Allusions In The Crucible

In Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, the main protagonists are John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, and Reverend Hale. They had tolerated and however more struggled with the misunderstood references such as witchcraft that had effected their personal lives with dilemmas. Each character had exhibit a certain sin from the beginning and with their decisions made towards the end of the play it had expressed their true virtues. The play's tragic hero John Proctor was an outspoken and honest man who had been deeply in conflicted situations that led him to stage of crisis. For example, Proctor was agitated towards Mary Warren with her having evidence and not being truthful enough to tell the court. In a display of wrath, he says to Mary Warren,
“Make your peace with it! Now Hell and Heaven grapple on our backs...make your peace!!”(205). This shows that desperate times call for desperate measures because in this situation the lies are going too far and its causing devastation towards Proctor. This is important because his refusal to provide a false confession to the public shows that he is in control of his beliefs. For example, When Mary Warren speaks out the truth, the girls accused that she was bewitching them moreover, Proctor protests with telling Danforth his affair with Abigail. In a display of temperance, he says to Danforth,“In her life,sir, she have never lied. There are...my wife cannot lie. I have paid too much to learn it, sir”(221). This shows that by the play's end the virtue temperance, Proctor had displayed that he mourned for balance with its limits to try to solve the problem of witchcraft in Salem.This is important because his final decision of keeping his personal integrity dignifies his reputation that allowed him to deal with injustice within the society. As a result, I thought John Proctor was indeed a good man with his personal and moral dilemmas being able to overpass them. One of the most virtuous character may come off being cold but when it comes to Elizabeth Proctor she is often shown filled with jealousy of Proctor's affair with Abigail.
For example, Elizabeth resented Abigail with her having the idea that she can take her place. In a display of envy, Elizabeth says to Proctor,” Then go and tell her she's a whore. Whatever promise she may sense - break it, John, break it“ (197). This shows how much more attention she has for him now and to do what's best to keep the relationship stable. This is important because there at stake along with her afflicting Proctor about Abigail. For example, as a humble woman Elizabeth apologized Proctor for her actions and how good of a man he really was from the beginning. In a display of love, Elizabeth says to Proctor,” John, I counted myself so plain, so poorly made, no honest love could come to me! Suspicion...were a cold house I kept!”(236). This shows how her character changed due to the fact that she was filled with hatred towards Abigail from the beginning that it almost affected her decisions at the end of the play. This is important because from the start Elizabeth had been to committed to being envy and how it had really affected her feelings toward Proctor. As a result, I believe that there is goodness to Elizabeth because people change through difficult times and they have to be optimistic about it to find a better
result. His intelligence and remarkable ability to be involved in witchcraft in Salem made Reverend Hale seem different in an unique way.
For example, Parris and Putnam were explaining to him what had happened to Betty and how she was effected. In a display of pride, Hale tells them, “No. no Now let me instruct you. We cannot look to superstition...I should find no bruise of hell upon her” (185). This shows that Hale had committed to the sin pride because he had displayed positive energy along with conflicts happening time after time. This is important because it shows how much he want to find the solution to the problems with using his knowledge to test people. For example, while speaking to Elizabeth and Danforth, he believes that the one's that were accused of witchcraft are innocent. In a display of humility, Hale says to Elizabeth,” Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook my own. I come into this...Will you plead with him? I cannot think he will listen to another” (234). This shows that by the play's end, Hale's virtue is humility because he regretted his actions and tried saving the lives that are innocent. This is because before he had the audience’s sympathy but not its respect. As a result, I thought Hale was a good man because he was doing his job but got caught off guard and changed his whole
plan. The three characters had displayed their sins and virtues that showed how people change due to difficult conflicts or situations and how the society affects everyone. In my own opinion, I think that the author chose to create to work is to express how everyone can be different when it comes to deciding which path to go. The themes are similar to my life because I would eventually be in a great mood and soon something bad happens along the way that changes everything. Yes, I would recommend this story to my peers because it's something different and interesting to look forward to. My final thoughts are that no matter how much there are times to pessimistic with things in life to put you down don't let them conquer you.