James Smith
Mrs. Thompson
English 11R
3 November 2009
Justifiable Homicide?
John Kramer, the infamous Jigsaw murderer of the Saw series, both physically and psychologically tortures his victims because he believes that in the eyes of death, the people will realize the error of their ways. From afar, he watches his selected prey squander through life, bitter and dejected. He then creates twisted tests, both ironic and symbolic of their wrongdoings in life, in an attempt to awaken them to their faults and allow them the chance to right their wrongs. If we are able to look past the bloodshed and obvious issue of murder, it seems that John's idea is very noble, even righteous. He is technically saving these people from lives of sin and squalor. This controversy of justifiable homicide also frames Arthur Miller's drama The Crucible. Reverend Hale, the minister sent to rid Salem of its evil spirits, claims that "the devil is precise" and seeks to cure all who he has affected. Throughout the play, Miller explores this idea, using Hale's character to arrive at the conclusion that there are no circumstances that would justify homicide.
Reverend Hale, Salem's own Jigsaw murderer, arrives in town with the hope of purifying the village. His good intentions, however, end up causing more harm than good because
unlike John Kramer, Hale doesn't target and torture one person; his goals of decontamination target the entire town. This grandiose ambition causes trouble far deeper than that; Hale fosters the community's fear. He claims a little while after being in Salem that no one is safe, saying: "there is a misty plot afoot so subtle we should be criminal to cling to old respects and ancient
