Examples Of Nihilism In The Crucible

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The Crucible, by Arthur Miller Discuss Proctor’s nihilism or desire for destruction. Where does it come from and how does he escape from it to find his “goodness” in the end? It seems fairly pertinent to argue that the character of John Proctor in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is characterized by a progressively developing nihilism, which follows a cumulative trajectory, and which he ultimately achieves to escape when he is presented with the opportunity of reinstating his “goodness” of character. John Proctor’s desire for destruction or death drive derives from two components, his own personal affairs, and public, communitarian ones, which at some point converge. More specifically, the former component of his nihilism is comprised of his