In Arthur Miller’s well-know play, The Crucible, there are many external struggles between characters. Throughout the play, we watch the characters develop within themselves, as well as change towards each other. Three character developments that stand out in the play are Hale and the court, Elizabeth and John, and John and Abigail. When Reverend John Hale is first introduced in the play he has been called to investigate the suspicious illnesses of Ruth Putnam and Betty Parris. He is initially described as, “... a tight-skinned, eager-eyed intellectual. This is a beloved errand for him; on being called here to ascertain witchcraft he felt pride of the specialist whose unique knowledge has at last been publically called for” (Miller 33-34). Hale was eager to flaunt his knowledge of the invisible world, for the village’s consensus …show more content…
During the affair, Abby was working for the Proctors, but was fired when Elizabeth discovered their relationship. When being questioned in court, Elizabeth tells judge Danforth, “I came to think he fancied her. And so one night I lost my wits, I think, and put her on the highroad” (Miller 113). She finds it very hard to forgive John, and this causes tension in their relationship. When she is accused of witchcraft by Abigail, John proves his love for her by going to the court to expose Abby’s intentions. He ends up getting himself thrown in jail and with an execution date. In Act 4, Hale and Parris believe they can convince him to confess to witchcraft so he can save his own life. They bring Elizabeth to see him and they come to terms about the affair. Elizabeth tells John, “John, I counted myself so plain, so poorly made, no honest love could come to me! Suspicion kissed you when I did; I never knew how I should say my love. It were a cold house I kept!” (Miller 137). Elizabeth is apologizing to him for not being able to forgive