The Crucible John Proctor Conflict Analysis

The crucible by Arthur Miller is a novel set in the Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts during The Witchcraft Trials of 1692. The story opens with some girls dancing in the woods with Tituba, a slave. They are caught in the act by the town’s pastor, Reverend Parris. One of the group members and Parris’ daughter, Betty, fell unconscious. Parris believes this is witchcraft, but Abigail Williams, his niece, tells him they were just dancing. The main conflict is between John Proctor and Abigail. Abigail was John and Elizabeth Procter’s housekeeper, but she was fired due to an affair she had with John. Elizabeth, encourages John to expose Williams as a sham, but to do so, he would have to admit to having an affair. Proctor is a man

Overall, Proctor is a law-abiding, good citizen, barring the fact he has one dark secret. The Farmer had an affair with Abigail Williams, caused her to become jealous of his wife, Elizabeth, and set a chain of events regarding the witchcraft. John Proctor’s main conflict is internal and he is a protagonist. This is because he realizes that he is able to stop Abigail’s disturbance throughout the city, but only by admitting he had an affair with her. Mr. Proctor has an outstanding reputation, but admitting his secret would surly destroy it. After much thinking, John Proctor realizes he must admit his adultery. First, he tries to expose Abigail as a fake, but without revealing evidence of the affair through Mary Warren’s statement, but that failed. Procter finally realizes there is no other choice, but to admit his faults. At a great personal cost, he admitted his adultery to the public. “It is a whore…In the proper place-where my beasts are bedded. On the last night of my joy, some eight months past. She used to serve me in my house, sir. He has to clamp his jaw to keep from weeping. A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I beg you, sir, I beg you-see her what she is. My wife, my dear good wife, took this girl soon after, sir, and put her out on the highroad. And being what she is, a lump of vanity, sir- He is being overcome.

Williams is the main antagonist and her conflict with John and Elizabeth Proctor is very external. Throughout the novel, she proves to be very manipulative, especially toward her friends and is untruthful. For example, when she is about to be arrested and accused for witchcraft, Ms. Williams manages to use her manipulative personality to pin the accusation on Tituba, the slave and many just like her. Abigail Williams eventually sends nine uninvolved citizens to their deaths. Throughout the chaos, her main motivation is jealousy and her lust to seek revenge on Elizabeth Proctor for firing her upon finding out she was having an affair with John Proctor. Elizabeth Proctor, speaks out against Abigail and damages her reputation. “Oh, I marvel how such a strong man may let such a sickly wife be…She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me! She is a cold, sniveling woman, and you bend to her! Let her turn you like a…”(I.202-205). In this quote, Abigail is pretending she is angry at Mrs. Proctor for ruining her credit with the townspeople. Williams is really envious and is trying to manipulate bash John by bashing Elizabeth. Abigail uses frivolous insults so John would not realize her true intentions. In conclusion, Abigail Williams is a manipulative, conniving, narcissistic Antagonist. This is because while John and Abigail are trying to expose