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The Crucible Character Analysis

Decent Essays

The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is one of the great American tragedies written in U.S. history. With the portrayal of John Proctor, a man who is both a sinner and innocent, finds himself making the difficult decision to tell the truth, no matter the consequences. Despite Proctor being known throughout Salem for his goodness and his courage, a single sin committed leads him and many others down the path of the Salem Witch Trials, an event that had many deaths and was very traumatic to many. While there are some that may argue that the play is not an American tragedy, it is, in fact, one that is not always recognized as such. Miller wrote this play at the time of the Red Scare, where people were accusing neighbors just to try and save themselves. Miller himself was arrested in this time, and took some of what he was going through and what others were going through to help him write this successful play. Although the Salem Witch Trials did happen, there are elements found in the play that are fiction, due to not all facts being completely transparent to those who have lived after the time of it. “In Proctor’s presence a fool felt his foolishness instantly- and a Proctor is always marked for calumny therefore” (Act 1). He had an air about him that led people to know what was right and wrong, and what was sensible, and what one should know to do or not to do. He was wise, and the people of the town saw him for his individuality in a town of conformists and for his ability to make

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