Essay on A Test of Character in The Crucible by Arthur Miller

A Test of Character in The Crucible A crucible refers to a harsh test, and in The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, each person is challenged in a severe test of his or her character or morals. Many more people fail than pass, but three notable characters stand out. Reverend John Hale, Elizabeth Proctor, and John Proctor all significantly change over the course of the play. All participants in the witch-hunt were influenced by the society that existed in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Salem operated as a theocracy, a government ruled by and subject to religious authority. In a theocracy, peoples sins are not forgiven, so that when they commit an indiscretion, they are left feeling guilty. The witch-hunt was....a long overdue†¦show more content†¦However, he still has faith that the court will reveal the innocence of the accused. If Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothings left to stop the whole green world from burning. Let you rest upon the justice of the court; the court will send her home, I know it. (p. 71) By the time upstanding citizens like Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse are condemned, Hale had begun to listen to his conscience about the validity of the court. As Hale hears Mary Warren and John Proctors evidence against Abby, he finally allows himself to pay attention to his morals and realize the courts corruption. Although Hale quits the court, his remorse at the seventy-two death warrants that he signed leads him to try to undo the chaos he had started by trying to get the remaining accused to confess their sins and thereby save their physical lives, as opposed to what he had been trying to do when he first arrived and save their spiritual lives. Hales entire personality changes from the beginning of the play to the end, as shown by his change from Here is all the invisible world, caught, defined, and calculated. In these books the Devil stands stripped of all his brute disguises. Have no fear now-we shall find him out if he has comeShow MoreRelatedEssay about The Crucible, by Arthur Miller: A Test of Character1061 Words   |  5 PagesThe word crucible describes an event that involves a test or trial of someone or something. In the story The Crucible by Arthur Miller, various characters endure a severe test of honestly, bravery, and goodness. Throughout the story, a series of events lead to tragedies, which invo lve these characters to make important decisions. If chosen incorrectly, it may lead to the death of another innocent person, or possibly even themselves. These events however, will bring out the true colors of everyoneRead MoreThe Crucible Theme of Religion Essay731 Words   |  3 PagesIn The Crucible, Arthur Miller uses themes to display thoughts throughout the book. The theme that seems to be the center point of the story is religion. Religion is on the character’s minds with every action they do. 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Do you find the opening effective?941 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿In the opening of the play, how does Miller seek to create an atmosphere of hysteria and tension? Do you find the opening effective? Premiering in 1953, Arthur Miller’s the crucible was a scathing attack on the Communist scare of the era in the guise of a dramatization of the witch hunts that took place in Salem in the 1960’s. Throughout the beginning the play follows how fear of death, The Devil and the unknown causes people to submit to madness and how the sense of guilt could cause themRead MoreThe Crucible: An Allegory for the McCarthy Era Essay659 Words   |  3 PagesThe Crucible was written as an allegory for the McCarthy era in 1953 by Arthur Miller; an American playwright. The McCarthy era was epitomized by the fear of Communism that Senator McCarthy whipped up. He fostered a witch hunt against anyone who disagreed with his views. 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