Changes In The Crucible

Joseph Smith Jr. once said “Although I do wrong, I do not the wrongs that I am charged with doing; the wrong that I do is through the frailty of human nature, like other men, no man lives without fault.” John Proctor and The Crucible are great examples of what Joseph Smith Jr. said. “I do not wrongs that I am charged with doing… No man lives without faults,” these words are the essence of The Crucible. He has done wrong, just like all the others. They are not being charged with what they’ve done wrong though. They’re being charged with witchcraft. Though, Proctor can be arrogant, and tempered at times he tries his best to do what’s right. In The Crucible, John Proctor has done his share of wrongs, but throughout the play he makes an attempt
Abigail Williams is one of the biggest ones. Proctor’s affair with Abigail set everything in motion. It’s what makes Proctor want to be a better person. When Abigail accused Elizabeth of witchcraft that was the start of everything changing in Proctor. “She walks out the door, herrick and cheever behind her. For a moment, Proctor watches from the doorway. The clank of chain is heard” (Miller 1179). The moment when Elizabeth is arrested is when Proctor’s world changes; he knows he is at fault, and knows he has to make it right. Also, being in jail for about three months brought out a significant change in him. When they propositioned him to confess to working with the devil he did, but then they asked him to sign his name to his confession. This is when he has this revelation where he know what kind of man he is, and wants to protect his name and pride, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Miller 1232) . Being in jail brought out his weakness, but also made him realize what kind of man he really