The Crucible Flaws essay

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.The Crucible

A play in which a major character has a significant flaw is "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller. Prcotors flaw is apparent from the opening of the play. Only through accepting the truth can Proctor overcome his flaw and the action of the play can move forward. By doing this Proctor can stand up for what he feels is right. Proctor overcomes his flaw and challenges the strict and hypocritical society of Salem.

1692. The play opens in reverend Parris' house where his daughter Betty has fallen sick after her and a few other village girls, including her cousin Abigail, where caught dancing in the woods with Parris' black slave Tituba which is forbidden in the strict puritan society of Salem. The doctor tells Parris to look at unnatural causes for his daughters illness which ignites the villages suspicion of witchcraft. Abigail Williams, the unofficial leader of the group of girls, has had an affair with her former employer John Proctor, who she is now madly in love with, plots with the other girls to cause chaos within the village by accusing those they do not like of witchcraft. They later appear in court after Proctors wife, Elizabeth Proctor, is wrongly accused of witchcraft and John confesses to have known Abigail in an attempt to expose her for who she really is. However, this backfires very quickly and John also becomes imprisoned with the others and waits for his execution. Reverend Hale tries to convince John to confess to witchcraft but throughout the play Proctor has battled with his guilty conscience because of his crime and realises that he cannot bare to confess to something he is not, so therefore awaits his execution. Towards the end of the play we realise that in order for Proctor to become the tragic hero he is he must admit to his sin and most importantly learn to forgive himself in order to find peace.

The exposition of the play we are given a close insight to proctors character. We learn qucikly that Proctor is troubled by his past;

"He is a sinner, a sinner not only against the moral fashion of the time but against his own vision of decent conduct"

We become aware of Proctors flaw he is a sinner. He has betrayed his wife and drifted from the accepted code of conduct within Salem. Proctor is weak for giving in to Abigails desires. However, Proctor knows he has done wrong as he has not only broke the strict code of conduct but also his own rules and for this he feels intense guilt. We are made further aware of the consequences of Proctors sin as the act goes on;

" I do not judge you. The magistrate in your heart that judges you"

Johns affair with Abigail has created a wedge between him and his wife Elizabeth. We see that the guilt following Proctors crime of adultery has caused him to resent Elizabeth as she is a constant reminder of his sin. John attempts to conceal his sin and shows the futher flaws in his character by being deceitful and hypocritical. Not only has Joohns crime had an impact on his conscience and his marriage but it is also having an impact on the rest of Salem;

"Vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always where but now the little crazy children are dangling the keys of the kingdom."

John recongnises the flaws in Salem. He knows that it is because of his previous affair with Abigail that she is plotting her revenge on his wife and for this Proctor feels fully responsible. It is obvious there are personal motives behind the girls accusations and it is clear to Elizabeth and Proctor not only why she was denounced but most importantly who by.

The climax of the play, act 3, opens in the court room where John continues to try and discredit Abigail and when it looks like he is going to succeed, Abigails reputation in the village and judgement from judge Danforth prevents any hope of revealing Abigail for the whore she really is, making it almost impossible for Proctor to free his wife. Abigail begins to claim she is afflicted and while doing this also claims to be a worker of Heaven, this one claim does not settle well with Proctor;

"Hw do you call Heaven! Whore! Whore!"

Proctors becomes extremely aggravated and frustrated with how high esteem Abigail puts herself in Salem, he is appalled. Proctor knows more than anyone else that Abigail is not and never will be a worker for God and at that moment in the court room Proctor realises that in order to have any chance of stopping the chaos in Salem he must face the truth and confess himself;

"I have known her, sir. I have known her"

This is the pivotal point of the play. Proctor accepts the truth and admits his failing. Proctor decision to confess his sin to the court ironically displays his goodness as he willingly sacrafices his good name in order to save his wife. Only through public acknowledgement can Proctor regain his wifes Elizabeths trust. This shows that even Proctor is a man who has sinned he still has admirable qualities that help him throughout the play to accept the truth.

In admitting the truth about himself, Proctor overcomes his biggest obstacle, forgiving himself. He has overcome his flaw and in doing this Proctor can now fully see the extent of how the girls vengful lies have destroyed Salem;

"God is dead"

Proctor acknowledges that there is no goodness left in Salem. Proctor feels that if there was really a God he would not let so much death and hysteria occur in Salem. The ambiguity of the statement allows the other villagers to view Proctor very differently, they are digusted and any good thought left in Salem for John Proctor was disgarded. However, Proctor displays a further flaw in his character when he reverts to lies;

"Damn the village. I confess to God and he has seen my name on this."

Proctor signs the false confession. This shows how arrogant and prideful John is. By refusing to give Dabforth his confession he feels that if he dies at least he will die with dignity. No matter what the judge says Proctor refuses to give his name and stands his ground;

"Because it is my name. Because i may never have another in my life...Ihave given you my soul! leave me my name."

This is a powerful speech about honor in the play. Proctors feels that he must destroy the confession and accept the courts false judgement. He has given the court everything-his family, his life- he only asks that his name not be tainted by lies. Proctor overcomes his flaws and regains some self respect and goodness within himself;

"He have his goodnes now. God forbid i take it from him."

Throughtout the play John has battled with his guilty conscience due to him breaking the ten commandments. Proctor has had an affair with Abigails Williams and for this he feels like a fraud. John feels that he should not be seen as a good christian. However, towards the end of the play Proctor realises that even though he has done a bad thing he is not a bad person and that there is a shred of goodness left in him. Elizabeth recongnises this and she is not willing to make John commit another crime by lying to save his life as she knows he will not be able to live with himself or his guilty conscience.

The peace Proctor finds within himself stems from his brave decision to abandon all hope regaining his respect in Salem. This allows the audience to regard Proctor as an honest, conscience driven, admirable man. Proctor, in the lead up to his decision to accept the truth, showed weakness and self indulgence. However, in naming himself a sinner, for the benefit of others, he causes our view to become one of admiration and inspiration.