Human Nature in Sebastian Faulks Birdsong and Arthur Millers The Cruc

Human Nature in Sebastian Faulks' Birdsong and Arthur Miller's The Crucible Both The Crucible, a play written by Arthur Miller, and the novel, Birdsong, by Sebastian Faulks, are pieces of literature based around historical events. Miller's play is set during the Salem Witch trials of 1692 and Birdsong concentrates primarily on characters involved in the First World War which took place from 1914 to 1918. Both of these periods in history are examples of times when human beings have displayed the darker side to their nature: the capacity to kill. Both Faulks and Miller have attempted to explore the reasons behind their character's actions along with the mechanisms and strong emotions within humans that make ordinary people capable of committing atrocities. However, the authors also highlight the positive aspects of human nature, the great love, courage and loyalty which manages to emerge unscathed out of the most horrific circumstances. As I have already mentioned both The Crucible and Birdsong explore man's capacity to kill other human beings. The two pieces, however, approach this subject in very different ways. Arthur Miller's play, set during the Salem Witch hunt, concentrates on the various emotions, such as fear, greed and revenge, driving individuals to accuse their friends and neighbours of witchcraft. Birdsong, on the other hand, depicts a much larger conflict and focuses more on the ability of the soldiers to withstand the horrors that they are witnessing and committing everyday. In his play, The Crucible, Arthur Miller illustrates a great number of human emotions and tensions within the Salem community which, when combined, result in the execution of many people on the grounds that they are... ...he dangers of forgetting the past. Elizabeth's life seems so tranquil compared to that of Stephen Wraysford but the fact that the Second World War followed so shortly after the First demonstrates how easy it is for mankind to repeat the errors of the past. Equipped with this knowledge the reader realises that even Elizabeth's comfortable, peaceful lifestyle is vulnerable and at risk. The Crucible and Birdsong, in their different ways, both highlight the complexity of human nature where love, loyalty and honesty co-exist with hatred, fear and suspicion. This means that even in times of conflict and slaughter people display the ability to love, trust and make sacrifices. However the greatest flaw in mankind's makeup is the ability to forget the horrors of the past, therefore allowing the continual repetition throughout history of the same, fatal mistakes.