Post by ninah02 on Nov 11, 2007 22:44:59 GMT -5
Word Count: 471
There seems to be some glaring similarities between the actions of The Crucible’s Judge Danforth and the actions of the current President of the United States, George W. Bush. Both have utilized the tyranny of the consensus between the hysteria of 1692 Salem and today. Though Arthur Miller’s play, was meant to parody the 1950s McCarthy anti-communism trial, it parallels our world today as well.
After September 11th, when addressing that nation, President George Bush stated “Every nation in every region now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.” This sounds a lot like the tyranny that took hold of Salem in 1692. Bush uses this threat to gain power, because the more people side with America, the more they will look to him as a leader. In Act 3 of the play Danforth makes a similar statement when he says to his court “A person is either with this court or must be counted against it, there be no road between”. (Miller 94) Danforth is a tyrant who uses the fear of witchcraft as his weapon to achieve control. Judge Danforth wanted everyone to fear and believe in the witchcraft that so many were accused of because he would be the final word. This would give him the ultimate power.
When it comes to the law, President Bush has the final say. The Constitution of the United States provides the rules applicable to all three branches of the Federal Government. Bush has defied these rules and decided that his word is law. Within the last few weeks, the President has made statements saying that the United States does not participate in torture. Last week, the topic of waterboarding, the torture technique of immobilizing a person and forcing him to inhale water into his lungs, arose. Members of the CIA have admitted to using waterboarding as a means of extracting information from enemies. When the attorney general designate was questioned in front of the senate whether waterboarding was in fact torture, he would not answer for fear of contradicting the president and his power. The president clearly abides by his own rules and his disciples know better then to oppose him. Danforth also is feared enough to not be contradicted by the general public. He is a firm believer that diabolism is present in Salem and the members of the community know better then to challenge him. The few that are not part of the consensus and are accused of witchcraft are ostracized and hanged after having a “trial” in Danforth’s court.
Judge Danforth and George Bush are both high-ranked figures who rule through fear. There is an old saying which talks about how too much power corrupts people. These power hungry men have common qualities that are not separated by time.
There seems to be some glaring similarities between the actions of The Crucible’s Judge Danforth and the actions of the current President of the United States, George W. Bush. Both have utilized the tyranny of the consensus between the hysteria of 1692 Salem and today. Though Arthur Miller’s play, was meant to parody the 1950s McCarthy anti-communism trial, it parallels our world today as well.
After September 11th, when addressing that nation, President George Bush stated “Every nation in every region now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.” This sounds a lot like the tyranny that took hold of Salem in 1692. Bush uses this threat to gain power, because the more people side with America, the more they will look to him as a leader. In Act 3 of the play Danforth makes a similar statement when he says to his court “A person is either with this court or must be counted against it, there be no road between”. (Miller 94) Danforth is a tyrant who uses the fear of witchcraft as his weapon to achieve control. Judge Danforth wanted everyone to fear and believe in the witchcraft that so many were accused of because he would be the final word. This would give him the ultimate power.
When it comes to the law, President Bush has the final say. The Constitution of the United States provides the rules applicable to all three branches of the Federal Government. Bush has defied these rules and decided that his word is law. Within the last few weeks, the President has made statements saying that the United States does not participate in torture. Last week, the topic of waterboarding, the torture technique of immobilizing a person and forcing him to inhale water into his lungs, arose. Members of the CIA have admitted to using waterboarding as a means of extracting information from enemies. When the attorney general designate was questioned in front of the senate whether waterboarding was in fact torture, he would not answer for fear of contradicting the president and his power. The president clearly abides by his own rules and his disciples know better then to oppose him. Danforth also is feared enough to not be contradicted by the general public. He is a firm believer that diabolism is present in Salem and the members of the community know better then to challenge him. The few that are not part of the consensus and are accused of witchcraft are ostracized and hanged after having a “trial” in Danforth’s court.
Judge Danforth and George Bush are both high-ranked figures who rule through fear. There is an old saying which talks about how too much power corrupts people. These power hungry men have common qualities that are not separated by time.