The Crucible Mary Warren Character Analysis
The Salem witch trial mystery intrigues people because it describes a time when morals flipped and hysteria flooded into the town of Salem. Arthur Miller brings these well known trials to life as he illustrates the trials in his play, The Crucible. He incorporated his own experiences into the story and brings new life to the characters that experienced the witch trials first hand. One of these characters, Mary Warren, historically was the oldest accuser of the Salem witch trials. She ended up confessing that the girls made up their accusations, but they turned on her and she ended up accused of witchcraft. In the beginning of The Crucible, Mary acts submissively and very rarely states her own opinion, but near the end she finally begins to
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John Proctor wanted Mary to confess the dishonesty of the witchcraft accusations, but Abby and the other girls didn’t want her to. When Mary arrived at court, ready to confess, John Proctor would repeat these words to Mary, “‘Do that which is good and no harm shall come to thee.’” (page 88) Proctor would repeat this Bible verse to Mary so she understood the significance of telling the truth. His influence convinced Mary to tell the truth to the court which satisfied John because he knew if the witch trials stopped, he could prevent his wife, Elizabeth’s conviction and stop the panic occurring in Salem. However, Abigail wanted to continue her scheme and avoid being arrested for lying and for basically murdering innocent people. She and the other girls pretended that Mary sent her spirit upon them and worked with the Devil. “Abby, Abby, I’ll never hurt you more!” (page 110) Abby then manipulated her to ‘confess’ to witchcraft rather than telling the truth because they both knew that if Mary didn’t confess, the jury would not believe her and she would be hanged and the girls didn’t want to serve time in jail for lying. Both of these people caused Mary to do the right or wrong thing. Abby acted more cunningly while John was more sincere, but both acted superior to Mary and didn’t fully fathom the difficult decision on Mary’s
John Proctor wanted Mary to confess the dishonesty of the witchcraft accusations, but Abby and the other girls didn’t want her to. When Mary arrived at court, ready to confess, John Proctor would repeat these words to Mary, “‘Do that which is good and no harm shall come to thee.’” (page 88) Proctor would repeat this Bible verse to Mary so she understood the significance of telling the truth. His influence convinced Mary to tell the truth to the court which satisfied John because he knew if the witch trials stopped, he could prevent his wife, Elizabeth’s conviction and stop the panic occurring in Salem. However, Abigail wanted to continue her scheme and avoid being arrested for lying and for basically murdering innocent people. She and the other girls pretended that Mary sent her spirit upon them and worked with the Devil. “Abby, Abby, I’ll never hurt you more!” (page 110) Abby then manipulated her to ‘confess’ to witchcraft rather than telling the truth because they both knew that if Mary didn’t confess, the jury would not believe her and she would be hanged and the girls didn’t want to serve time in jail for lying. Both of these people caused Mary to do the right or wrong thing. Abby acted more cunningly while John was more sincere, but both acted superior to Mary and didn’t fully fathom the difficult decision on Mary’s