Celine Christiansen Mrs. Evans English III H November 23, 2015 The Crucibles “I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” bellowed John Proctor to Danforth in Act IV. The Crucibles was written by Arthur Miller reminiscent of McCarthyism in the 1950s. Reputation and integrity is set forward in the story, as it causes the plot to develop and advance, and it is discernible all throughout the story, especially the end. Reputation is tremendously significant in theocratic Salem. The pernicious accusations of witchcraft cause the characters in the play to choose whether they want to salvage how they perceive themselves or how others perceive them. In the play, characters face a difficult decision of choosing their …show more content…
The plot began unfolding when Abigail and other girls accused multiple innocent individuals of witchcraft. A hysteria developed, creating chaos and leading to multiple deaths of the guiltless individuals accused. However, in order to avoid death, these individuals can choose to “confess” to their sins and lose their integrity in order to save their life and reputation. Abigail Proctor lost the quality of being honest the moment she began to spread lies. The situation corroded Salem and deteriorated, and she began to exploit the situation to cause damage to Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail claimed that a fiend had taken possession of many individuals in Salem, declaring of having seen them with the devil, including Elizabeth. “She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me!” (Miller 23). Abigail’s concern with her reputation led to her accusing several individuals in order to regain her good reputation. As the situation progressed and the plot unfolded, Abigail continuously blamed other people to save her reputation, and when challenged, she brought more people down with her. Parris, her uncle, firmly believed his reputation was salient and must be preserved at all costs. Therefore, at the start of the story, Parris believed Abigail’s actions would threaten his reputation. “You compromise my very character” (Miller 11). This remark, made by Parris, illustrates how his reputation is essential. He had seen the girls dancing in the woods, and his
People’s true character is revealed through their actions. Their morals and ethics can be told from how they choose to act in a situation. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible; the character of John Proctor is an honorable man despite having committed wrongful acts. He was able to redeem himself through acts that is considered courageous, such as when he refuses to contribute to the lie of witchcraft in Salem, when he fights for the people who were convicted of witchcraft and when he regrets being a dishonest man.
The primary dramatic focus in the play The Crucible is the moral struggle of its protagonist, John Proctor. Certain characteristics of John Proctor's character and also the environment of the Puritanical Salem alleviated this problem for him. The main issues running through out the play are a series of dilemmas that John Proctor faces. The first and foremost of these is his guilt over his adulterous affair with Abigail Williams, the second his hesitation to testify against Abigail to bring out the truth and the third, his final decision to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Purist Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 suffered from a rapidly increasing phenomenon: witchcraft accusations and trials. The Crucible is a play that recounts the times of this incident. For the most part, it follows a man known as John Proctor. He is a sensible, honest, and hardworking man who made the mistake of succumbing to lust which sets off a chain of events that leads to the witch trials, and to his own demise. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible’s protagonist John Proctor proves to be a flawed human being who struggles to make sense of his past relationship with Abigail, his love for his wife, and his pride.
John Proctor tried his hardest and went through hell and gave his life to try to save the people of his town in Salem. “ I am only wondering how i may prove what she told me Elizabeth. If the girl's a saint now; I think it not easy to prove she's a fraud the town gone silly., she told me in a room alone, I have no proof for it” (2.127-131). My explanation is by him saying that he means its going to be hard to prove Elizabeth Proctor is guilty and they are going to find out it's a lie. I connected to this because John and his wife are innocent and she never tells a lie, also they can't even prove that they are lying even if they were. Joth talked to Hale about the situation when Hale came to John's home in the middle of the night to ask questions.
Adultery. Abigail Williams is the young niece of Salem's Minister, Reverend Parris, she also was once John Proctor's housemaid until his wife, Elizabeth, put her out because of the affair. Abigial was just a young girl, she felt as if her feelings for John Proctor were ‘true love’, this drove her to do some of the most unspeakable things. She was seeking vengeance on Elizabeth since she put her out on the street, “blackened her name throughout the town” and she had the man she loved. Abigail's best way of getting things done was through manipulation, which she was best at. She voluntarily used witchcraft to ‘curse’ Elizabeth and yet turned witchcraft accusations against everyone of Salem. “I will come to you in the black of the night and will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you”(19), is one threat Abigail used to keep the girls mouth shut. She was a power hungry girl who did anything to keep the power for her own selfish gains. When she realized she was losing her power she claims “I have been near to murdered every day because I done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people- and this is my reward? To be mistrusted, denied, question like a -”(100) this was her way out of the truth. This shows Abigail's true
“I have given you my soul; leave me my name!”, John Proctor said in Arthur Miller’s book, The Crucible. Proctor was one of the main characters in this play and throughout this play he experienced some horrific tragedies. It all leads down to the themes of The Crucible. There was guilt, sacrifice, and hysteria all throughout the play, that all of the characters went through.
John Proctor is the main character in the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Near the end of the play he is accused of witchcraft and decides to sign a confession to escape the death penalty.
John Proctor has a large impact on the conflict and the characters in the play. Proctor's decision to cheat on his wife is what influences the main problem in the story and has a great effect on the mistress: Abigail. After their little romp Abby confuses Johns lust for love and being an emotionally crazy teenager she feels nothing but jealousy towards the other woman in Proctor's life. It is because of Proctors sin that Abby abuses her power and claims that woman such as Mary Warren and his wife are witches. 2.
"I would say that John Proctor is both flawed and honorable. Proctor had an affair with Abigail when she was a servant in his house. His wife has been unable to forgive him for this, and their marriage is unhappy until his wife, Elizabeth, is accused of being a witch by Abigail. Abigail even tells Proctor what really happened on the night the girls were discovered in the woods, but Proctor doesn't share this news with anyone until it's too late. Once Proctor is arrested for witchcraft, he's willing to admit to the charge, eveon though it's false, in order to save his life. These are all examples of Proctor's flawed character.
In Literature many characters stick in our minds because of the actions they make. In the story The Crucible by Arthur Miller, John Proctor had to make a life or death decision on the basis of his names value. Throughout the story The Crucible, John Proctor’s character is developed by his decisions, motivations, and actions.
John Proctor . ( You’re the Devil’s Man ) ~ ( line 1118) . John Proctor at the beginning of the story he was all good until he had an affair with Abigail ( Background Information ) . (Danforth : For what did you dismiss her ? Elizabeth : She --- dissatisfied me , and my husband . Danforth : Your husband -- did he indeed turn from you ? Elizabeth : My husband -- is a goodly man , sir . Danforth : Then he did not trurn from you . Elizabeth : He --- . Danforth : Look at me ! To your own knowledge , jas John Proctor ever committed the crime of lechery ? . Elizabeth : No , sir . ) Elizabeth just lied for her husband so that Proctor would not get in trouble .( line 917 - 959 ) But Proctor did sign the paper
The consequences of shirking accountability for ones actions are depicted through the tribulations John Proctor faced, in Arthur Miller's, The Crucible. Although John reluctantly became involved in the Salem witch trials, his initial silence proved to be the downfall of not only himself, but of his fellow townspeople as well. John Proctor remained silent for one reason, and that was to protect himself. As a result of his self-serving desires to avoid the consequences of his actions, innocent citizens were put to death.
Tragic Hero Essay In The Crucible a drama by Arthur Miller, a prime example of a tragic hero is John Proctor. John Proctor was a prominent man of the community and his hubristic personality trait ultimately leads to his downfall. John Proctor was a prominent member of the community. This is shown when he is speaking to Reverend Hale and he states that he helped build the church.
The Salem Witch Trials is a dark part of American history, in which many innocent people were hung. In The Crucible, these “witches” are being accused by many young girls, who are caught dancing in the woods. Puritans (the main religion at this time) believe in a life of hard work and pray, in which dancing in the woods at night is considered wrong. A major character who influences the tensions in the story is John Proctor. John Proctor is a proud and honest man with a bad history with Abigail Williams, the “leader” of the girls behind the witch trials. John Proctor committed adultery with Abigail when she worked in his house as a maid, because of this he is constantly trying to win back his wife, Elizabeth’s, love. John is tormented
There is a fine line between church and state power in today’s society. These important human structures are both composed of set regulations that are forced upon citizens to avoid punishment. With a time era set far back to the late 1600s, in Salem, Massachusetts, the storyline centers around Christianity and the strong belief of the Devil’s mischief. Arthur Miller, a writer in the mid 1900s, where fear of Communism peaked, decided to write The Crucible as an ironic dig at the American Government; it centers around the idea of Senator McCarthy and the mentality and acts of McCarthyism. John Proctor is introduced the the audience as the main, protagonist of the play. As a young, well known farmer, his reputation is highly prestigious and valued throughout the village. What many of the characters are blind to, that is exposed to the audience, is that Proctor had an affair with a young, stunning, house servant named Abigail Williams; his wife, Elizabeth Proctor, fires Abigail which causes dramatic rage and vengeance within the young girl. The play follows John on his quest to not only save his wife and friends from hanging based on vengeful accusations, but himself and his own true Christian being.