Values In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Values are a staple in Human culture. Without values we simply cannot function as humans, whether or not the values are considered good or bad. In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, values between the individual characters are shown and portrayed in a clear manner. Not all characters are given good values though, which is evident through Reverend Parris. In life I was always taught that family comes first. Personally I would do just about anything for most of my family members as long as it meant that they got to be happy and comfortable. This is just something that I value more than any material object or possession. I feel that this set of values sort of relates to the character John Proctor’s set of values. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, John Proctor is portrayed as a man who would do just about anything to keep others from dying and to make his family feel safe. This is most evident in the fact that John Proctor, when “confessing”, said he saw nobody else with the devil. John Proctor in Act IV on lines 243-253 when being interrogated by Danforth says, “...No...No, I did not...I did not...I did not” (Miller). This shows that John Proctor has an iron will and a good sense of values

In Act IV on line 293 a beaten John Proctor says, “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 the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name” (Miller). This means that if John Proctor signs the confession his reputation will be ruined for him and his family, forever, and he doesn’t want to compromise his sons’ future. Also if John would have signed it he would’ve been casted out of society, so there really wouldn’t be a point to live after that point