The Crucible Notes
Title- The Crucible
Author- Arthur Miller
Date of First Publication- 1953
John Proctor-summary of his role in the book * John Proctor as the play’s tragic hero. Honest, upright, and blunt-spoken * Proctor is a good man, but one with a secret, fatal flaw. His lust for Abigail Williams led to their affair (which occurs before the play begins), and created Abigail’s jealousy of his wife, Elizabeth, which sets the entire witch hysteria in motion. * Realizes that he can only stop the witch-hunt if he confesses to his adultery * makes an attempt, through Mary Warren’s testimony, to name Abigail as a fraud without revealing the crucial information. * Tries calling Abigail a “whore” and proclaiming his guilt publicly. * Proctor’s confession succeeds only in leading to his arrest and conviction as a witch he is also aware of his terrible role in allowing this fervor to grow unchecked. * Proctor redeems himself and provides a final denunciation of the witch trials in his final act. * Offered the opportunity to make a public confession of his guilt and live, he almost succumbs, even signing a written confession. * immense pride and fear of public opinion compelled him to withhold his adultery from the court, but by the end of the play he is more concerned with his personal integrity than his public reputation. * Wants to save his name, but for personal and religious, rather than public, reasons. Proctor’s refusal to provide a false confession is a true religious and personal stand. * He goes to the gallows redeemed for his earlier sins. * As Elizabeth says to end the play, responding to Hale’s plea that she convince Proctor to publicly confess: “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!”
Abigail Williams-summary of role in the book * Of the major characters, Abigail is the least complex. * clearly the villain of the play, more so than Parris or Danforth: she tells lies, manipulates her
Author- Arthur Miller
Date of First Publication- 1953
John Proctor-summary of his role in the book * John Proctor as the play’s tragic hero. Honest, upright, and blunt-spoken * Proctor is a good man, but one with a secret, fatal flaw. His lust for Abigail Williams led to their affair (which occurs before the play begins), and created Abigail’s jealousy of his wife, Elizabeth, which sets the entire witch hysteria in motion. * Realizes that he can only stop the witch-hunt if he confesses to his adultery * makes an attempt, through Mary Warren’s testimony, to name Abigail as a fraud without revealing the crucial information. * Tries calling Abigail a “whore” and proclaiming his guilt publicly. * Proctor’s confession succeeds only in leading to his arrest and conviction as a witch he is also aware of his terrible role in allowing this fervor to grow unchecked. * Proctor redeems himself and provides a final denunciation of the witch trials in his final act. * Offered the opportunity to make a public confession of his guilt and live, he almost succumbs, even signing a written confession. * immense pride and fear of public opinion compelled him to withhold his adultery from the court, but by the end of the play he is more concerned with his personal integrity than his public reputation. * Wants to save his name, but for personal and religious, rather than public, reasons. Proctor’s refusal to provide a false confession is a true religious and personal stand. * He goes to the gallows redeemed for his earlier sins. * As Elizabeth says to end the play, responding to Hale’s plea that she convince Proctor to publicly confess: “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!”
Abigail Williams-summary of role in the book * Of the major characters, Abigail is the least complex. * clearly the villain of the play, more so than Parris or Danforth: she tells lies, manipulates her