The Crucible by Arthur Miller - Essay Example

of Lecturer 26 November The Crucible The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play that reminds readers that human beings are susceptible to change. If there is any character in the play whose character changed during the course of the play, it is definitely John Proctor. John Proctor’s character changed as the play progressed as the impression that readers have of him in the beginning is not the same they have of him in the middle of the play and even in the latter stages of the play. It therefore becomes pertinent to analyze the extent at which John Proctor changed throughout the story.

John Proctor is the tragic hero of The Crucible as he was faced with series of challenges and trials. John Proctor was initially depicted as an upright man that had no flaw in him. Readers would soon begin to realize that he was not a saint as he lust after Abigail Williams and this seemed to be his undoing in the play. Thus, an upright man at the beginning of the play became a man that was somewhat unfaithful to his partner towards the middle of the play. John Proctor’s lust for Abigail later developed into an adulterous relationship with the lady.

John’s lust developed into adultery and he had to denounce his adulterous affair with Abigail at the Salem trial in order to exonerate his wife from the witchcraft allegations that were leveled against her. “I have seen too many frightful proofs in court - the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points!” (Miller 68). The foregone quotation showed the allayed fears of people about the issues in Salem. The character of John could also be likened to the heat container that was forged by fire as he had to humble himself by confessing his sins before the trials.

“I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs. Give them no tear! Tears pleasure them! Show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with it!” (Miller 133). John knew that his reputation in the society was at stake, if he openly confessed to his adulterous acts, but he had no other choice than to yield to the circumstances that sought to change him. The fact that John openly confessed his sins in Act IV meant that he was forced to change by the circumstances that surrounded Elizabeth’s witchcraft trial and this shows how the symbolism of the title is represented in his character.

The result of John’s confession was his conviction as a witch as he did not succeed in saving Elizabeth and this represents the tragedy that befell John in the play. Miller uses this play to show how humans have faced trial, test or ordeal at one point in their lives as this could be seen through the experience of John Proctor. The test of John as a man of courage underlines the importance of the symbolism of the play. The fact that John was made to face challenges that actually changed his personality for the better further showed the transformation that occurred in John Proctor during the course of the play.

Work Cited Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York: the Penguin Group, 1995. Print (Miller )