Salem Witch Trials and True Essence

Crucible Essay Throughout the novel The Crucible, Arthur Miller describes how being put thought the Salem witch trials of 1692 brought out the true essence of various characters. Arthur Miller shows that the various victims who were put through trials would confess to save themselves and also the difficulties they had to face during their trial period. Characters like John Proctor, Giles Corey, and Reverend Hale were put through different kinds of trials each different from the others. Each of these trials brings out the true essence of the characters and how the characters have changed since the beginning of the play. Through the plays actions and dialogue, Miller suggests that sacrifices may be necessary to restore the social order, and each individual has a moral responsibility to his or her society. Each character has a reason in why they shall not confess to witchery. Most of the characters did it so their name would be clean and instead of having a bad name and being a “witch”. Other characters didn’t confess in order to save their land. Even when tortured, characters like John and Giles do not confess in order to save their families, but end up dying themselves. Miller portrays in The Crucible how going through a trial brings out their true character. John Proctor is an example of a character that goes through a trial or crucible. In the beginning on the play he is a farmer that isn’t involved with Salem in anyway. During the play we learn Proctor has cheated on his wife with Abigail Williams which he knows was a grave mistake and regrets it. The affair between Proctor and Abigail are the seeds of the Salem witch trials. Proctor’s wife Elizabeth knows about the affair but doesn’t forgive John. One night when John and Elizabeth were talking, Elizabeth was arrested for using a poppet to curse Abigail. The reader learns that this was all Abigail’s scheme to get rid of Elizabeth, so she can have John to herself. After Elizabeth is arrested John gets