Pride And Life Altering Choices In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Many people would think that a play about the ultra-religious Puritans would not revolve around so many sins and sinners. During this time, if one was caught doing witchcraft, it called for immediate death. However, as clearly displayed throughout the drama, some Puritans were willing to break the rules and others had to take the fall for the rule breakers. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, many of the seven deadly sins are shown, but pride is most prevalent. John Proctor shows a lot of pride for himself in this play.

Separation between groups of people, one considered to be superior, creates a motivation of wanting to be on top. Egos’ within the superior group cause them to lie and do what they have to do to maintain status. The isolated group that is put on a pedestal feels that even though their actions are wrong they cannot risk losing their elevated position. In Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, men are seen as elite, in the puritan society, above women in the social hierarchy. John Proctor as an exemplary puritan man lives his life as a superior, is unwilling to admit his obvious guilt and struggles in leaving his ignorance and pride behind him with far reaching consequences.

Proctor acknowledges others before him who have stood by their beliefs and thinks he is worthless compared to them for even merely thinking of confessing a lie. It is tragic that in order for one to keep his dignity and fight for a belief he feels so strongly about, he must die. In order to accomplish one’s desires, strong motivation for change must exist. Author, Steven R. Centola, comments on the will to fight against limitations that may be preventing one to

The author wrote that Proctor refused to give up the confession that he signed saying “I like not to spoil their names.” (Miller 61)..” He was tormented by this decision because he did not want to die but also he did not want to ruin the good names of his friends and himself.

Nothing’s spoiled by giving them this lie that were not rotten long before” (Miller 1352). He is ultimately giving up his confession even though he knows it is not the right thing to do. A previous break to Proctor’s Christianity beliefs is when he commits adultery; however, instead of standing up for himself he gives into the court’s desire. When John Proctor confesses, his actions prove a huge weakness John Proctor has. However, his actions of confessing result in a strength.

A stain in one’s name is a serious dishonor. Rumors, as well as wrongful actions, affect how the world sees us and how we see the world. Thus human beings are victims of their own reputation. To avoid this, one tends to use pride as a shield. However, instead of protecting us, pride hurts us even more by impeding us from solving our issues.

Pride and Its Consequences “Pride helps us; and pride is not a bad thing when it only urges us to hide our own hurts—not to hurt others.”― George Eliot. When you think about pride, you think of something that will benefit yourself or others. In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible this is not always the case. There are many instances where pride is a very negative trait Not all of the pride shown throughout The Crucible will benefit those who have it.

In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the setting is Salem, Massachusetts during the late 1600s where the town’s pious Puritan beliefs directly influence their government. A 17-year-old girl named Abigail Williams had an affair with John Proctor, a wealthy, married man. Abigail is told by John to move on but instead, Abigail starts accusing the townspeople of witchcraft, including John Proctor’s wife Elizabeth. As this hysteria begins to rise, other people such as Thomas Putnam, a rich landowner, start to also allege Salem villagers. In this play, the author illustrates the central idea that people should not allow jealousy to control their actions.

He overcomes this struggle, trying to stay committed to his already upset wife, but he had already committed a treacherous sin. John Proctor had to live the rest of his days with the loathsome guilt towards himself. Throughout the novel, John Proctor debates whether or not he is an honest man. Even though he keeps his sin a secret from the rest of the town, his wife knows that he’s an adulterer.

The end of the Crucible is very suspenseful when the protagonist, John Proctor, is faced with choosing between confessing to a lie or dying for the truth. At first, Proctor is hesitant and signs the papers, confessing himself to evil, but before the signed paper is collected by the court, he tears it apart and is sentenced to death. This was his best option, for it stopped him from living a remorseful life. His decision to tear apart the signed confession was the most correct not only for himself but for his family and the community as well.

An inspirational poster once read “ It’s easy to stand with the crowd; It takes courage to stand alone”(Geniusquotes.net). Set in the Puritan town of Salem Massachusetts, The Crucible written by Arthur Miller gave viewers and readers a fictional view on The Salem Witch Trials, and the courageous act of many. It all began after a group of girls were caught dancing in the forest by Reverend Parris, the local minister. After getting caught, Parris’s daughter Betty falls into a coma like state. As news of this spread, rumors of witchcraft spread with it.

The Crucible “The Crucible” is a play, by Arthur Miller, about the Salem Witch Trials. After reading “The Crucible”, you will be asking yourself, is it necessary for a person to suffer? The answer to the question is shown through the characters, Giles Corey, John and Elizabeth Proctor, and Abigail Williams. John Proctor is a respected puritan man in the community. John had made the mistake of sleeping with, a teenage girl, Abigail Williams.

John Proctor is put through a trial just like metal is put in a crucible. The metal is melted down just like John is hung. In the end, both come out in the purest form. Proctor lived with lies, but finally confesses and not selling out his friends. He was hung at the end of the play, but his name be remembered exactly how he wanted it to be.

In Arthur Miller’s dramatic play The Crucible, John Proctor, the protagonist, symbolized truth and justice by displaying honor and pride in his name. The change in balance between those two attributes acted as a catalyst in defining moments of the play. In the beginning, Proctor equally reflected both pride and honor in separate events. However, when forced to make a decision, he chose honor over pride. Ultimately, both his honor and pride pushed him to commit the ultimate sacrifice.

The Preservation of One’s Reputation Warren Buffett once said, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” A reputation is one of the most important things a person has. It measures one’s worth, honor, and integrity - something we all strive for.