Unjustness in The Crucible by Arthur Miller Essay -- Essay on The Cruc

In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, unjustness is displayed constantly throughout the play, when innocent men and women are accused of witchcraft in the town of Salem during the 1690's. Chaos and havoc erupt in this small town during the times of the trials, causing many prominent men and women to be wrongly accused of practicing witchcraft. In particular, John Procter, a well respected leader in the town of Salem, soon becomes entangled in the Salem witch trials, when his wife Elizabeth and many other women of the town are accused of witchcraft by Abigail Williams, his former mistress. Unlike other characters in the story, Procter's personality can be seen gradually changing throughout the course of the play, because of the events that occur in his life at the time of the trials. In The Crucible, John Procter develops from a sinful, dishonest man overwhelmed by guilt over his affair with Abigail, to a man with the courage to be truthful to himself and those around him. Unlike a ny other character in the story, John Procter ultimately learns to forgive himself for his sins, and take responsibility for his actions. As the story begins to unfold, John Proctor establishes himself as a confused man of ambiguity, unable to come to terms with his own sins, initially showing intolerance towards himself. After having an affair with Abigail Williams, John is unsure about his feelings towards her. Upon first meeting Proctor in the story, he is seen flirting with Abigail Williams, and provocatively telling her that â€Å"[she's] wicked yet,† and that â€Å"[she'll] be clapped in the stocks before [she's] twenty. (22).† John's amorous actions clearly exhibit his passion for Abigail. Although at first flirtatious gestures are exchanged, John... ... mistakes and learns to tolerate himself. John Proctor is a man who stands up to authority, and sticks to what he believes in when know one else will. Unfortunately, like all tragic heros John Proctor had a tragic flaw: his physical attraction to Abigail Williams. Sadly, Proctor's tragic flaw ultimately lead to his destruction. Because of John Proctor's tragic death, order is restored throughout the town of Salem. John Proctor is a man that knew the truth, and was going to stand by it no matter what. Workscited: Bowers, Kristen. The Crucible by Arthur Miller: Literature Guide. San Dimas, CA: Secondary Solutions, 2006. Print.