True character is revealed under pressure Grace Harrington 12th Grade

In both The Crucible and Year of Wonders, characters are put under pressure and in times of crisis their true character is revealed. Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, showcases the grotesque nature of the human form and how it contorts when tempted by jealousy and deceit, Abigail Williams showcases this clearly, although much of the town is evidently swept up in the hysteria of the witch-hunt. Similarly, Geraldine Brooks’, Year of wonders, is also a depiction of the disintegration of moral character resulting from disease and crisis in a small town, specifically in characters of Josiah and Aphra Bont. They take advantage of the weak and exploit them to satisfy their own greed. Many characters in both texts appear to be morally good, especially the Puritans, however both novels show the inner corruption and judgment of the church leaders. Cracks in character are also revealed by the mass hysteria that is ridden throughout both texts. The Crucible explores the detrimental effect the notion of the devil and witchcraft can have on a town, whereas Year of Wonders deals with the death and disease that results from the plague. However a person’s true character can be shown to be moral and good when faced with pressuring situations. The...