What does the courtroom setting symbolize in "The Crucible"?

The courtroom setting in "The Crucible" effectively symbolizes a corrupt place of power and authority. Throughout the play, the courtroom is depicted not as a bastion of justice and truth, but rather as a venue where personal vendettas, hysteria, and social pressures take precedence over genuine justice. The judges and authority figures, such as Danforth and Hathorne, often prioritize their own reputations and the integrity of the court over the lives of the accused. This manipulation of judicial power culminates in a distorted sense of justice where logic and reason are overshadowed by fear and superstition.

By presenting the courtroom as a site of corruption, Miller critiques the systems of authority that allow the wrongful prosecution of innocent individuals. The proceedings become a farce, revealing how those in power can exploit their positions for personal gain, ultimately demonstrating the dangers of dogma and the consequences of a society that succumbs to mass hysteria. This contrast with the ideal of the courtroom as a place for truth and justice underscores the play's exploration of moral integrity and the failure of societal institutions.