of devil worship in his household. Tituba swears she does not compact with the devil until the reverend threatens her life. "you will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, tituba!" he says. This is when the ultimatum takes place, Tituba must either choose to continue to tell the truth and save her soul, or start lying to save her life. She eventually breaks by referring to the devil and saying "no, no, don't hang Tituba! I tell him I don't want to work for him sir!" By conforming to this, she is herself; the catalyst of the evil to come.

Towards the end of act three, one of the young girls in town, Mary Warren, is all set up to admit that she was the one at fault in trial by lying about consorting with the devil and only pretending to be possessed at certain times. Ms. Warren says "I cannot lie no more, I am with God. I am with God." to clarify to Governor

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