Omar%Vazquez%Period%5%12/12/12%%Accusations%make%the%world%to%think%irrationally.%In%the%play%“The%Crucible”%by%Arthur%Miller,%Miller%conveys%the%tyranny%of%the%McCarthy%Era%and%compares%it%to%the%Salem%Witch%Trials.%When%Power%is%a%factor,%misuse%is%a%definite%product.%% Abigail,%the%main%antagonist,%is%one%example%of%humans%abusing%their%privileged%power.%In%Act%2%Scene%1,%Abigail%is%speaking%with%John%Proctor%as%she%yells,”%Until%the%last%hypocrite%is%dead”%(Miller).%No%better%way%to%take%revenge%is%the%sole%idea%Abigail%has%in%her%insane%mind.%At%this%point%Abigail%has%been%given%so%much%credibility%that%she%abuses%her%power%just%to%get%back%at%her%enemies.%No%matter%how%awful%your%enemy%is%power%should%be%used%responsibly.%This%can%refer%back%to%how%the%class%would%accuse%their%enemy%for%having%a%deep%hate%for%them,%but%power%can%be%corrupted%by%emotions%which%is%created%in%Act%2%Scene%1.%Abigail%felt%abused%herself%by%Elizabeth%Proctor%for%being%worked%to%the%bone,%and%being%in%the%way%between%Abigail’s%and%John%Proctor’s%relationship,%so%she%used%these%feelings%within%her%rage%of%power.%%% Power%can%also%be%misused%within%the%court%because%Danforth%and%Hathorne%abuse%their%positions%in%court.%In%Act%2%Scene%2%Mr.%Proctor%brings%a%petition%to%save%Ms.%Rebecca%signed%with%91%names%from%the%village.%Then%Mr.%Parris%has%the%indecency%to%yell%back%to%Mr.%Proctor,”%These%people%should%be%summoned%for%questioning…this%is%a%clear%attack%upon%the%court!”%%Then%later%Hathorne%agrees%as%he%says,%“I%think%they%ought%to%be%examined,%sir.”%This%means%that%the%court%believes%to%be%superior%to%the%citizens%in%the%village%even%though%the%government%should%uphold%to%the%majority%vote.%Government%is%a%social%contract%based%on%the%people,%and%the%government%should%make%fair%laws%based%on%the%people,%but%this%is%not%the%case.%Danforth%and%Hathorne%have%power%in%the%court,%and%most%likely%appointed%into%office%by%the%people;%Omar%Vazquez%Period%5%12/12/12%%nevertheless,%these%positions%are%meant%to%uphold%justice,%but%neither%of%these%characters%want%to%follow%the%people.%They%abuse%their%power%to%get%it%their%way%also%known%as%selfish%pricks.%%% To%further%explain%their%misuse%of%power%Danforth%is%the%supreme%decision%for%the%trials%as%he%is%the%top%judge.%Afterwards%in%the%same%scene,%Danforth%is%predominately%placing%himself%above%all%as%he%states,”%a%person%is%either%with%this%court%or%he%must%be%counted%against%it.”%Meaning%that%people%do%not%have%a%choice%in%the%matter%between%being%innocent,%guilty,%or%pledge%silence.%The%accused%are%placed%guilty%because%of%insane%power%classified%them%as%a%criminal%based%on%biblical%perspectives.%The%power%for%Mr.%Danforth%was%bestowed%upon%him%to%put%a%stop%to%these%witch%trails,%but%he%himself%goes%insane%with%power%for%he%falsely%accuses%Mr.%Corey%for%just%being%silent.%Mr.%Corey%has%the%right%to%stay%silent,%and%shouldn’t%be%accused%for%being%silent.%Now%that%goes%against%the%constitution%and%nothing%is%superior%to%the%constitution%yet%Mr.%Danforth%has%the%abusive%power%to%jail%Mr.%Corey%which%he%did.%% In%conclusion,%Power%is%misused%because%it%is%bestowed%upon%the%people%who%believe%it%was%deserved,%but%in%reality%it%was%privilege.%For%Abigail,%Danforth,%and%Hathorne%power%is%just%another%play%toy.%They%can%be%referred%to%as%McCarthy%himself%for%abusing%their%power%in%times%of%great%fear.%%
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