Integrity In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Integrity is what makes us who we are. It's what gives us a sort of guideline to follow throughout life. So is keeping our integrity more important than surviving? The play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, loosely follows the true story of the Salem Witch Trials that occurred in the 17th century. A few characters in the play showed integrity, and some definitely did not. Reverend Hale and John Proctor both showed integrity by realizing what was happening in Salem was wrong. However, some characters like Mary Warren and Abigail Williams did not show integrity, as they would lie just to get the blame off of them. Personal integrity is more important than survival because it helps to keep people's morals, it avoids people living with a lie, and

Morals play a part in one's personal integrity, as it is something that guides people to do the right thing. Reverend Hale, towards the end of the play, had started to realize that there is no witchcraft in Salem and that people are just blaming each other for selfish reasons. “Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the harlots’ cry will end his life – and you wonder yet if rebellion’s spoke? Better you should marvel how they do not burn your province!” (Miller 130). Reverend Hale was one of the first people to believe in witchcraft, he was also one of the first people to understand there is nothing like witchcraft actually happening. He knows what is happening in Salem is wrong and that people are being hung for something they never actually did. Hale is following his morals by trying to do the right thing and try to stop people from dying. People will do anything that they can to try to stop things from happening that they believe not to be the right thing. On the

John Proctor, at the very end of the play, was one of the characters to show his personal integrity. He knows that if he admits to witchcraft, that he would have to live the rest of his life knowing he lied. “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on my feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Miller 143). During Act IV, Proctor was tried in court for witchcraft. He had already told Danforth his confession, but then Danforth asked him to sign his name to the confession. John Proctor knew that if he did, his name would be ruined. He knows that this confession takes away his name, and that he would have to live with that lie the rest of his life. In order to show personal integrity, one mustn’t tell a lie just to be able to live as it would make people feel guilty about something they didn’t do. At the very end of the play, John Proctor was to be hanged for witchcraft, as he did not sign to something he did not do. Reverend Hale wants his wife, Elizabeth Proctor, to help John. She says, “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” (Miller 145). Elizabeth knows now that John will die telling the truth. If she goes to help him, she knows he would live with the guilt of the lie the rest of his life.