Puritanism During The Salem Witch Trials

The Puritans in the time of the Salem Witch trials showed that it was possible for humans to lose all “rational” thought and blindly condemn people to death. Arthur Miller, a contemporary American playwright, dramatized these proceedings in the attempt to mirror the McCarthy investigations, and show how absurd they truly were.
Arthur Miller says of the Puritans, “They believed, in short, that they held in their steady hanRAB the candle that would light the world. We have inherited this belief, and it has helped and hurt us.” Americans today believe that this country possesses a “candle” for the world, though many would argue over what exactly the “candle” is representative of. The majority of people would likely comply with the thought of the “candle” portraying the freedom that can be found in the United States. The “candle” put into biblical terms would perhaps be the light shining on everything, like a beacon to all the world, showing what can be found in America. To many citizens of foreign countries, America is seen as a paradise, because here if one possesses the desire and motivation a person can be whatever they wish. In the 1700’s, many immigrants came to the New World in the search of this freedom. One of these groups, the Puritans, came in the hope of founding an order composed of pure and untainted Christians. Even today many immigrants, both legal and illegal, come to the United States with the hope of escaping the oppression found in many parts of the world.
Puritanism as a whole was a society of strict, exclusive, conformists who believed they had a predestined path in life. Puritans had a drab, simple way of life with no vain enjoyment. They were very self-righteous, did not believe in leisure, rest or fun, had an intense work ethic and high moral standarRAB. If an act was pleasuring it was of the devil, therefore such harmful things as lechery or dancing were considered evil. Some of the Puritan’s beliefs have helped strengthen the country as Americans realized the idiocy behind them. Such as the idea that no vain enjoyment should be had in life, many wonder what the point of living would be if some enjoyment was not taken from it. It might not be right to flaunt possessions, but what harm can be found in using things to better the way of life, and enjoying it. The idea of using an intense work ethic has been maintained, becoming one of the main reasons why America has advanced so far. No sex without marriage, and no divorce are still maintained as important ideals by much of the population. The Puritan’s self-righteous viewpoint, which we have inherited, has also hurt our country. Puritan’s thought to enlighten the world but did so very arrogantly, believing they were the greatest people in the world. We as Americans are often seen as acting smug and self-assured of our powers over the rest of the world. Our country is the greatest economic super power in the world and we like to show off the power we possess. This has in some ways hurt our country, as many would view us as meddlesome, and of taking sides in conflicts that need not involve us.
Arthur Miller’s assessment that Puritanical views have both helped and hurt us is correct, though overall America is seen as having come out the better for it. Thankfully we have also kept the “rational” thought, which the Puritans seem to have forgotten in the Salem Witch Trials.