Sacrifice In The Crucible

When death is on the line, the definition of justice becomes blurred. Both morally and physically, injustice runs rampant when a life hangs in the balance. Two examples of this conundrum are the play, The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, and “A Plea for Mercy”, a portion of the concluding statements of defense attorney, Clarence Darrow. Both works deal with the trial of someone that has been irreversibly condemned by the government, and the people trying to keep them alive. The Crucible takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, during the brutal peak of witch-trials and executions. John Proctor, a man convicted of witchcraft by a jealous, adulterous young woman, is to be hanged for his perceived crimes. His wife, Elizabeth, convicted of witchcraft nine months prior by the same woman, is permitted to see her husband on the day of his execution. Proctor has confessed to his relationship with the woman, Abigail Williams, and feels that he

6. How is Elizabeth’s testimony used against Proctor? Why is this an unfair test of Elizabeth’s

John Proctor was a man of honor and had a well respected name in the town of Salem. Sadly he died tragically but as a hero. He was hanged because he was accused of doing the devil’s work. He was given the chance to save his life if he admitted on a piece of paper that he was working with the devil but he refused to tell that lie. He wanted his sons to be able to walk the streets without being shunned from the world because they deserved better. John Proctor didn’t want his name to be the ruined because he felt that was all he had left. John Proctor was tragically killed for a sin he had not committed but was found a hero because people followed in his footsteps by not confessing to something they didn’t do.

“My wife will never die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me” (II. 990-992). Finally, Proctor confesses to adultery to the court and both ministers in Act III. He sacrifices himself and his reputation all for his wife, Elizabeth. “Excellency, forgive me, forgive me. She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it; I set myself entirely in your hands. I know you must see it now” (III. 860-868). Proctor speaks to Danforth in court and Abigail calls Proctor a liar. Abigail is deceiving and causes a lot of trouble. During the gallery walk, it was repeated many times how Abigail is a liar. She is the main reason why there are several accusations and arrests in the first

Leading a life of regret is a challenging existence for any man for guilt weighs heavily on the soul. John Proctor, the protagonist in Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, is burdened by an immoral act, a torrid affair, which has cost him his name and integrity. Forgiveness comes at a great price, one that he must come to terms with. John Proctor undergoes a transformation from a man battling internal strife to a man who rediscovers his personal integrity.

“The Crucible” is a play, by Arthur Miller, about the Salem Witch Trials. After reading “The Crucible”, you will be asking yourself, is it necessary for a person to suffer? The answer to the question is shown through the characters, Giles Corey, John and Elizabeth Proctor, and Abigail Williams.

For example, John Proctor was willing to sacrifice his good name to protect his wife. He is a husband and a father, although he made mistakes, his family is very dear. He is a person who stores moral convictions and only cares for the safety of his family and individual welfare. In addition, John Proctor's decision to tell the court about his business ironically shows his kindness. He no longer continued his relationship with Abigail, who privately terminated his sins. He is the most honest man to regret breaking his marriage vows. "Proctor: She only thought to save my name!" (pg.). John Proctor Despite his moral exclusion, he did love his wife and family very much.

Guilt is emotional torture that transforms one's psychological operation. In the play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, before the Salem witch trials emerge, John Proctor cheats on his wife Elizabeth Proctor, with young Abigail. Causing him to live with an eternal shame that generates dispute. Proctor’s endeavour is to elude from his wrongdoing, but he cannot because of the disgrace he feels himself to be when around Elizabeth. Miller shows that John Proctor's emotional and behavioral conflict rises from his guilt. Proctor’s guilt is present when he, attempts to pay for his sins by giving his wife materialistic objects, hesitates to obey his wife's suggestion to accuse Abigail of false bewitchment, and breaks out in anger for not wanting to be judged any longer.

The Crucible written by Arthur Miller takes place in the 1700s during the Salem Witch Trials. All of the citizens in the town are extremely concerned with maintaining a clean and respectable reputation. After all, as they are Puritans, they are all concerned with dedicating their lives on Earth to God, so when they die, hopefully they will be welcomed into God’s kingdom. The Witch Trials provided people with a chance to falsely accuse their neighbors of witchcraft because they wanted revenge on them for the way they had treated them. John Proctor, Reverend Samuel Parris, and Judge Danforth are all characters obsessed with maintaining a good reputation in the eyes of Puritan society.

Countless people have learned about the lies and horrors of witches in 1692 during the Salem Witch trials. In The Crucible, a tragedy written by Arthur Miller, it displays the tragedy and wrongful convictions of the townsfolk of Salem. One notable character being John Proctor a well respected upperclassman in Salem who was willing to confess his sins, sacrificing his life for the greater good of his family and friends. There are many reasons people choose to do things in life whether or not they will turn out well in the end. Elizabeth Proctor, John’s wife told John to do what he thinks is best, disagreeing with the ideas proposed by Reverend Hale, to confess to the court. Reverend Hale’s

In The Crucible, a drama by Arthur Miller, John Proctor demonstrates courage by speaking out for what he believes in while knowing his consequences, admitting his wrong doings with Abigail to save Elizabeth’s life, and choosing to be hanged over having his name posted on the church door because the second his signed confession is posted, his and his loved ones reputations will be ruined.

of us; character is what God and angels know of us” (“Reputation”). Whether individuals readily

In The Crucible, Arthur Miller shows though his text, how a central character can find his or herself in a situation where they are either in physical or psychological danger. In The Crucible John Proctor finds himself in both physical and psychological danger. While Proctor attempts to reveal the truth about Abigail’s lies by calling her lies out and physically forcing Abigail to tell the truth about their affair he also is putting himself in much danger. While attempting to reveal the truth Proctor puts his name on the line, he puts his relationship with his wife on the line, and he puts his physical well being on the line. Proctor’s attempts show how a central character can find his or herself in situation where they can experience great danger.

An individual’s motivation has a significant impact on one’s actions. In Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, many Salem villagers are seized by hysteria regarding witches, which leads to the destructive witch trials of 1692. In the novel, John Proctor is a young, married man attempting to put a passionate affair with Abigail Williams, an obsessive, lovestruck teenager, behind him. Once Abigail accuses John’s wife, Elizabeth, of witchcraft, Proctor feels terribly guilty. Through Proctor's motivation to save his wife from a death sentence, Miller demonstrates that one will sacrifice their reputation due to guilt. At the beginning of the novel, Proctor attempts to deny the affair in order to save his reputation within the strict Puritan society. As a result,

A man of conscience is one who is aware of his moral and ethical beliefs and judgments and one who will prefer right over wrong. The life of such man is ruled by the desire to seek the truth and justice in all that surrounds him, including himself. These attributes are seen in both character, John Proctor from Arthur Miller’s play, “The Crucible”, set in Salem in the early seventeenth century and in Atticus Finch from Harper Lee’s novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” set in New York in 1950.