Examples Of Integrity In The Crucible

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Arthur Miller was inspired to write the crucible because, during the red scare, he was accused of communism. This closely relates to the Salem witch trials because of the fear that soon turned into hysteria. Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible suggests that personal integrity is essential to one’s character and that sacrificing it for survival can lead to catastrophic outcomes. Throughout the play, the characters navigate this choice and face the consequences of their actions. John Proctor showed integrity throughout the play while dealing with the consequences of his sins. For example, when John says, “You're bringing down heaven and raising up a whore” (miller 111), he emphasizes how the town has lost its morals and obligations to God by …show more content…

For example, Mary Warren said “I’ll not hang with you! I love God, I love God” (Miller 110). This shows how people would turn on the ones that have been there and helped them. Abigail was the most extreme when it came to survival. She was the master manipulator when it came to saving herself. She demonstrates her manipulation when she threatened the girls with “ And mark this, let either of you breathe a word or edge of a word about other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shutter you” (miller 19). Abigail was very ruthless from beginning to end to save herself. Friends soon turned on each other. Mary Warren was fearful because John Proctor is now making her tell the Salem courts Abigail and the others are lying. This fear is demonstrated when she says “ I cannot, they’ll turn on me” (Miller 76). She is more afraid to be iced out by Abigail than to be seen as a liar by the courts and this displays how desperate she is to save …show more content…

John Proctor faces the internal conflict between personal integrity and survival. He is torn between saving his life or staying true to his morals. While Proctor is tempted to sacrifice his morals for his well-being when he exclaims, “I want my life. I will have my life” (miller 127) and agrees to confess, he ultimately chooses to stay true to himself. Then he starts to realize that doing this isn’t who he is and not how he wants his children to be when he states “I have three children- how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends” (miller 132). This is showing when faced with a hard challenge your morals will continue to shine through. Proctor finally comes to his true sense when he and Danforth have this conversation “Why? Do you mean to deny this confession when you are free” says Danforth “ I mean to deny nothing” Proctor says in response “Then explain to me, Mr. Proctor, why you will not let” proctor then interrupts and exclaims “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life. Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul, leave me my name” (Miller 133). This conversation clearly shows that Proctor, no matter what will stay true to his morals no matter what challenge he