Examples Of Goodness In The Crucible

Regaining moral goodness can be an exhaustingly difficult task to accomplish. Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible features a very impulsive and determined character named John Proctor. John made many mistakes throughout his life that include cheating on his wife and lying numerous times to keep his good name from being soiled. John Proctor’s major conflict was with himself and the loss of his integrity. He overcame it by staying true to his beliefs throughout the story. John confessed to adultery, ripped up his confession, and resisted the temptation of Abigail. Because John willingly did these things, he proved that he regained his moral excellence. John’s confession to adultery was one way he showed his goodness. John Proctor and Abigail had an affair prior to the play’s beginning, and the only individual who knew of this was John’s wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth was extremely sick and John found comfort through his young servant and secret lover Abigail. Says John to Danforth, “I have known her, sir. I have known her… A man will not cast away his good name. You surely know that” (115). When John admits to the court that he has cheated on his wife, they do not believe him at first. They eventually begin to understand him because they

Says Danforth to Proctor, “‘You will give me your honest confession in my hand, or I cannot keep you from the rope’...Proctor tears the paper and crumples it, and he is weeping in fury, but erect” (151). John knew that his life would be protected if he signed the paper, but his boundaries were crossed when the court threatened to hang his confession on the church door. He knew that being dishonest would have an extremely negative effect on his family’s name. John sacrificed his life to protect his family’s name, and this was the boldest way he proved his goodness. However, there was more he did to become a good man