The Depth of Human Evil in "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller

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The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, is an intriguing novel about the witch trials in Salem during the 17th century. During the Salem witch trials, innocent people were accused of being witches just so that others could take their land and farms. The main protagonist, John Procter, stands up against the corruption and greed that has infested the very heart of Salem, and tries to overthrow Abigail Williams, a corrupt young maiden who blames and kills the accused witches. This novel explores the depth of evil in human nature through these main characters John Procter and Abigail Williams. But despite the corruption of Abigail and the town, the just emerge to try and stop this evil from occurring. The characteristics of John Procter are well represented by his commitment to the pursuit of justice and truth, his persistence and persuasiveness, and his personal integrity. Even though, later on in the story John Procter is faced with certain death, he would rather die than compromise his principals or disgrace his name.

The most important character trait John Procter exhibits during the course of The Crucible, is his commitment to the pursuit of justice and truth. Whether in his certainty of Abigail’s corruption and manipulation of the court, or his fundamental opposition to the witch trials, he does not hesitate to fight for what he believes in. A good example of his commitment to his beliefs is when he says, ”I will fall like an ocean on that court! Fear nothing Elizabeth” (p.73). He demonstrates that he is strongly opposed to the court of Salem and has confidence in his convictions. He also displays bravery and courage through his actions. An example of this bravery would be when John decides that he is going to admit to witch ...

... middle of paper ...

... house sir; ……. (p.102).

By saying this, he risks his own life to save Elizabeth. This says a lot about his morals, beliefs, and the extent to which he is prepared to stand up for his values.

John Procter’s commitment to the pursuit of justice and truth, his persistence, and personal integrity are key components to understanding him as a person. These qualities present him as a very humble, amiable, and practical man. His judgment of what is right and wrong is consistently precise. He was a man of great principals and when his principals were tested in the extreme, he did not waver or give in. The story explores what can happen when extreme fear turns to hysteria. John Procter overcame this extreme fear and through his practical nature and his strong characteristics went against it and overcame it. This is what made John Procter the protagonist in this story.

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