The Crucible Essay Example: Religious ‘Freedom’

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play that reflects the mass hysteria due to witchcraft that strangely spreads throughout Salem.  According to OpenDoors, North Korea has been ranked number one as the world’s most dangerous place for Christians for 18 consecutive years (Christian). The Crucible is a play lead by young women who continually accuse others of practicing witchcraft, which ultimately leads to mass hysteria. When Abigail and others blame the villagers of practicing witchcraft, tragic deaths transpire because of lies that have no evidence behind them.

If somebody has been accused, they always point their finger at someone else and eventually 20 villagers are hung and persecuted. The major theme addressed in this play is that religious freedom is never truly freedom, as one may be targeted or persecuted for one’s belief. This example is still relevant as seen in the example concerning Christians being targeted and persecuted. 

The theme that religious freedom is never truly freedom, as one may be targeted or persecuted for one’s beliefs, is displayed in the Crucible. Putnam tells Proctor that he “[does] not think [he] saw [Proctor] at the Sabbath meeting since snow flew” (I.578-579).  Putnam is talking to Proctor about how he is never present at church. When Putnam explains how Hale has come to look for signs of witchcraft, he turns to Proctor and tries to ask about his church life.

Putnam judges Proctor because he does not go to church often, which could be evidence of Proctor being a witch. When doing this, he takes away his right concerning how often he attends church, but furthermore, his religious choices. In addition, Parris confronts proctor about how “such a Christian that will not come to church but once a month!” (III. 217-2018). Parris confronts Proctor about how he only comes to church once a month and judges his Christian lifestyle. When talking about religion, he constantly questions Proctors faith based on his attendance at church, which should never be the case because religion is a choice. Throughout the play, religious freedom is constantly being taken and used against its people in order to find the ones who practice witchcraft.

The Theme of the Play

The theme, religious freedom is never truly freedom, as one may be targeted or persecuted for one’s belief, is not only seen in the play but also in today’s society. Persecution of Religion states that over “a century ago Christians comprised 20% of the population in the Middle East and north Africa, but since then the proportion has fallen to less than 4%, or roughly 15 million people” (Wintour). When focusing on the other side of the world and places where certain religions are not welcomed, people struggle with religious freedom who are often mistreated, abused, and persecuted.

If you compare the population of Christians from a century ago to now, you see a drastic decrease of this religion. The main reason why the Christian faith is declining is because of groups and people who take others religious freedom away by threatening, harming and persecuting believers. When thinking about it, others really don't understand the harm until learning that over 15% of Christian believers have been targeted. Religious freedom should always be an undeniable choice, yet others viciously take it away. As well, according to the Washington Post, terrorists have “interupted a Protestant church service in northern Silgadji, demanding that everyone convert to Islam. Then they led five men who were wearing crosses outside and shot them” (Paquette).

In Africa, terrorists are trying to “drive non-Muslims out of the north” (Paquette) by threatening, torching, attacking, and killing them. These dangerous groups at first tell believers to change their religion, but nevertheless, terrorists kill Christians because of their attire or what church they attend. Recently the rate of Christians and their churches are declining because of their religious practices and faith. In this freedomless world, Christianinisty is the most unsafe religion to practice because of cults and terrorist groups who destroy one’s region-based way of life. People everyday are being threatened and targeted to stop their faith of choice, which lead to killings and persecutions.

In conclusion, religious freedom has always been targeted by others and is persistently an issue that leads to persecutions toward targeted religions. The major theme addressed in this play is that religious freedom is never truly freedom, as one may be targeted or persecuted for one’s belief. This example is still relevant as seen in the example concerning Chrsitian’s being targeted and persecuted. In today’s society and in this play, others take away one’s right to practice their chosen religion through targeting, prosecuting, and coercing. Taking away the right to practice and worship a religion is detrimental to one’s nation and the world, which ultimately shows how cruel and disastrous our own beliefs can lead us to.