The Crucible is an appropriate title for the play written by Arthur Miller because it refers to personal tests experienced by many characters in the play. A crucible has multiple meanings one of which is a test or trial. Obviously there were witch trials but there were also personal tests. People’s reputations were tested as well as their respect for themselves and others. Three of the characters whose respect and reputation were tested the most were Reverend Parris, Abigail Williams and John Proctor. Reverend Parris was the father of Betty Parris and the uncle of Abigail Williams. He was a very egotistical man, caring mostly about his reputation in the town and a little bit about his daughter and niece. One night, Parris encountered …show more content…
A year before the events of the witch trial, there was a love triangle between Abby, John and Elizabeth Proctor. Abby was the Proctor’s employee. Things got a little bit tricky when Abby started flirting with John and they eventually had an affair. The affair lead to Abigail thinking John was going to leave Elizabeth and they were going to run away together, but he was not, he told her he made a mistake and that he loved his wife. When Elizabeth found out about her husband’s infidelity, she kicked Abigail Williams to the curb. No one knew about John’s infidelity besides Elizabeth and Abigail. When Elizabeth was arrested, in attempts to save her John made a bold move. He confessed to adultery, “I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name--you will believe me, Mr. Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one!” (Miller 3.718-720). By admitting to this, Proctor was losing the respect of the people of the court and he will most likely be known as an adulterer. But, John realizes that there is good to be done by him confessing this because he can expose Abigail for the liar she is which would end the trials and save the lives of the innocent townspeople who have not yet been
From there they call in his wife into the court and ask his wife if John was in an affair with Abigail she lies to the court and from there they see that she is lying and they accuse her. Later she tells them that she is pregnant so they decide to let her go and wait for a year so by John having an affair with Abigail was his
(1294, Miller), complains Proctor as he is still unable to gain his wife’s trust. He was later tested of his truthfulness during his wife's trial; he came clean of his sins with Abigail in an attempt to prove to his wife’s innocence. Proctor’s truthfulness was morally right, however he was still punished for his actions via proving himself to be a
Everyday people go out to explore and wonder the community with different reputations, not knowing death could happen at any second. Whether you are walking around the block, to crossing the street. People worry about upholding positive reputations, because they have strong beliefs to be well known for their future generations. John Proctor did not want to raise his kids and live under a negative reputation, even though they already had a bad reputation, leading his to making the wrong decision in taking his life to protect his reputation. By doing this, John left behind his pregnant wife and kids, left behind an even worse reputation for his family, and wasn't able to prove Abigail guilty.
When he finds himself alone with Abigail, he urges her to “Put [the affair] out of mind,” because he is aware that if anyone found out he would be ruined (22). Proctor is considered a powerful person in the community and he will do anything to keep it that way. Although he is not aware of the consequences of his actions, or rather lack of actions, Proctor’s silence prevents a black mark on Abigail’s reputation and allows her crying out to be taken seriously. Even later, after he sees the witch hunt get out of hand, Elizabeth presses John to tell the courts that Abigail is dishonest he responds with “I’ll think on it,” (53). The reason John does not want to come forward is because he is apprehensive of the town’s reaction and knows that by attempting to out Abigail he is putting himself at risk.
Previous to the witch hunt, Proctor had committed adultery by sleeping with Abigail Williams, and this evil act had caused him to live in fear of being discovered as an adulterator. However, after witnessing the constant disingenuous acts of Abigail throughout the entirety of the witch hunt, Proctor gave himself up for the prosperity of the community when he declares, “I have known her, sir. I have... known her” (Act III). Through Proctor’s confession to adultery in front of the court, readers can fully understand the compassion he possesses. This revelation is possible because, John was fully aware of the abominable charges he would have to face, but he was willing to be killed if it would mean the end of Abigail’s antics and thus the end of the death of innocent people.
His wife Elizabeth proctor comes to his rescue when he is accused by saying “He never drinks and he always works”.(Miller 70). John might have been a good husband he has many flaws like skipping church just to find work. Also he had an affair with abigail williams. Proctor did succumb to sin and commit adultery; however, he lacks the capacity to forgive himself. Once he acknowledges his affair with Abigail, proctor effectively labels an adulterer and loses his good name.
John, who before the play started had committed adultery with one of the accusers, comes to the acknowledgment that in order to save his wife, he must willing to give up his name and reputation by confessing his transgression before the court. When Proctor, alongside Giles Corey and Francis Nurse, goes to the court to draw back the curtains on the accusers and reveal how the children truly are, he admits “I have known her, sir”(Act III, pg. 230). By admitting to the infidelity, John is trying to demonstrate how the accuser, Abigail, is not as pure and innocence as she has made herself out to be. In doing as so, he willing relinquished his good reputation by putting the lives of his wife and friends before his own. It was a daring demonstration to challenge the court at first, but it took a tremendous amount of courage to put those in jeopardy ahead of himself, knowing the full consequences of his actions
The Award For Honorable Man: John Proctor Have you ever felt that out of all the bad you have done that you could not become good? Well, you can and John Proctor has proven this to be true. John Proctor has done so many things in the past, but he is still seen as an honorable and respectable man. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, John Proctor is believed to be an honorable man.
Reputation is the belief or opinions from others based upon your character .I s a good image more important than telling the truth? Reputation is important in the strict Puritan way of life town Salem. Public and Private moralities are equal in importance in the Crucible. Several Characters base their actions to protect their reputations.
Whilst trying to prove Abigail and the other girls were pretending, John confesses, “I have known her [Abigail], sir” (3.110). The fact that he is willing to confess such a heavy sin for this purpose is a huge deal. He willingly, albeit reluctantly, soils his name and reputation to bring the truth to light. In the end, Proctor refuses to give a false confession that would condemn the others who were falsely accused. He decided what he felt was right and refused to stray from it.
In the play The Crucible, the character John Proctor has a conflict with himself of maintaining his reputation and not ruining his own name. To begin, in act 1 John Proctor had a conversation with Abigail where she remembered him the affair but Proctor tried to maintain a position saying “I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach you again”(Miller 23) and when she kept talking about Proctor’s wife, he got upset and end with a “do you looking for whippin?”(Miller 24). This shows us that Proctor doesn’t want to remember this event that could ruin his reputation or relationship with his wife. Second, in Act 2 Elizabeth told Proctor to go testify against Abigail and prove that they were lying ,Proctor just answered with a “I’ll think on it”(Miller 53) and admitting
“’She makes me drink blood”’ says Abigail (Miller 160). The Crucible is a play written by Arthur Miller. The play takes place during the Salem Witch Trials, where many people were accused of witchcraft. The accused were either jailed or hanged. In the play many characters are blind to the truth and are changing the path of life.
John Proctor was heartbroken knowing that his wife had been falsely accused because of his mistake so he tried many things to prove her innocent but he his final attempt was confessing his affair with Abigail. John
John Proctor never settles for keeping his opinion or what he thinks is right to himself. He knows telling Danforth that he is guilty for adultery won’t help his cause but it shows his desperation to win the case in order protect his wife, Elizabeth. John Proctor was sick and tired of watching Abigail win with a lie, in this case he spoke the truth knowing his consequences. John states, “Excellency, forgive me, forgive me. She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave!
Likewise, when Elizabeth is brought before Danforth to verify Proctor’s confession, she lies to protect her husband, whom she refers to as a “goodly man,” from suspicion (Miller, 113). The affair may have caused Elizabeth to doubt Proctor but both parties still care deeply for each other and try to protect each other from harm. Even in his last moments, Proctor’s last words- “Show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with it!”- were directed toward Elizabeth and were full of love and care (Miller, 144). Proctor may have sinned but his regret over his affair with Abigail and the trouble he had brought upon his wife justifies his