the crucible
Honor 11
2/20/13
Changing over time
The most important parts of any story or play are the characters. Characters behave differently depending on the circumstances or changes in the environment. In "The Crucible", the hero John Proctor shows dramatic change for the good. Arthur Miller shows this by Proctor's intense dialogues and Miller's stage direction. Miller reveals the growth of Proctor from a man who is arrogant and conceited to a man who is determined and stands up for what he believes in.
Miller shows Proctor as an arrogant and conceited man. Proctor cheats on his wife Elizabeth and has an affair with Abigail Williams. He says that he cannot take all of Elizabeth’s suspicion. Miller writes, "No more! I should have roared you down when first you told me of your suspicion"(1117). This demonstrates that Proctor is a selfish man. Later, Miller shows Proctor’s interaction with other characters. Proctor shows hatred toward Parris, who is the minister of the town. Parris is the most important individual in the town. However, Proctor talks to him like he's a normal town person. Proctor states, "I like it not that Mr. Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of God in that man. I'll not conceal it."(1121). In addition, when he meets Abigail, Miller's stage direction shows him smirking and flirting with Abigail (1098). This shows him being selfish and disloyal; because even after cheating on his wife he still pays attention to Abigail. As a result, arrogance is what drove Proctor to make his irrational decisions.
Proctor starts to change into a determined man who puts others in front of himself. He is willing to save his wife's reputation at any cost. Proctor knows that Abigail is involved in sending his wife to jail. He does not want his wife to die because of his sin (Miller 1129). He is even prepared to confess to adultery; which could get him hanged. His maid Mary Warren tells him not to confess because Abigail will destroy him (1129).
2/20/13
Changing over time
The most important parts of any story or play are the characters. Characters behave differently depending on the circumstances or changes in the environment. In "The Crucible", the hero John Proctor shows dramatic change for the good. Arthur Miller shows this by Proctor's intense dialogues and Miller's stage direction. Miller reveals the growth of Proctor from a man who is arrogant and conceited to a man who is determined and stands up for what he believes in.
Miller shows Proctor as an arrogant and conceited man. Proctor cheats on his wife Elizabeth and has an affair with Abigail Williams. He says that he cannot take all of Elizabeth’s suspicion. Miller writes, "No more! I should have roared you down when first you told me of your suspicion"(1117). This demonstrates that Proctor is a selfish man. Later, Miller shows Proctor’s interaction with other characters. Proctor shows hatred toward Parris, who is the minister of the town. Parris is the most important individual in the town. However, Proctor talks to him like he's a normal town person. Proctor states, "I like it not that Mr. Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of God in that man. I'll not conceal it."(1121). In addition, when he meets Abigail, Miller's stage direction shows him smirking and flirting with Abigail (1098). This shows him being selfish and disloyal; because even after cheating on his wife he still pays attention to Abigail. As a result, arrogance is what drove Proctor to make his irrational decisions.
Proctor starts to change into a determined man who puts others in front of himself. He is willing to save his wife's reputation at any cost. Proctor knows that Abigail is involved in sending his wife to jail. He does not want his wife to die because of his sin (Miller 1129). He is even prepared to confess to adultery; which could get him hanged. His maid Mary Warren tells him not to confess because Abigail will destroy him (1129).