How Does John Proctor Tell The Truth In The Crucible

Vladimir Lenin once said “A lie told often enough becomes the truth.” When we as human beings lie enough, we start to convince ourselves that the tale is true. Author Miller wrote a play called The Crucible where he introduces us to characters going through tribulations, intwining themselves in a web of lies. Many of them are bombarded with words that make them convict themselves of things they did not do. When asked “are you a witch” if the answer was not “yes sir, but I want to come to God now” then they were to be killed. Through out the story the author proves that the truth does not always bring freedom by showing us John Proctor, Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris and Mary Warren. In The Crucible, John Proctor discovers that the truth

Reverend Parris was having a conversation with Abigail about what happened in the forest. He was very confused about the answers he was getting from Abigail, and if they were true why was Betty still asleep? Parris told her that if she did not tell the whole truth he could not go and disclaim the accusations of witchcraft if he did not have all of the truth. She replied by saying “We did dance, uncle, and when you leaped out of the bush so suddenly, Betty was frightened and then she fainted. And there’s the whole of it. ( I. 69-71). If she were to tell everything it would lead to death, and she knew if she just simply told half of the truth it would only end in a whipping. In conclusion, abigail had to lie to her uncle to protect herself from being thrown into jail. All throughout the story of the crucible Reverend Paris is so overly self-conscious about his reputation he only cares if his version of his truth sets him free. During the court he would always butt into conversations and push them into the direction that he wanted, by saying things like “They’ve come to overthrow the court, sir!” (III. 156) which would throw the whole court into a tizzy and direct any type of accusation towards him in a opposite direction. Parris needs has to always be on his toes and wonder if the lie he told is going to get him through the rough patch known as the salem