The crucible

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The Crucible


‘The Crucible’ is a play set in Massachusetts in 16 at the time of the Salem witch trials, written by Arthur Miller. It follows one mans moral struggle, at the end of which he must choose between his life and his principles.


By examining the techniques used by Arthur Miller in the play and the theme of personal integrity I will show how they were used to give a climactic ending.


‘respected and even feared man in Salem’





John Proctor is a highly thought of member of the community. He is seen as ‘an untroubled soul’, a strict Christian, the man who ‘nailed the roof upon the church’. But Proctor knows he is not the perfect Christian, he is a sinner. He has committed the sin of lechery with the niece of Reverend Parris’, Abigail Williams. This affair shows a dip in Proctors’ personal integrity as lechery is not only a sin but it goes against


‘his own vision of orderly conduct’.


The only other who knows of Proctors’ affair is his wife Elizabeth.


Elizabeth is always suspicious of Proctor returning to Abigail.


‘What keeps you so late? It’s almost dark’


This quote shows that Elizabeth is suspicious that Proctor is still seeing even though he was denied it. Proctor tries to make it up to Elizabeth in many ways, one of which is his seasoning of or her stew she is making without her knowing. He does this so he can compliment her on a well-seasoned stew. Though it seems Proctors attempts are in vein, as Elizabeth will only change her mind when she is sure the affair is over.


Abigail has a very noticeable lack of personal integrity that is evident throughout the play. She lies to get her way and threatens her friends to make sure her plan is successful. Her plan is to have Elizabeth convicted of witchcraft so she can replace Elizabeth as Proctors wife. Despite Proctors attempts to repel Abigail she continues to try and seduce him.


‘Give me a word John, a soft word’


She is like the devil tempting Proctor to sin. Proctor is true to his wife and his word, he does not encourage her.


‘I never give you hope to wait for me’


Abigail is a threatening person even towards her friends;


‘let either of you breathe a word, or edge or a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you.’


Abigail will pretend to faint in court to fool the judges into thinking she is being attacked by people sending their spirits on her.


When Proctors and his wife are accused he shows great personal integrity by throwing away his good name and admitting to lechery to save his wife.


‘I have known her’


This will reveal Abigail’s intent if Elizabeth confirms the sin. As Proctor think she will do.


‘My wife cannot lie’


But to save her husbands she does what she thinks to be the right thing to do and denies the Proctor committed the sin, with the intention of saving him. This however only complicated matters. He feels though he cannot lie to save his life as he doesn’t see himself fit to hang among the other accused as it would make him look like a saint which he knows he is not.


‘I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. I am not that man’


Proctor debates with himself and comes to an apparent conclusion.


He decides that since he is already damned for sinning lying again can’t make it worse so he signs the confession. This is a big disappointment to the reader as Proctor loses much personal integrity. To try and lessen the sin he confesses in a round about way.


‘I want my life’


This is interpreted as a confession and is the truth, as he does want his life. Though when asked who else he saw with the devil Proctor replies,


‘I speak my own sins. I cannot judge another, I have no tongue for it.’


This shows he will not have anyone else suffer because of him. The court demands Proctor sign a confession so as they can nail it to the church for all of Salem to see. At this Proctor is most displeased,


‘I have three children � How may I teach them to walk like men in the world and I sold my friends?’


He wants to keep his name for his children so they are not ashamed of him. His name is very important to him and he feels he has given away what he thinks of himself so wants to keep what others think of him,


‘How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!’


Proctor reluctantly signs the confession though when asked for it back he rips it up, restoring his personal integrity. When told he cant rip the confession, condemning himself,


‘I can. And there’s your first marvel, that I can. You have made your magic now, for now I do see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs.’


This is the climactic ending which the I would prefer to him signing the confession and living, he takes the heroic path.


Proctors’ indecision leads to great tension, as it is not known whether he will sign the confession or not. When he does the reader is let down, but when it is ripped up and he delivers his speech his integrity is restored and the reader feels happier at him making the morally correct choice.





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