Tyler Brooks
In Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, golden candlesticks are symbolic of Reverend Parris's greed and vanity, violating the Puritan value system. The play is set in Salem, a Puritan community where religion and state are intertwined, creating a theocracy. Puritan theology rejected materialism and advised the pious to treasure Heaven over earthly possessions. Reverend Parris's desire for golden candlesticks for the altar reflects his self-interest and Catholic tastes, making him unfit to lead the congregation in Salem. John Proctor, a farmer who works hard to support his family, resents Parris's obsession with the candlesticks, considering him greedy and ungodly. This conflict between Proctor and Parris highlights the struggle between personal conscience and public reputation in a Puritan community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materialism | Puritan theology advised the pious to lay up treasures in Heaven |
| Greed | Reverend Parris's desire for golden candlesticks calls into question his devotion to his sect |
| Vanity | Golden candlesticks symbolize Parris's vanity |
| Self-interest | John Proctor openly says that he does not like how Parris seems to only care about money and his own well-being and reputation |
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What You'll Learn
Golden candlesticks represent greed and vanity
In Arthur Miller's play 'The Crucible', golden candlesticks symbolize Reverend Parris's greed and vanity. Parris's desire for golden candlesticks for the Puritan meeting house calls into question his devotion to the Puritan sect. Puritan theology rejected materialism and advised the pious to treasure Heaven above earthly possessions.
John Proctor, a farmer who works long and hard to support his family, resents Parris's obsession with the candlesticks. Proctor believes that Parris is greedy and ungodly, and that his rich tastes are inappropriate for a Puritan minister. Proctor says:
> "I labor the earth from dawn of day to blink of night, and I tell you true, when I look to heaven and see my money glaring at his elbows – it hurt my prayer, sir, it hurt my prayer."
Parris's fixation on the golden candlesticks highlights the conflict between personal conscience and public reputation in a Puritan community. While Proctor values hard work and piety, Parris is more concerned with material wealth and his own status. This difference in values leads to a confrontation between the two men, with Proctor questioning Parris's suitability as a minister.
The golden candlesticks also symbolize the larger theme of integrity in the play. While Parris is motivated by greed and vanity, Proctor stands up for his beliefs, even at great personal cost. He refuses to compromise his integrity, even if it means going against the powerful Reverend Parris.
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They symbolise the Puritan rejection of materialism
Puritan theology rejected materialism, advising the pious to "lay up treasures in Heaven" (a paraphrase of the Gospel of Matthew). Golden candlesticks are symbolic of the Puritan rejection of materialism. In The Crucible, Reverend Parris's desire for golden candlesticks for the Puritan meeting house calls into question his devotion to this particular sect. John Proctor resented Parris's obsession with the candlesticks, considering him to be a greedy and ungodly man. Proctor, a farmer who worked long and hard to support his family, was upset that the pewter candlesticks in the church had been replaced by golden ones. He felt that Parris was more interested in money and possessions than in God. Proctor says:
> "I labor the earth from dawn of day to blink of night, and I tell you true, when I look to heaven and see my money glaring at his elbows – it hurt my prayer, sir, it hurt my prayer."
Golden candlesticks, therefore, symbolise the Puritan rejection of materialism. They represent the tension between the Puritan value system, which emphasises abstemiousness and spiritual devotion, and the materialism and greed that can arise in religious contexts. This tension is a central theme in The Crucible, where the rigid religious structure of the Puritan community fosters division and conflict, as seen in the witch trials that unfold.
The golden candlesticks in The Crucible also reflect the broader theme of integrity and the struggle to maintain human dignity in the face of a universe bereft of reason and order. John Proctor, for example, refuses to lie to satisfy the phony claims enforced by the establishment, even at great personal cost. His actions highlight the conflict between personal conscience and public reputation in a community where religion and state are intertwined.
In addition to symbolising the Puritan rejection of materialism, the golden candlesticks in The Crucible also represent the light of Christ. In Revelation, golden candlesticks are associated with Christ, who is the light of the world. However, people have a tendency to replace the light of Christ with physical objects of devotion. The golden candlesticks in The Crucible serve as a reminder that true devotion lies not in material possessions but in the reality of Christ's life in people and His church.
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The candlesticks are a distraction from Christ
In Arthur Miller's play, 'The Crucible', the golden candlesticks symbolize Parris's greed and vanity. Reverend Parris's desire for golden candlesticks for the Puritan meeting house calls into question his devotion to this particular sect. Puritan theology rejected materialism and advised the pious to treasure Heaven instead of earthly possessions.
The golden candlesticks are a distraction from Christ because they represent the materialism and greed that is antithetical to Puritan values. The Puritan community in Salem is meant to be unified by its religious framework, but the rigid religious structure also fosters division and conflict, as seen in the witch trials that unfold. The golden candlesticks become a symbol of this conflict, with John Proctor refusing to attend weekly church meetings because he believes Reverend Parris is an unsuitable Puritan minister due to his obsession with material wealth. Proctor resented Parris's rich tastes, considering him to be a greedy and ungodly man. He says, "I labor the earth from dawn of day to blink of night, and I tell you true, when I look to heaven and see my money glaring at his elbows – it hurt my prayer, sir, it hurt my prayer".
The golden candlesticks also distract from Christ by replacing the light of Christ with physical objects of devotion. In Revelation, golden candlesticks symbolize Christ in the ekklesia. Jesus is about reality – the reality of His life in people and in His ekklesia. However, people have a tendency to quickly replace Christ with tangible objects, even if His name is attached to them.
The golden candlesticks represent the corruption and hypocrisy of the powerful in the Puritan community. The theocracy of the Puritan settlement will not allow any cracks to appear in the facade of traditional religion, behind which the powerful guard their position of advantage. Reverend Parris's obsession with golden candlesticks illustrates this, as he is more concerned with his own wealth and reputation than with the spiritual well-being of his congregation.
The golden candlesticks also serve as a distraction from Christ by symbolizing the societal and personal struggles within Salem's witch trials, highlighting themes of reputation, power, and morality. The poppets used in the play, for example, symbolize the Puritans' condemnation of entertainment and idleness, as well as the superstition and malevolence that took hold of certain people in Salem.
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They are a symbol of the church's hypocrisy
In Arthur Miller's play, 'The Crucible', golden candlesticks are used to symbolise the greed and vanity of Reverend Parris. The play is set in Salem, a Puritan community where religion and state are intertwined, creating a theocracy. Puritan theology rejected materialism and advised the pious to treasure Heaven above all else.
The golden candlesticks are symbolic of the church's hypocrisy, as they represent the church's deviation from its spiritual purpose. The church is supposed to be a source of light and guidance for its congregation, with Christ as the true light. However, the golden candlesticks represent a shift towards materialism and worldly possessions, which is contrary to the Puritan value system.
The character John Proctor, a farmer who works long and hard to support his family, resents Parris's obsession with the candlesticks. Proctor believes that Parris is a greedy and ungodly man who is more concerned with his own wealth and status than with the spiritual well-being of his congregation. Proctor's refusal to attend weekly church meetings stems from his belief that Parris is an unsuitable Puritan minister due to his focus on worldly possessions.
The golden candlesticks also highlight the societal and personal struggles within Salem's witch trials, where the rigid religious structure fosters division and conflict. The play explores the struggle between personal conscience and public reputation, as characters like Proctor stand up for their beliefs, even at great personal cost.
Furthermore, the golden candlesticks can be seen as a symbol of the church's hypocrisy in its treatment of women. In the play, a poppet is used as a voodoo doll by Abigail Williams to frame Elizabeth Proctor, symbolizing the superstition and malevolence that took hold of Salem. The court's willingness to accept this as evidence and convict a woman of a capital crime highlights the hypocrisy and corruption within the religious framework.
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The candlesticks represent the corruption of the court
In Arthur Miller's play, 'The Crucible', the golden candlesticks represent the corruption of the court in Salem, a Puritan community. Reverend Parris's desire for golden candlesticks for the altar of the Puritan meetinghouse calls into question his devotion to the Puritan sect. Puritan theology rejected materialism and advised the pious to lay up treasures in Heaven, as paraphrased from the Gospel of Matthew.
The golden candlesticks symbolise Parris's greed and vanity, reflecting his self-interest in money and possessions. John Proctor, a farmer who works long and hard to support his family, resents Parris's obsession with the candlesticks. Proctor's labour in building the church is contrasted with Parris's focus on material wealth, which is seen as a distraction from true devotion to God. Proctor's refusal to attend weekly church meetings due to his disapproval of Parris's leadership further highlights the conflict between personal conscience and public reputation in the community.
The play explores the power dynamics and societal struggles within the Salem witch trials, where fear of witchcraft leads to hysteria, corruption, and revenge. The rigid religious structure of the Puritan settlement fosters division and conflict, as individuals struggle to maintain their moral principles in the face of societal pressure. The golden candlesticks become a symbol of the corruption of the court, where authority figures demand immoral acts to maintain their power and advantage.
The candlesticks also hold religious significance, as in Revelation, golden candlesticks symbolize Christ. However, the play critiques the tendency to replace the light of Christ with physical objects of devotion. The golden candlesticks thus become a tangible representation of the court's hypocrisy and corruption, where external appearances are valued over true religious devotion.
Overall, the golden candlesticks in 'The Crucible' serve as a powerful symbol of the corruption of the court in the Puritan community of Salem. They represent the greed and vanity of Reverend Parris, the conflict between personal conscience and public reputation, and the hypocrisy of a court willing to perform immoral acts to maintain power.
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Frequently asked questions
Golden candlesticks violate the Puritan value system because they represent materialism and greed, which are contrary to the Puritan emphasis on abstemiousness and piety.
In The Crucible, Reverend Parris's desire for golden candlesticks for the Puritan meetinghouse calls into question his devotion to Puritanism and his fitness to lead the congregation in Salem. The candlesticks symbolise Parris's greed and vanity.
John Proctor openly expresses his dislike of Reverend Parris, whom he sees as greedy and self-interested. Proctor resents Parris's obsession with the candlesticks, especially since he works long and hard to support his family. Proctor believes that Parris's focus on material wealth distracts from true devotion to God.
Reverend Parris is seen as violating the Puritan value system through his greed, self-interest, and obsession with material wealth. He is accused of having more Catholic tastes, which calls into question his suitability to lead a Puritan congregation.
Poppets, or dolls, are another symbol in The Crucible that violates the Puritan value system. They represent the Puritans' condemnation of entertainment and idleness and are associated with the practice of witchcraft, or the "dark arts".
