The Crucible

The Crucible

    

    In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible John Proctor was a perfect example of a character who constantly and mentally pretends or acts outwardly while questioning inwardly.  These two acts play a big role in John’s actions, as throughout the story he constantly fights with himself whether or not he should put his pride and dignity over his family.    

   John Proctor throughout the story questions inwardly fighting with himself and the secret of the affair with Abigail Williams. His affair with Abigail Williams the niece of Reverend Samuel Parris is eating away at him, and he thinks about it daily. Abigail in the story excuses many people in the town of witch craft including The Proctors wife. She did this for her love for John. John constantly fights himself and contemplates whether he should confess his unholy sin. This secret slowly eats away at John.  He Talks to Abigail and even tries to tells her that nothing happened between them trying to deny the fact that it did . Even when the towns people come to take his wife for trails because Abigail excused her of witch craft John knows his affair with Abigail may be able to save his wife but yet he is still hesitant to tell the Reverends and people of the town over fear of judgment and ridicule.

     Even with this unholy secret hanging over his head John acts as if everything is ok throughout the play.  He behaves and acts like everything is alright, when in reality it’s not. He tends to his farm and cares for his family just like any husband/father would.  He does not inform anyone of his affair with Abigail.  Moreover, John Proctor carries on with his day as if nothing went on between both of them.  The typical man that conforms to the world. A man who puts on a smile for the world and pretends as if everything is great but on the inside knows everything is not.

    

   These two acts throughout the story, began causing tensions with John’s life. As one tries to dominate the other.  His wife’s life was in danger. With John Proctor’s life in the balance John must battle with himself on whether or not he should confess his affair which might help save his wife or protect his dignity and keep his secret.  Inwardly he questions this while outwardly he is being drained by the thoughts.  The tension causes John to act insane and out of character which looks very bad on his part.  But this tension also builds up to John figuring out what he must do and how he must save his wife by any means necessary even if it costs his own life