Theme Of Integrity In The Crucible

The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, portrays the story about the Salem Witch Trials in the 16th century. The Salem Witch Trials were a period of time in which people were accused of Witchcraft and unholy actions. The Puritans faced an action called a crucible, which means to have a severe trial or test. This action is probably the reason why it is called The Crucible. This relates to the characters because everyone in Salem, especially Abigail Williams and the other girls in the colony.

Proctor was reluctant to admit adultery, since it was considered a very high punishable crime. He tries to find other evidences that would keep his name clean and prove Abigail is wrong. Another example that shows that Proctor deeply cares about his reputation, is that he was able to get free if he says he had committed witchcraft and is an ally of the devil. Proctor was having trouble lying because it would ruin his good name. Then he is asked to sign the paper saying that in writing, which would hang on the church door for everyone to see, he couldn’t.

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a dramatic play which portraits the Salem Witch Trials in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Throughout the story the main characters participate in a name game trying to clear their names from accusations of witchcraft. In the end an innocent man takes blame for the issue that arose in the town. As a result of him coming forward, he was hung for his actions. Honesty is the most lacking factor in the character’s lives.

As act III progresses Mary Warren decides to turn on Proctor saying, “John Proctor you are the Devil’s man” (Miller 121) and “I will not hang with you I love God…” (Miller 121)which then causes Proctor to lash out in rage against her lies. The court marshals arrest John and place him in jail, where Arthur Miller says they have to chain him because he throws fits of rage and he then sits like “a great bird”. (Miller 151) All of those events leads up to Proctors Tragic Flaw, which is pride. Proctors pride inevitably leads to his death because he won’t give up the good name to live out his life with his wife and children.

Have you ever been accused of something you did not do? Well that is what a group of people in Salem in 1692 experienced, however their outcomes were much worse—they ended up being hung. The Salem Witch Trials is a dark time in American history, where many innocent people were accused of witchcraft and the accusations were only based off of spectral evidence. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is an allegory for the Salem Witch Trials. The Crucible revolves around a group of girls, which include Betty Parris and Abigail Williams, who accused several people of witchcraft.

When he comes to the court about his affair with her, Proctor puts his own name in jeopardy; as a result, he is thrown into prison and accused of witchcraft. After rotting in prison for quite a while, John Proctor concludes that in order to save his life he must confess; however, when he goes to confess Judge Danforth declares that his confession will be made public, Proctor responds in the following manner, “You will not use me! I am no Sarah Good or Tituba, I am John Proctor! You will not use me! It is no part of salvation that you should use me!”

Channeling Change The Crucible by Arthur Miller was modeled after the Puritanical society during the Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692. Innocent people, such as Rebecca Nurse and Elizabeth Proctor were falsely accused and condemned of witchcraft. The aftermath of the trials affected the children, cattle, crops, and the reputations of the accused.

A man will not will not cast away his good name. You surely know that.” Proctor castes his good name to stand up for the truth and expose Abigail as the liar that she really is. He tries to convict her of fraud so she could stop with this absurdity of accusing others of witch craft. Proctor is slowly presenting himself standing up for the truth by telling them what really is happening even if people don’t believe him.

Proctor is a well respected upperclassman and him sacrificing his life led to his family living a greater life. To the court with great emotion proctor states “ Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (143).

John Proctor is well liked and respected in the Puritan community and is trusted by everyone. In Act I, on page 1269, It says “Proctor, respected and even feared in Salem, has come to regard himself as a kind of fraud.” This quote shows that John has a lot to lose if his secret gets out because everyone looks up to him. Although John is a great man, his tragic flaw is his pride.

Proctor even told them he is not something to be used to help them, “you will not use me” (4, 699). Proctor will not allow the town to use his name to save themselves for killing all the innocent people before him. Proctor even pleads with them, “I have given you my soul; leave me my name” (4, 730). Proctor is saying how the integrity he has is only left in his name since his soul has been sinned.

Proctor expresses how guilty he feels from his sin and how he wants to transform into a better person and husband. Proctor in act three explains the affair to Danforth. He does this to save his wife and other convicted people. Proctor knows he can get hung from this sin, but does it anyway because he knows it was wrong and wants to help save the people, "... I beg you-see her what she is.

He decides to preserve his image by telling the truth and as a result, dies honorably. Proctor says to Danforth in Act IV, “I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” Proctor’s drive to preserve his reputation is shown by his heroic act at the end of the play. He would rather die honestly than to live through a lie. Proctor made the decision to die in service of his reputation and to keep it untarnished rather than to live with it

Proctor possesses a good name and integrity, however the moment he admits to the affair he loses his good name. Proctor feels that displaying his act of adultery in front of the

Salem, Massachusetts, 1692. A village of the Puritans where religion ran every aspect of society, also the place where the historic Salem Witch Trials occurred. The Salem Witch Trials were a mass hysteria where the villagers wildly accused their neighbors of conspiring with the Devil and casting spells to ruin daily life. The Crucible was written by Arthur Miller because of his personal experience. Earlier in his life, Miller was being trialed by a court for being a communist put through his own personal crucible about his beliefs which inspired him to write this play.