The Crucible – Zaynab Zahra Choose a play in which there is a character important to the theme. Explain how this character effects the understanding of this theme. ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller is a play in which there is a character, John Proctor, who is important to the theme of reputation. Proctor, in the play faces a moral dilemma of whether to confess his sin of his relationship with Abigail Williams, or allow his wife and others accused of witchcraft, to die. Miller uses an allegory in this play, using Salem as a symbol of McCarthyism in 1950s America. In the exposition of the play, Abigail is introduced as manipulative and that her reputation is in danger. In Act One of the play, when speaking to Paris she states: There be no …show more content…
Now that his adultery with Abigail has been revealed to Mary Warren, Proctor appears somewhat relieved. John is less hesitant to confess his sin to the court and expects that by disclosing his mistake, he and his wife will be able to clear their name. Proctor is truly committed to his wife and the threat to her life is much greater than his reputation. John Proctor’s relationship with his wife reveals his morality and how much he values his reputation. Act Three is where we become more aware of the court’s participation in Proctor’s decisions and the severity of its ruling. When Mr Danforth questions Proctor on Elizabeth’s pregnancy he says: That women will never lie This statement made by Proctor is important, he claims that Elizabeth is a woman who always tells the truth. Proctor’s reputation and life is in the hands of Elizabeth because in this play there is ambiguity in the evidence that the court accepts. Miller foreshadows that later Elizabeth may be held by this statement and indeed her word is taken as fact. This shows the severity of the court as we see that the court has full control over what is considered the truth and as a result Proctor’s reputation is also controlled by the