The Salem Witch Trials In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

In the novel the Crucible, by Arthur Miller, the small town of Salem, Massachusetts wreaked havoc on those who were thought to have practiced witchcraft. The year 1692 was a bad one for the strict and Puritan town. More than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft and 20 were executed. Though not all characters in this novel were based on a single person, each portrayed the lives of many during the horrific trials. The story of John Proctor, one of the main characters in the Crucible, was dealt a bad hand and went through a torturous trial just to have a fatal outcome.He had a difficult choice which depended on his fellow prisoners, his wife, and to himself. Proctor finally decided to die a martyr and honorably with his friends, rather

John, eight months prior to the witchcraft trials, decided to have an affair with Abigail Williams, niece of Reverend Parris, who worked as a servant in the Proctor household at the time, though he had a wife and children. The affair did not reach the ear of the people amongst the town, but after his wife had found out that he had committed adultery she kicked Abigail out of their home. John, then confessed and begged for forgiveness from his wife, Elizabeth. During the trials Abigail had confronted John in attempts to seduce him again, but he constantly rejected her advances. After he had denied her, she accused Elizabeth, John's wife, of witchcraft for her revenge.
Furthermore, the courts believed Abigail was removed from the Proctor residence because she knew too much about Elizabeth's witchcraft. In order to clear up the story John confessed to the court of his adultery. John exclaimed that Elizabeth was such great woman that she has never lied. With that in mind, the judges call her in and question her without knowing of her husband's confession. In attempt to preserve her husband’s name, Elizabeth lied and said she wasn’t content with Abigail’s services, although she is unaware of his confession. As a result, Elizabeth was condemned to

He then began accusing Abigail on lying about everything and asks Mary Warren to back him on what he was explaining. Mary Warren then breaks down and accuses Proctor of bewitching her, of making her sign her name in the Devil’s book.He went on to admit it to the entire court and audience in attempt of saving his wife and his own life. Throughout his confessions, he admitted to everything and tried to eliminate all the other accusations from the 400 accused. By then, John had only two options. One option was to sign a contract, that stated his confession about being a witch. His other option would be to get hanged. Johnl, at first attempted to falsely confess about being a witch in order to save his life, but after being told that a paper which was to be posted on the church door for everyone to see he decided that the humiliation was not worth it.
At first, John did not know what to do considering that he wanted to save his own life to have a second chance with his wife. He also needed to keep in mind that he would help the others who were accused. In trying to decide, John continuously asked his spouse to help him decide his destiny. She said she would not judge him. John then tells her that he knows he's not a good person, but if got hung without confessing, then he would consider himself a good man. He mostly wanted Elizabeth’s forgiveness. She wouldn't tell him directly that she forgave him,