Image by Barbora Franzová from Pixabay
Hypocrites are defined as “someone who has beliefs (or pretends to have beliefs) but whose actions are not consistent with their claimed beliefs.”
In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, there are many characters whose actions were not consistent with their previous beliefs to save their dearest family members. Even though this worked in The Crucible, but in the movie Bird Box, things don’t get that pretty here. In this scenario, people taking refuge in a house from horrible extraterrestrial creatures welcomed a stranger into the house without knowing his intention instead of not welcoming others in order to survive, which would later result in all but 2 committing suicide due to the influence of that extraterrestrial creature upon the stranger himself.
One example from The Crucible in by Reverend Parris. He was the one who saw that the girls were dancing in the woods, naked. However, at court, Parris told the judges that he didn’t see anyone naked, even though he told others that he had seen the girls naked before. He did this in hope that no one would be executed for witchcraft in the future.
PROCTOR, taking it right up: Abigail leads the girls, to the woods, Your Honor, and they have danced there naked —-
PARRIS. Your Honor, this—-… I can only say, sir, that I never found any of them naked, and this man is—
…
HALE. Excellency, when I first arrived from Beverly, Mr. Parris told me that.
DANFORTH. Do you deny it, Mr. Parris?
PARRIS. I do not, sir, but I never saw any of them naked. (97~98)
Another example is from Tituba, Parris’ most loyal black slave. She was the one who was conducting the witchcraft, but after Abigail blamed her for the actions with the persuasion of Reverend Hale, Tituba declared that she would follow God’s steps and to become a good Christian woman, even though she still had the belief of being a Devil’s helper.
TITUBA. I don’t know, sir, but the Devil got him numerous witches.
HALE. Does he! It is a clue. Tituba, look into my eyes… You would be a good Christian woman, would you not, Tituba?
TITUBA. Aye, sir, a good Christian woman.
…
HALE. And you love God, Tituba?
TITUBA. I love God with all my bein’.
HALE. Now, in God’s holy name—
TITUBA. Bless Him. Bless Him. (42)
On the other hand, the same hypocrites are happening in Bird Box^. One of the refugees, Olympia, allows a stranger to enter the house despite objections of the others due to the belief of “save yourself first.” In fact, that stranger was actually an infected person, and under the influence of it, he forces others to look outside, resulting in all but 2 committing suicide after seeing that extraterrestrial entity.
Hypocrites are everywhere! They just want others to feel relieved from their actions, or to display their good intentions to others, regardless of their previous beliefs.
^For reference, watch the trailer below. Contains scenes not suitable for young children.
Work cited
- Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. Penguin, 2003.
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“Bird Box | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix.” Youtube, uploaded by Netflix, 24 October 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2AsIXSh2xo
Hi Eric, I like the way you mentioned when Paris saw the girls naked in the woods but refused on the court to prevent anyone hanged in the future and leading to the statement hypocrites are everywhere but can you explain clearer on how does hypocrite helps others to feel relieved from their actions, or to display their good intentions to others, regardless of their previous beliefs?
Hey Eric!
I found it super interesting how you compared The Crucible to Bird Box. Personally, I haven’t watched the movie, but from your post, I can see your point. Hypocrites, as they say, are people who do the opposite of what they preach. And in both scenarios, the characters do just that. This also reminds me of another Netflix show “Atypical”, where the mom solemnly swears on being faithful to everyone, when she secretly had an affair with the bartender without her husband’s knowing! I agree with you, hypocrites ARE everywhere, but how do we stop and reflect oneself? After-all, us humans are not perfect and all make mistakes occasionally. But do you think that hypocrisy is death worthy? In both scenarios, characters die of hypocrisy, and I’m super curious to what you think!
Kayla