Biblical Allusion in The Crucible by Arthur Miller (excerpt)

…continued.

Summary of excerpt from the drama (play) John Proctor’s wife is accused of being a witch. His servant Mary Warren knows this is not true and he brings her to court as a witness. Mary is scared to speak up because the accusers are powerful and the judges are on the side of the accusers. She is afraid she will get in trouble for speaking the truth. It will help John’s wife if Mary speaks the truth and acts in good faith. It is an example of IRONY when John Proctor tells Mary what the Angel Raphael said to Tobias: “Do that which is good, and no harm shall come to thee” (III. 281-282) because all the good people in the town are being hurt for telling the truth.

The Bible Story Itself- The Book of Tobit is part of the Apocrypha in the King James Bible (Old Testament) This chapter follows on from when Tobit travelled with the Angel Raphael and learned how to cure blindness (by using the gall of a fish). The family acted well in the face of danger. The old Tobias would go out and bury the dead that the Assyrian king’s forces had executed. This was against the law and he put himself in great danger. God wanted to help Tobias for his goodness. Tobit 12 Good News Translation (GNT) The Angel Raphael 12 When the wedding feast was over, Tobit called his son Tobias and said to him, Son, be sure to pay your traveling companion, and don't forget to give him a bonus. 2 Tobias asked him, Father, how much do you think I should pay him? I wouldn't mind giving him half of everything we brought back with us. 3 He brought me back home safe and sound; he went to get the money for me from Gabael; he rid my wife of a demon; and he cured your blindness. How much of a bonus should I give him? 4 Tobit answered,  Give him half of what he helped you bring back. He well deserves that. 5 Tobias then called Raphael and said to him, Here is half of what you helped me bring back. You have earned it; have a safe journey home. 6 Then Raphael called the two men aside and said to them, Praise God and tell everyone about the good things he has done for you, so that they too will honor him and sing his praises. Let everyone know what God has done. Never stop praising him. 7 It's a good idea to keep a king's secret, but what God does should be told everywhere, so that he may be praised and honored. If you do good, no harm will come to you. 8 It is better to pray sincerely and to please God by helping the poor than to be rich and dishonest. It is better to give to the poor than to store up gold. 9 Such generosity will save you from death and will wash away all your sins. Those who give to the poor will live full lives, 10 but those who live a life of sin and wickedness are their own worst enemies. 11 I have already told you that a king's secret ought to be kept, but the things God does should be told to everyone. Now I will reveal to you the full truth and keep nothing back. 12 Tobit, when you and Sarah prayed to the Lord, I was the one who brought your prayers into his glorious presence. I did the same thing each time you buried the dead. 13 On the day you got up from the table without eating your meal in order to bury that corpse, God sent me to test you. 14 But he also sent me to cure you and to rescue your daughter-in-law, Sarah, from her troubles. 15 I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand in the glorious presence of the Lord, ready to serve him. 16 Tobit and Tobias were terrified and fell to the ground, trembling with fear. 17 But Raphael said to them, Don't be afraid; everything is all right. Always remember to praise God. 18 He wanted me to come and help you; I did not come on my own. So sing God's praises as long as you live. 19 When you thought you saw me eating, I did not really eat anything; it only seemed so. 20 While you are on this earth, you must praise the Lord God and give him thanks. Now I must go back to him who sent me. Write down everything that has happened to you. 21 Then Raphael disappeared into the sky. Tobit and Tobias stood up, but they could no longer see him. 22 They began to sing hymns of praise, giving thanks for all the mighty deeds God had done while his angel Raphael had been with them. Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. The Book of Tobit is part of the Apocrypha in the King James Bible in The Old Testament.

Tobit’s Story

The Angel Raphael with Tobias-left Tobias cures his father’s blindness after learning from the angel-right

Mary Warren is afraid to speak the truth to the court

Theme in The Bible and The Crucible There is a strong moral message in both The Bible and The Crucible here. That message is that a person must act for the good and the right and not be overcome by fear, even at the risk of his or her own life. Both Tobias and Tobit obeyed the teaching of the Angel Raphael and they were saved. John Proctor tells Mary Warren she will be safe if she tells the truth.