The play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, is about the Salem witch trials in 1692. Several girls claim to be afflicted by witchcraft, then accuse people in the town of witchcraft who are usually people they dislike. Two of the main characters Miller focuses on are Abigail Williams and John Proctor. While Abigail Williams and John Proctor both start out with lying and selfishness, Abigail never gets better, she stays with her selfish ways while John works towards selflessness and becoming a better person; therefore, Miller displays the theme of selfishness vs. selflessness in relationships or choices. Abigail Williams is a young teenage girl who is unmarried and is an orphan child. Throughout the play Abigail finds ways to gain power and use …show more content…
He eventually does some risky things that could ruin his reputation but by the end admits to them and thinks more about doing what he thinks is right rather than worrying what others think of him. One way John Proctor reacted to the trials was when he decided to be selfless and admit to his mistakes as to when he admits to adultery. When John turns himself in he says, “She thinks to dance with me on my wife's grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whores vengeance and you must see it; I set myself entirely in your hands. I know you must see it now” (1090) by this he is standing up for what is right and saving Elizabeth from getting consequences for lying for him. Proctor then is selfless when he decides to stand up for his thoughts and opinions and to help out the town by confronting Parris about the church. Proctor tells Parris, “I have troubled enough without I come five miles to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation. Take it to heart Mr. Parris. There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God anymore” (1040). This displays Proctors actions of speaking for the town and being selfless by telling Parris what is wrong with the church so he could potentially change his ways and have a better church for the town. Proctor is selfless rather than selfish because by telling