The Crucible

The reasons for conflict are never simple. Discuss as a prompt for encountering conflict.

While it might be an exaggeration to say that the reasons for conflict are never simple, they are definitely pretty complex in this play. Take Sarah Good as an example. She's not fully sane. The community's treatment of her stems from fear, from the period's lack of understanding of mental illness, from a cultural bias against women, and from a theology that sees difference and wildness as demonic. All of these lead to the community's conflict with her. Abigail's conflicts with the community are similarly complex. It's safe to say that her parents being dead contributes, but so does her own sexuality, the class structure, and so on.