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The Crucible by Arthur Miller The three characters to be analyzed in this report are John Proctor, Abigail and Reverend Hale. In The Crucible, John Proctor changes from a timid character held in bondage by his sin to a strong, righteous man who will die for the truth. This drastic change in his character is the basis of his significance to the outcome of the play. The unyielding faith of Proctors wife, the influence of the people who share his beliefs and his triumph over an inner struggle help him make a decision that he believes will finally set him free from his past. When Johns wife, Elizabeth, discovers that he has been having an affair with their servant, Abigail Williams, she dismisses Abigail from her duties. Elizabeth feels betrayed and is resentful, but she continues to be faithful to John.
Their relationship is weakened by its brokenness, but Elizabeth is determined to save it. She wants John to forgive himself and make things right so that he can go on with his life. John says to Elizabeth, I see now your spirit twists around the single error of my life, and I will never tear it free! (Burns, p. 77) Elizabeth responds by saying, Youll tear it free -- when you come to know that I will be your only wife or no wife at all! Abigail has an arrow in you yet, John Proctor, and you know it well! (Burns, p. 79) Elizabeth is an honest woman, and she displays her faith in John by challenging him to become a stronger person and admit to his mistakes. Elizabeth also convinces her husband that she has faith in him at the end of the play when he asks her if he should lie and confess to witchcraft or tell the truth and die for it. She tells John that the decision is his to make, and she sets him free of her judgment.
This gives him the strength to make a decision with confidence, because his wife believes that he will do the right thing. Another example of the change in Proctors character is when John finds strength to tell the truth from the example set for him by the citizens of Salem whom he respects. He values the opinions and beliefs of the upstanding people who try to prevent the mass hysteria in Salem from overcoming the justice system. John is an influential member of the town and is respected by many people, and he has respect for those who have already been hung because they remained silent and did not confess to witchcraft.
He tells judge Danforth that he cannot have his confession and name nailed to the church door because it would betray his friends who have already died for the truth. Another character to be discussed here is Abigail. Although Abigail was almost an adult, she still basically acted like a child, to be seen but not to be heard I think. This was the attitude in the entire town for children. I think Abigail's most interesting feature is that she can lie through thick and thin. At the end of Act 1 Abigail lied by saying "I danced for the Devil, I saw him; I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand." (Burns, p. 85) She said this because she wanted to save herself.
The point is Abigail doesn't care to who she is lying. It could be a judge or even Proctor; it really didn't make difference to her as long as she was able to save herself. I think Abigail has many split personalities. In act 1; Abigail goes through many emotional changes and moods. Abigail goes from violent to "peace keeping" when she holds Mercy back.
Then Abigail goes to quiet then mad. Then Abigail goes to flirt with Proctor. I found out that Abigail made many threats to people but never went through with them. She told the village that Tituba forced her to drink the blood and participate in the witchcraft. She forced a needle in her stomach to make it look like there was witchcraft truly going on in the village. Her affair with John Proctor only made things worse.
It was one reason why John Proctors life was taken in the end. Abigail's lying, sniveling, and bossy ways did not help her at all. As she continued to stretch the truth, conflicts and disputes were never settled. Obviously, Abigail was one of the main causes of the disputes in Salem. She was the ringleader of everything that went on. She explains what she wants and makes sure that everything goes her way.
In the story, shes very assertive toward her peers when she tells them what she wants them to say to the other villagers. Also, she threatens them to make sure they follow Abigail's guidelines. Although Abigail had leadership skills, she still remained a big problem in Salem. Abby was a very pushy and bossy girl who tended to stretch the truth and base problems on fiction she told. Another internal conflict is evident in Reverend Hale who initiates these problems. At first Reverend Hale is sure about his belief that there are witches and feels that he is carrying out the desires of God himself.
Yet as the play moves on and Hale sees all these honest and good people being sentenced and executed he too sees an inner conflict. He contemplates whether to do what he is sent to do, listen to Danforth, or does he listen to his own conscience and denounce these proceedings as unjust and wrong. Hale decides to help out all the people wrongly accused by encouraging them to confess and save themselves from these false proceedings. Hale, attempting to repent his own sins by trying to make people confess states" I come to do the devils work. I come to counsel Christians they should belie themselves...
can you not see the blood on my head? (Burns, p. 92) Hale overcomes his turmoil by following the truth he knew in his heart. Yet he is counseling people to prevail upon your husband and confess " and says " God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride " and convinces people to lie which is against his religion and considered a moral sin. (Burns, p. 95) But he decides that earthly life is a greater gift than eternal life. Hale is a rather interesting character, it is hard to say whether he is completely immoral or just acts this way because he thinks that actually he is trying to help people around him. Words Count: 1, 111.
Bibliography: 1. Burns, Margo. Arthur Millers The Crucible: Fact and Fiction. New York: Harper Collins, 1999.
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