Foils in The Crucible Essay

For I See the Devil

. In Arthur Millers play The Crucible He stresses the fact of foils among a community. The town of Salem begins to crumble at the foundation due to a young girl Abigail Williams claming she has practiced witchcraft. Causing the death of several innocent town folk, while in puritan religion if on has dammed themselves to hell all are dammed as well. Know Compared to Abigail all look like saints but none due this better than her complete foil Elizabeth Proctor a pure puritan woman, who goes to the extent of damming herself to hell to save her husband John. Among the town of Salem many people foil each other but John Proctor and Paris fall next in line. Proctor a good man hard worker, farmer and all around respected man in Salem tries to find the truth in all of this hysteria. While Paris greedy money hungry, disrespectful minister only worried about his own neck and how Abigail tries to trash his reputation in Salem.

With the town in a state of chaos over the talk of witchcraft the foils of the story begin to reveal their real colors. In the town of Salem Abigail Williams throws the order of puritan life into a blender of insanity. With her encounters of witchcraft, and devilish sprits. She makes me do it she make me drink blood (Act 1 pg 187) I want to open myself , I want the sweet light of god.,I danced for the devil I saw him; I wrote in his book;.I saw Sarah Good with the devil, I saw Goody Osborn with the devil,. (Act I pg189). While Elizabeth Proctor determined to save her husband comments purgery in court and dames herself to hell. And does all in her will to save her family and forgive John for everything. Your honor, my husband is a good righteous man. He is never drunk always at his work (Act 3 pg 221/222) Elisabeth tell the truth, pleads John, I have confessed (act 3 pg 222) Elizabeth Oh, God (act 3 pg 222). As shown above Abigail is crazy and Elizabeth is desperate to save John

Along with the foils Abigail and Elizabeth we also have Paris and Proctor. Proctor a good willed hard working farmer and a well respected man in the community of Salem who doesnt always make the best choices. Goes out and tries to find the truth in all the insanity. Aye, god tells us that. But who tells us Rebecca nurse murdered seven babies by sending her spirit? It is only children, and this one will swear she lied to you (act3 pg 211) do that which is good, and no harm shall come to thee (act3 pg 213) through proctors searching for the truth he ends up convicted and trialed as a evil doer and forced to confess I have confessed myself! Is their no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my named nailed on the church door! God Seas my name he knows how black my sins are. It is enough (act 4 239). A know we have Pairs the greedy money hungry minister. My horse is better than yours. Only worried about are well being and his reputation as a minister in Salem. I pray you, leap not to witchcraft would ever wish so disastrous a charge laid on me. We cannot leap to witchcraft. They will howl me out of Salem for such corruption in my houses (act1 pg 172) O Abigail, what proper payment for my charity! Now I am undone (act1 pg 173) at first her worries of his reputation and then he greedy. Were is my wood!! My contract provides me with wood were is it (act1 pg 180) and finally when Proctor is confessing he begs him to sign knowing if Proctor signs his will being will no longer be in jeopardy it is a great service it is a weighty name; it will strike the village that Proctor confess. I beg u let him sign (act4 pg 239).

All and all the town of Salem eventually calmed down and came to a sate of understanding. The foils of the story oh they may be great they ones that stand out the most are Proctor and Paris, and Abigail and Elizabeth. They foil each other but in certain parts they are almost the same they bring out the worst and best in each other.