Rachael Burns: This quotation means that the effects of religion and what is perceived as morality still have its effect on society, even though people are no longer moral (or maybe they just never were). This is shown in The Crucible. People in Salem are selfish, vengeful murderers; yet, they cite their religion and the Bible as their reasoning. For example, although Mary Warren repeatedly says how religious she is, in Proctor's words, "It is strange work for a Christian girl to hand old women." She, as well as the other prosecutors in Salem, are obviously disobeying the commandments against bearing false witness, killing, and honoring other gods (themselves), among others. Nietzsche was talking about the ever present hypocrisy in religion, which the characters of the play exemplify. Even though they are committing murder "for good," it is still murder, and their religion has become nothing more than a tool.
Emily LoBraico: This quotation means that the ideas presented by God are gone, as long as people fail to recognize them. So, if the principles set out by God are not practiced, then how can God be "alive"? In the play, Proctor acts in a Nietzschean way. For the time in which he lived, he rebelled greatly. He realized that the town is full of sinners and liars, hypocrites, really. They go to church and study the Bible, yet they do the opposite of the Biblical teachings. Proctor says, "Peace. It is a providence, and no great change; we are only what we always were, but naked now" (Miller 76). Proctor does not go to church anymore, mainly because the religious leader spoke of candlesticks for weeks. This obsession with possession is completely hypocritical because Jesus never cared about such things. He believed in simplicity, and he cared about how people lived and treated one another. Therefore, God is dead.
Emily LoBraico: This quotation means that the ideas presented by God are gone, as long as people fail to recognize them. So, if the principles set out by God are not practiced, then how can God be "alive"? In the play, Proctor acts in a Nietzschean way. For the time in which he lived, he rebelled greatly. He realized that the town is full of sinners and liars, hypocrites, really. They go to church and study the Bible, yet they do the opposite of the Biblical teachings. Proctor says, "Peace. It is a providence, and no great change; we are only what we always were, but naked now" (Miller 76). Proctor does not go to church anymore, mainly because the religious leader spoke of candlesticks for weeks. This obsession with possession is completely hypocritical because Jesus never cared about such things. He believed in simplicity, and he cared about how people lived and treated one another. Therefore, God is dead.
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