John Proctor Sacrifice In The Crucible

In the play, The Crucible (1953), the author, Arthur Miller, uses the character of John Proctor to show that someone can make a mistake and still be human. Proctor's name and dignity is put to test when his wife and friends are accused of being witches and his actions to save them are justifiable. Hysteria began to grow due to the belief that the devil is in Salem. A puritan girl named Abigail saw an opportunity to gain power and attention and began accusing poor people in the village of conspiring with the devil. With help from other puritans girls in the town, Abigail accused more people and eventually people with a good name in town, like Proctor's wife, Elizabeth. Of course there was a reason behind her accusing Elizabeth, Abigail wants
Still not fooled, Proctor goes against the girls and court officials views, with the help of one of the puritan girls, Mary Warren. Mary would help Proctor because she was once accusing people but now knows there are no witches in Salem. Mary's honest confession could have altered the outcome but Abigail and the girls turned on Mary and accused her of witchcraft. Their power was being threatened and if the truth would come out there would be a severe punishment, such as hanging because their accusations had innocent people hung. So scared Mary, panicked and accused Proctor of being “the devils man”I(Miller 194), trying to get Mary to sign her name and “overthrow the court”(Miller 194). In the chaos of all of this Proctor admits to his sin to the court hoping they will see the truth in his words and the lies in Abigail's. The court is astounded and to prove this they call in Elizabeth and ask her if it's true. Trying to keep her husbands good name she lies and says it's not true. Because of this Abigail continues yelling out in the court. Proctor and Elizabeth are then taken away to the