Proctor knows that the only way to stop the witch hysteria and mob mentality in the town from destroying him is to confess to witchcraft. Despite that, he would rather die than see his name and reputation blackened by Danforth and the whole town knowing he signed a pact with Satan. From his decision to withdraw his confession, we see that Proctor is a man who sticks firmly to his beliefs and religion. Proctor isn’t as religious as the rest of the town, in that he doesn’t attend church every Sunday. This creates a suspicion about Hale and the town that he is somewhat anti-religious, which is increased when Mary gives in to the mass hysteria of the town and finally accused John Proctor of witchcraft.
This denouncement of Mr. Putnam brought down an accusation upon his wife. He then stands strong against the court and brings forth a deposition, written by him, to help him free his wife. Contained within this deposition was the testimony of an unnamed individual within the community pointing out Thomas Putnam’s malicious motives to accuse his neighbors of witchcraft and buy their land after they had had there land auctioned off by the local government. Danforth then turns to Giles and asks who this person was. With the knowledge that this innocent man would then be accused of witchcraft as well, the courageous Giles refuses to reveal this innocent man’s name.
Mary Warren displays this anxiety when she allows Abigail to frighten her into abandoning John Proctor and accusing him of witchcraft. This leaves him unable to prove the girls' perjury and at the mercy of the judges who are quick to impose guilt. Reverend Parris also displayed an influence by fear when he urged the judges to condemn the accused and encouraged the accused to confess. He believed that this would help him continue to appear moral in the town during immoral and unjust proceedings. Should he lose his facade of morality, he would lose his position of power as reverend.
In Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible,’ the most obvious victim of alienation is John Proctor as he is the protagonist. Throughout the play, Proctor develops opinionated views challenging the law making and abiding citizens of Salem, concerning the community members accused of witchcraft. Proctor is alienated as he is seen as a threat to the court and church because of his difference in opinion and his disbelief in the jury. This is particularly shown in Parris’ line, “They’ve come to overthrow the court, sir!” This is significant because it portrays Proctor as the minority as ‘they’ is contrasted to ‘the court.’ Reverend Hale is also alienated as a result of his decision to change sides and end his association and support for the court. In effect, Hale’s decision has a large impact on society and the audience because he was seen as a well respected character and formerly belonged which reinforces the notion that often an individual is willing to sacrifice their belonging to a group for their morals and integrity paralleling Proctor’s sacrifice of his life.
She cannot connect with people, especially men, on a deeper level. Due to this fact she satisfies her need for connection in a superficial manner of prostitution. Abigail’s seeks affection in improper places because her uncle does not show her enough love. Abigail Williams displays her poor response to Puritan repression throughout Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Salem Village experiences disruption from oppression much like Europe did during the Holocaust.
When his daughter is sick he try’s everything to avoid the thought of any witchcraft. Not only is he worried that his daughter will be at risk but he believes his reputation would be ruined. Also, if any witchcraft was said to have been done under his roof he would be hanged no questions asked. With all the provided information we can blatantly see that Reverend Parris is fighting for a good reputation and less for his daughter’s life. Elizabeth Proctor is the husband of John Proctor a land owner in Salem.
John will not confess and he is hanged for his refusal to publicly admit to conspiring to witchcraft. Because of his affair with Abigail Williams John Proctor is wrongfully hanged. John felt too ashamed about his affair to immediately go to the court and testify against Abigail. John is forced to chose to blacken his good name or to be hanged for a crime he never committed. John chooses to die a courageous death instead of tell lies.
John’s character in the beginning of the story may seem kind of suspicious of how he doesn’t want anyone to know of how he cheated on his wife, and that at first he would do anything just so that no one would find out. As the story goes on you start to feel that John’s character is changing. You can see this because at first he didn’t want anyone to know, and now he feels really guilty and wants to confess to his wife, so that Elizabeth doesn’t have to suffer for what he has done. John then was with a girl Mary Warren at the court and was also trying to help put Abigail to shame for lying, but then Mary Warren is getting accused for being a witch and turns on John saying “You’re a Devil’s man. I’ll not hang with you!
The townsfolk of Salem feared having their own reputations tainted by the sins of others, that they distant themselves and even accused others in order to protect or promote their respective reputations. During time of hysteria, old grudges and jealousies flared, adding to the atmosphere of tension. 4. Characters Transformation: John Proctor (Protagonist) - John Proctor sees himself as a strong, stern, honest man except for one affair incident with Abigail that haunts him. Early in the play, he could’ve prevented the spread of the hysteria by testifying against Abigail’s accusations.
CONFLICT WITH THE SELF The Crucible also explores the conflict that can arise in the hearts and minds of individuals, the personal crisis of conscience which can be exacerbated by guilt or self doubt. John Proctor exemplifies the way in which private guilt or a personal crisis relates to the wider public conflict. The relationship with A. Williams has revealed weakness, as well as poor judgement and he hates himself for it. As his wife says: ‘The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you’. Consequently, he has come to regard himself as ‘a kind of fraud’ not the man that Salem assumes him to be.