More than 200 people were accused of witchcraft in a court case called the Salem Witch Trials, and 19 people were executed, in a court case called the Salem Witch Trials. A play that expresses the feelings of the people of Salem was presented. In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, many difficult decisions are made and life lessons are learned. Lies and deception, respect and reputation, and compassion and forgiveness are the major themes that manifest in the play. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayThree Main Themes of “The Crucible”The first important theme of this play is lies and deception. This piece makes the radical argument that no kind of deception can ever be truly justified. Most of the characters in The Crucible lie. If not to others, then to themselves. Abigail lies about being able to see spirits, as do the other girls in the room. Proctor is guilty of several things. First for cheating on his wife, then for hiding it. judges, lieutenant governors, and ministers lie to themselves and everyone else that they serve the cause of God's justice. The twist of the story is that by telling the truth you die, but you also gain your freedom. Another important theme in this play is respect and reputation. Reputation is extremely important in a city where social status is tied to one's ability to follow religious rules. Your good reputation is the only way you can get other people to do business with you, or even get a fair hearing. Besides, reputation means nothing when an accusation of witchcraft is staring you in the face. But it was reputation that led Reverend Hale to doubt the guilt of the accused. And it is for the good of his reputation and that of his friends that John Proctor refuses to sign false confessions. He would literally rather die. Although John Proctor ends up falsely condemned as a witch, he gains his reputation and respect among those who matter, such as his wife, because he refuses to falsely identify his friends and neighbors as witches. The loss of Abigail's reputation towards the end of the play shows that the characters in The Crucible eventually gain the reputation they deserve, despite the personal tragedies that might occur along the way. The third important theme of this play is compassion and forgiveness. John Proctor is desperate for forgiveness at the beginning of the play. But his wife seems hesitant to grant it or not. He committed adultery earlier that year while she was ill, and although his lover Abigail is now out of his life, Elizabeth still judges him for it. More importantly, he still judges himself. It is only when Elizabeth forgives him and admits his own faults that John Proctor is able to forgive himself. This is also what gives him the courage to go towards death. Even though John Proctor wants his wife's forgiveness, he actually needs to forgive himself, as she says. Although Elizabeth Proctor claims that John is her own worst judge and that he needs to forgive himself, she has reason to believe that he is still not completely faithful in his heart. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.Get a custom essayIn conclusion, The Crucible is a play that expresses the feelings of the people of Salem. In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, many difficult decisions were made and :.