Answer:
Theocracy's role in the story of "The Crucible" is to keep a check on the behavior of the people or pay severe consequences. It is also meant to lead people to be protective of their reputation, even at the cost of hurting or harming others. This also led to a massive hysteria.
Explanation:
Theocracy is the governing of the society based on the religious beliefs. The church (in cases of Christianity) set the rules of the governing authority that was expected to be followed by the people. Religion plays the most important role in managing the society.
"The Crucible" by Arthur Miller was partly based off the Salem Witch Trials that was famous during the late 17th century in the Massachusetts bay Colony. The accused in the witch trials were judged based on the religious beliefs of the masses, without any proper judgement procedure like modern times. The religious feelings and beliefs of the masses, including the judges, overtook the judicial system. With the government and religion acting as one body, the serving of justice fell on the hands of the religious leaders, who based their judgement based on their faith in Christianity. Thus, this theocracy played a massive role in the play. It not only ensure that the people act according to what the Christian belief is, but it also teaches the penalty that has to be paid if one disobeys it. It also led to the people to be conscious of their reputation and the need to be weary of ruining it. This government led to massive hysteria in those days, for the religious belief of the people matter more than anything else.
