...In the play “The Crucible” many of the characters underwent many emotional and moral changes. Some were affected by the witch trials more than others, such as the accused underwent many moral challenges as did the many loved ones of the accused. Out of all the characters many will agree John Proctor overcame many hardships and faced a lot of trials that tested him as a person and a puritan. In the beginning of the play John Proctor is introduced to the audience, he seems like a very independent man, who tries to help other out as much as he can and provide for his family. As the play progresses it is evident that there is a subtle kind of awkwardness between John and his wife Elizabeth Proctor. The audience soon realize he has a bit of a...
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...“Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies!” When Arthur Miller wrote this line in his book the Crucible a lot of emotion was felt and implied. In the religious town of Salem in 1692, a horrific incident occurs as neighbor turns on neighbor, and as the fear of witches grows. Many people realize that this is an opportunity to fulfill their greed and seek revenge on those they hate. The low moral value of most Salem residents becomes obvious as the story continues, but there are a few people who have strong morals and they are made known as they face the challenges of a falling community. As John Proctor tears up the document that will save his life, it seems obvious that he stands up for his morals. John Proctor is constantly haunted by his past sins with Abigail Williams, and does not feel forgiven until the end of the story when he talks with his wife before his death. John goes to court to save his wife but is accused of witchcraft, placed in a prison, and given the choice to hang or confess. He originally confesses but, when told his confession will be posted on the church, tears it in half. He does this because he finally feels forgiven of his sins with Abigail, and he knows that if he confesses his name...
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...theme that is present all throughout history, in everything from literature to actual historical events. It takes strong character to uphold the ideals of personal integrity; to stand up against all things that are not morally right, regardless of the consequences. Most people simply break under the pressure to lead a life that is safe, however immoral. These people choose to take the easy road out. They choose to ignore what is morally right in an attempt to fit in with the crowd. They do what is easy, not what is right. However, some people have that strong character which allows them to go against the masses and pursue moral truth and justice always. This describes the theme of personal integrity: a theme which is present in the play The Crucible, historical events such as the McCarthyism era, and religion. In the Salem witch trials of the play The Crucible, the theme of personal integrity plays a huge role. Many townspeople are falsely accused of trafficking with the devil. If they admit to this horrific crime, their lives will be spared. However, if they refuse to admit to the lie, therefore displaying personal integrity, they will instead be sentenced to death. This is clearly a difficult decision to make, with the only options being to lie and live or to tell the truth and...
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...N’dea Williams Hayes 11/12/13 B4 How does Arthur Miller use a specific character to portray how people solve or fail to solve moral problems? A crucible refers to a container made of a substance that can resist great heat, for melting. In “The Crucible” the author uses characters that have moral problems that they either solve or fail to solve. John Proctor, Abigail, and Reverend Hale are considered the main characters in “The Crucible”. Abigail’s moral problem is lying. Abigail failed to solve her moral problem by choosing to lie to get out of various situations. Abigail did not like that Goody Proctor is the reason for her and Proctor’s failed relationship. Abigail chose to use Tituba’s voodoo skills to kill Proctor’s wife, Goody Proctor. Abigail is jealous of Goody Proctor because she has feelings for her husband John Proctor, after their affair. In the text Abigail stated to Proctor, “I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot! You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!” In this piece of text Abigail confesses her love to Proctor and she spoke of the affair between them. Abigail said if Elizabeth was no longer in the picture Proctor would be hers. (Include evidence from where Abigail...
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...Although morals are an indication of a person’s perception of right or wrong, there is a fundamental thread that connects morality to everyone. Whether these morals are in relation to a religion, culture or the law, society has developed universal moral standards. However, individuals are capable of abandoning morality as a whole, resulting in significant repercussions. William Shakespeare and Arthur Miller show evidence of this in The Merchant of Venice and The Crucible, when their characters step away from their morals and carry out wrongful actions. Although the underlying reason for the characters’ social demises is similar, the motives for their actions are specific and personal. By carrying out actions fueled by revenge, both Abigail...
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...Characterization of Reverend John Hale Throughout The Crucible, Arthur Miller uses the characterization of an archetypal hero, Reverend John Hale, to reveal how when arrogant and nationalistic pride becomes involved even the most intelligent and moral man’s moral compass can be distorted. This universal truth and Hale’s archetypal characteristics were revealed by Miller to reprehend those who fell into McCarthyism and the flaws in the American society in the nineteen-fifties, which were impacts of their blinded morals. To comprehend the idea of this specific universal truth, one first must understand Hale’s characterization through Aristotle’s archetypal hero traits. The first criteria, Noble...
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...In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, people who were innocent were accused of witchcraft. These people lived in a community that had high morals, and they stood up to their morals. In the Puritan community of Salem, Massachusetts people's pride and name meant a lot, so people did whatever they needed to in order to keep their reputation clean. In The Crucible John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Martha Corey are amongst those who are accused of witchcraft even though they are innocent, and to keep their good name they do not admit to the crime that they didn't do, they condemn themselves to death. John Proctor is wrongfully accused of witchcraft in The Crucible, he did not confess to live, to keep his name and reputation clean and keep his pride, he condemned himself to death. In Arthur Miller's play The Crucible, Proctor is a well respected man in Salem. Towards the end, in Act IV of the play, he decides to sign a confession so he can live with his wife and children. Once he hands his confession takes it back and says, "I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough!" Since he confessed, he only wants those who are present to know that he signed his name...
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...Abigail Williams V. Elizabeth Proctor Abigail Williams and Elizabeth Proctor from the 1953 play The Crucible could not be more different. Elizabeth is an honest, caring, religious woman, who cares deeply about her husband and sons. Abigail is a lying, mean, revenge-driven woman, who only has her own self interests at heart. Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible takes place in 1692, in the village of Salem. It is about a well-respected farmer, John Proctor, who had an affair with a seventeen-year girl, Abigail Williams. Abigail then goes on to accuse Elizabeth, John’s wife, of witchcraft, to have her imprisoned and hanged. From their personality, to their values, to their feelings, Abigail Williams and Elizabeth Proctor are polar opposites. In a village of sinners, Elizabeth Proctor is a true saint. According to her husband, she has never told a lie. “There are them that cannot sing, and them that cannot weep—my wife cannot lie.” (Miller 520). She is also so kind-hearted and caring, that she refuses to be angry at her husband, despite that fact that he had an affair with another woman. (Miller 489) “with a smile to keep her dignity”. Lastly, she only believes in doing what is right. She refuses to...
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...Miller’s poems. “The Crucible” deals with extraordinary tragedy in lives of normal people due to the witch-hunts. “All My Sons” probes with the idea of dissatisfaction and unrest within the greater American population, influenced from the desperation and paternal responsibility put on people. Lastly, “Death of a Salesman” a work based on the American dream and national values, was influenced greatly by his hatred relationship with his uncle. The historical and personal events that occurred during Arthur Miller’s early life greatly influenced his writings of “The Crucible”, “Death of a Salesman”, and “All My Sons”. “The Crucible” was historically influenced by those trying to cleanse American culture of anyone who persisted in seeing the Soviet Union as a source of good in the world. This disgusted Miller so much that he based “The Crucible” on the anti-communist hysteria that pervaded the 1950s America, and the witch-hunts of the late 17th century He hated the idea of tragedy in ordinary lives and had much concern for the physical wellbeing of the working class. The outburst of these ideas caused him to be called before the House Committee on Un-American Activities, and was convicted of contempt of Congress for not cooperating (this conviction however was later appealed). The unraveling of his troubled and turbulent marriage with Marilyn Monroe was the main personal event that influenced Miller’s writing of this play. Miller reflected that the meaning of “The Crucible” was somewhat...
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...Mass hysteria can lead to confusion and the altering of morals. During a time of large-scale panic, many aspects of society are affected and changed. In Arthur Miller’s drama, The Crucible, the court becomes flawed and operates under faulty logic by accepting flimsy evidence, performing unfair tests, and taking automatic proof of guilt. During the time period of The Crucible, religion played a major part in society. When religion is not strictly followed, the court automatically assumes guilt. When Proctor was asked if he was Christian, Parris chimed in by saying “ Such a Christian that will not come to church but once in a month” (90). Certainly in a time of mass hysteria and trials the church searched for anyone who did not strictly...
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...it the trials have been blown out of proportion, he even says to Reverend Parris, “It suggests to the mind what the trouble to be among us all these years. To all: Think of it.Wherefore is everybody suing everybody else? Think on it now, it’s a deep thing, and dark as a pit. I have been six times in court this year―”(The Crucible, pg 31) He in trust asked about a weird book his wife was reading and nothing uneventful happened to Martha, his wife, questioned the accusations of all the teen girls who are going around accusing people in the village of witchcraft in order to save themselves or revenge. When his wife went to jail for false accusations, but Giles didn’t stay quiet. He knew the risks because the whole village was on the girls side, believing their lies, nonetheless he went ahead of the judge and the villagers to prove his wife's innocence. Imagine him above everyone that believes he is a crazy-old man who comes to overthrow the court. Danforth says to Giles, “And how do you imagine to help her cause with such contemptuous riot? Now be gone. Your old age alone keeps you out of jail for this.” ,but Giles won’t leave without a fight because his morals are better than that. This eighty year old farmer, known as the most ‘comical hero’ in history is most well known for his death, Giles Corey was pressed to death after being arrested for contempt because he wouldn’t give up people and he was accused of being a wizard. Mary Warren was the one to break the news to Proctor, “He...
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...three situations that tested three individuals’ integrity in The Crucible, by Arthur Miller. These challenges were fulfilled by Giles Corey, John Procter, and Rebecca Nurse. Integrity occasionally modifies how a person views the world, and these views can permanently impact one’s decisions. Giles Corey was one of the characters in The Crucible who showed integrity and proved his personal integrity was stronger than the opinions of the court. He said, “I will not give you no name. I mentioned my wife’s name, and...
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...Conformity in The Crucible We often hear about people of Middle Eastern descent being called terrorist at the airport and no one doing anything to stop that behavior, if you do anything people hate you. In our daily lives we face many decisions that are minor but affect our future. For example, do you go with the crowd and bully someone or do you attempt to do the morally correct thing and stand up to the bullying and face social harassment of your own? The Crucible, by Arthur Miller is a play about an affair between John Proctor and Abigail Williams and most importantly the Salem witch trials. Innocent people are being accused of witches for no reason and people blindly follow along, but John Proctor dies to go against the conformity. In...
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...Throughout Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, the characters are constantly faced with compelling influences. The protagonist in The Crucible, John Proctor, is faced with the conflicting decision of pleading guilty along with countless others in being a witch or dying a guilt-free Christian. For John, the choice that he must make is a direct reflection upon Proctors morals. In the choice of nobility or life, ones morals will come into consideration. The main consideration which affects Proctors view on life is the possibility of pleading guilty of being a witch and staying alive not only for Elizabeth but for their children. By pleading guilty, Proctor will have succumbed to pressure from the rest of the community as well as from Danforth....
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...The word “crucible” is defined as a severe test or trial, or a vessel that can withstand intense heat and is used for melting substances. In the play written by Arthur Miller called the “Crucible”, the word applies to many characters as they progress and attempt to resolve their conflicts. During the play, we watch as the town of Salem has a witch hunt hysteria in which many Puritans are falsely accused by teenage girls. The word crucible is significant to the consequences that Mary Warren, Giles Corey, and John Proctor go through during this time of mass hysteria. Mary Warren was one of the girls that was found conjuring spirits in the forest with Tituba and the other girls. However, when she made a poppet for Elizabeth Proctor, she accused Elizabeth of making it in order to avoid being blamed of hurting Abigail.. This led to Mary becoming one of the main accusers of witchcraft in Salem. “Proctor: ‘We will slide together into our pit; you will tell the court what you know.’ Warren: ‘I cannot, they’ll turn...
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