Does Miller's presentation of Proctor make the ending of 'The Crucible' inevitable?
Does Miller's presentation of Proctor make the ending of 'The Crucible' inevitable?
'The Crucible' was written in 1953 by the American playwright, Arthur Miller. It is a historical play, which takes place in the small theocratical Puritan village of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. However, Miller wrote the 'The Crucible' not just as a straight historical play detailing the Salem witch trials; the play in fact acts as a political allegory based on the situation in America during the Cold War in which Miller wrote the play. The allegorical story relates back to the Salem witchcraft trials and connects them to their contemporary equivalent in Miller's time, the McCarthy trials. Just as the people in Salem believed that witchcraft threatens their village, many Americans during this time saw Communism as a threat too. Arthur Miller himself was called in front of the committee, when he refused to give the names of friends who might have believed in Communism he was fined for contempt of court. The political 'witch hunt' of McCarthyism becomes clear in Miller's play, which was written to illustrate how fear and hysteria mixed with an atmosphere of persecution may end tragically. The Salem witch trials took place from June to September of 1692, during which time nineteen men and women were hanged, including a man named John Proctor, at Gallows Hill near Salem, while another man was pressed to death. Hundreds of other people were accused of witchcraft and many more suffered in jail without trials. The tragedy shows how over imaginative minds can lead to disastrously unjust consequences and represents the village as a paradox as usually Puritans were extremely religious and never committed sins as like as those that went on during the time of the witch-hunt.
The actual word, 'crucible', has a few meanings. It can be a container which is able to resist heat; a melting pot, this could be a pot in which all of the characters in the play melt into individuals. It also has a connection with witches, as this melting pot could symbolise a cauldron. It can be the hollow at the bottom of an ore furnace, representing the hollowness and dishonesty of the villagers in Salem. As a result, the title does not immediately make the audience believe that John Proctor's death be inevitable as the villagers of Salem are represented as being hollow and shallow so are expected to willingly admit to witchcraft if it means that their lives will be spared. To reinforce the theme of religion, the word 'crucible' can mean the bearing of a cross, which relates to a crucifix.
In the Act, the importance of religion is immediately introduced as John Proctor is illustrated as being a very sinful man as it is revealed that he has not been at Sabbath recently, this was a serious issue as religion was so important to the Puritan society and he is therefore suspected of witchcraft. Proctor claims that there is no need to go to church, for he feels Reverend Parris is too obsessed with hell and never mentions God anymore. Parris warns that there must be obedience or the 'church will burn like Hell', but Proctor asks if he can speak one minute without mentioning Hell. This expresses how deeply religious Proctor is and also gives a glimpse of goodness in him as he cares for his family as he says 'I never knew that I must account to that man for I come to church or stay at home. My wife was sick this winter'. This also shows that Proctor is an individual, as he does not go with the majority of the village by not working on the Sabbath day. He despises hypocrites; 'he had a sharp and biting way with hypocrites', and even seems to hate the hypocrisy of religion even though he had a deep spiritual belief in God.
John Proctor is introduced as being harsh, unkind, and extremely powerful. This does not make his death foreseeable, as he seems to be an obvious sinner. His insensitive nature is shown in the way that other members of the village of Salem are scared of him, 'afraid of him and strangely titillated', and more importantly it is expressed by the heartless treatment he gives Abigail Williams, a former servant of his family. Proctor patronises her by calling her a 'child' and as Abby is relatively unknown at this point, we can relate to her as she is a around our age. Abby is obviously deeply in love with him as she is extremely flirtatious and speaks affectionately and to him; 'tauntingly', but Proctor is numb and aggressive towards her, this is shown in his actions; 'setting her firmly out of his path', 'beginning to anger', 'do you look for a whipping?' and 'shaking her'. This makes the audience disrespect him and empathise with her. Abby talks of the affair she had with Proctor, it is this affair that seems to be the catalyst to the witchcraft accusations, as it seems to be the reason why Abigail starts condemning people of witchery and the key element that starts the witch hunt. She is very sensual and tries to seduce him by saying 'I am waiting for you every night' but he just states that he will 'cut off his hand before he will ever reach for her again'. His dismissive actions further create the audience's disgust towards him and make the audience sympathise with Abby, as she appears to be a victim, 'John, pity me, pity me'. However at this point in the play, Proctor's true personality has been hidden beneath the outer appearance of a cruel, immoral, insensitive man which does not make the audience believe that his death will be inevitable as when faced with the accusations of witchcraft, the audience feel that he would easily admit to them if it would result in him preserving his life.
Miller further continues the feeling of contempt towards John Proctor in the following Act through Elizabeth Proctor's despair. Instantly we can see the tension and strain is the Proctor marriage as when her husband returns home late after a long day planting in the fields, Elizabeth is intensely suspicious of him. This tension is reinforced when the couple sit down for dinner as she uses a patronising tone with him and he secretly insults her by adding more seasoning to the soup she has made when she is not in the room, this is a metaphor showing how ...
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Miller further continues the feeling of contempt towards John Proctor in the following Act through Elizabeth Proctor's despair. Instantly we can see the tension and strain is the Proctor marriage as when her husband returns home late after a long day planting in the fields, Elizabeth is intensely suspicious of him. This tension is reinforced when the couple sit down for dinner as she uses a patronising tone with him and he secretly insults her by adding more seasoning to the soup she has made when she is not in the room, this is a metaphor showing how their marriage has grown bland and tasteless. This underlying tension between them is undoubtedly caused by Proctor's affair with Abigail. When Elizabeth informs him that Mary Warren, their servant, had been in court that day as an official of the witchcraft trials, Proctor tells her how he knows the witchcraft accusations are all false as Abby told him when he was with her last week. Elizabeth is disturbed that the two were alone together, but Proctor tells her 'I'll not have your suspicion anymore'. He shouts at her with a 'violent undertone' to 'learn charity', as he has 'tiptoed around the house for seven months' since Abigail left. He tells his wife that he has honestly confessed to his sin and tells her that her 'justice would freeze beer'. This represents him as being an uncaring man as his wife is obviously in distress and we feel sorry for Elizabeth as he is shouting at her and telling her that she is a cold woman when it is he who has been in the wrong when he had his affair with Abby. His callous way makes the audience assume that he will later not be hanged as it is thought that he will not care about admitting to witchcraft, and therefore sacrifice his family name for his life.
However, this act also allows the audience to first see how Proctor is not all an evil man through his deep, utter regret, his guilt and his constant desire to cleanse himself of his previous sinful activities with Abigail. It is this break down that helps so show Proctor as no longer being wicked, but rather as being weak and pitiful. As a result, Miller represents Proctor as humanity, as he is someone who is at the same time strong and weak, someone who has made mistakes but who has the sense to learn from them, therefore becoming a better person. The inevitability of his death therefore starts to show, as his true character is honest. The audience further start to have some second thoughts about Proctor's first cold hearted appearance in the way that Elizabeth seems to be a cold and demanding woman and Elizabeth herself believes that her chilly behaviour may have driven her husband to adultery. She is also withdrawn and distant, this has gradually given her home a silent and insecure atmosphere, and as she continues to punish her husband for his sin, their marriage becomes increasingly tenser.
The tension continues to build when Mary Warren then enters, as she informs Proctor and Elizabeth of the many people that have been arrested and how some people will hang. She hands Elizabeth a poppet that she made in court that day, 'I made a gift for you today, Goody Proctor' and claims that Sarah Osburn sent her spirit out in court to get them, this shows how easily Abby influenced her and the increasing power Abby is getting as the girls are willing to do whatever she orders them to do. Proctor can not believe the power Abby seems to have over the girls at court and demands evidence of witchcraft from Mary Warren and forbids her to go to court again but she replies that she is 'amazed you do not see the weighty work we do' but he threatens her with a whip, 'strangely she does not resist him'. This shows how although Proctor can use his strength and power to his advantage, he can also use it in a negative way. It also illustrates how Abby is gaining increasingly more power as even the girls themselves are starting to believe that there is witchcraft. Mary claims that she saved Elizabeth's life today, for she was accused. Elizabeth then realises that Abigail wants to kill her, 'she wants me dead, John, you know it'. Proctor underestimates Abby, as he never once thought that she would be as wicked or malicious as to accuse Elizabeth of witchery, as Elizabeth is such a good, honest woman who strongly believes in justice and sticking to moral principles. Elizabeth is a well-respected and dignified woman and to accuse her shows that Abigail must strongly hate her as it was dangerous to accuse such a honourable, devout Christian woman of sinful activities when she has such strong religious beliefs.
The religious beliefs of Elizabeth and her husband are later questioned when Hale arrives at their house, 'I thought sir, to put some questions as to the Christian character of this house'. Proctor tries to explain why he works on a Sabbath and has not to been to church as often, he criticises Parris and claims that he spends the church's money wasteful. Hale asks why only two of Proctor's children are baptized and asks him to say the Ten Commandments but he can only remember nine of the ten, Elizabeth instantly gives him a sharp and bitter reminder of the tenth, adultery. This is ironic as he broke this commandment when he had his affair with Abby. Proctor obviously knows how foolish he was to be unfaithful and now feels very guilty, this is shown in his constant desire to forget about his sins, and when Elizabeth reminds him, it is 'as though a secret arrow had pained his heart'. When Proctor tries to tell Hale that witchcraft accusations are not true he does not believe him as he feels that many have confessed to witchcraft. It is here that the hypocrisy of the witchcraft hysteria is exposed as the only way for people to save themselves from hanging was to admit to witchcraft, this sent the witchcraft trials off in a vicious spiral as people would definitely confess to witchery and accuse others, if they would be hanged for denying it. This makes the audience consider if Proctor would confess to witchcraft like the majority of the village to save his life as although he has been represented as not being totally religious by not going to church all the time like the rest of the community, he has given good, moral reasons for not attending.
Some of Proctor's qualities are also helped to be further expressed in Elizabeth's arrest on the charge that her spirit stabbed Abigail with a needle, 'stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly he drew a needle out'. He says that he will 'not give his wife to vengeance' and when Reverend Hale insists that the court is just, Proctor calls him a 'Pontius Pilate'. His deep passion and love for his wife mounts along with his anger against the charge and how he is willing to fight for what is right and moral is also expressed. This also shows how Proctor misjudged Abigail as is actually more cunning than he first thought, this seems to show how Proctor sees some good in everybody as he thought she was better than that. The poppet shows that Abigail is yet more wicked, it illustrates how she is jealous and envious of Elizabeth because John loves her so much and also shows how she is determined, unscrupulous, cold and scheming. In the first act, she behaved just in her own interests; she was ready to harm others, but only to save herself. However, in this instance she frames Elizabeth on purpose out of revenge, planting the poppet to murder her.
When Elizabeth is taken away, Proctor demands that Mary Warren come to court with him, he uses his intelligence as he knows that he can use Mary to his advantage by making her give evidence against the charges of witchcraft and therefore to prove Elizabeth's innocence. However, Miller adds irony here as Proctor can rely on one single person to save them from Abigail's charges but this one person, Mary Warren, is one of the weakest characters in 'The Crucible'. She alone has the power to stop the hysteria of the witchcraft trials, but does not have the strength or will to do it. Mary needs a lot of force from Proctor to even think about coming clean about the lie in court and as Proctor uses one of his qualities, power, as he is demanding her to give evidence against Abby. She sobs 'I cannot, I cannot' but Proctor further expresses his love for his wife as he cries that his 'wife will not die for him'. His morals and principles allow the audience to believe that his death will be inescapable.
Act Three continues to defend Proctor by focusing on his good points. He enters the court in a powerful manner, presenting a piece of paper signed by Mary Warren saying that the accusations of witchery are false. This shows how he is a natural leader but this quality causes friction between him and Parris. This is revealed as Parris takes the evidence from Proctor as an attack on the court, and even as an attack on him, further, it illustrates how Parris is paranoid and foolish. When Proctor is told that his wife is pregnant by Danforth; although Proctor did not know if it is true or not, he tells everyone in the court that Elizabeth never lies so he believes it, this shows that even thought Elizabeth is often cold towards him, he still deeply loves and trusts her.
When Abigail starts to pretend that she can feel a sharp cold wind, 'a wind, a cold wind has come', Proctor calls her a 'whore' and grabs her by the hair, finally admitting that he had an affair with her, he cries 'I have known her sir, I have known her'. This again shows how Proctor's energy and strength can be used negatively. However, he also illustrates deep shame and regret for his unfaithfulness but lets all of the truth be known even if it does mean that he will be charged and the once totally respected member of the community will have a dint in his reputation. He lets all the truth be known as he knows that many innocent people are dying for stupid reasons, this expresses how Proctor supports the theme of truth and justice. It also conveys how Proctor will not lie to defend himself, therefore portraying the idea that he will not later admit to witchcraft to save his own life, therefore expressing how his death may be inevitable. This scene is very ironic as to prove that he is innocent and to show that he is now faithful to his wife, Proctor has to openly tell everyone in the court about his affair. To save Elizabeth and to stop himself from being accused of witchcraft, he has to blacken his name. Even with this sin, Proctor is still shown as a martyr, as he sacrifices his good reputation in Salem, where public reputation is very important, in order to save his wife and others who have been accused of witchcraft even though they are innocent. His great belief in justice helps the audience to believe that his death will be unavoidable as it expresses how he will not carry on the accusations, which will undoubtedly cause many more unjustified deaths, and therefore his life will be lost to save other people.
The inevitability of Proctor's death is reinforced when Danforth orders Elizabeth to the court. Elizabeth must admit to firing Abigail for having an affair with her husband, so that Abby can be charged with murder but instead she says that she fired Abigail because she thought that her husband fancied her and therefore tells the court that Proctor never committed adultery. She did this because she thought she was protecting her husband, which expresses the deep loves between them but somehow dooms her husband as he is then charged and the audience still feel he will not lie to save himself. Elizabeth denying her husband's affair is also ironic as to save him from accusations of witchcraft, she has to condemn him for adultery. Miller has already shown she is an honest woman who never lies, but at the time where her honesty is needed the most she chooses to lie. Proctor cries out for Elizabeth to tell the truth because he has already confessed, but Danforth orders Elizabeth to leave. This shows her strength of character and how she really cares for her husband, as she is only willing to lie for loved ones and not to save her own skin.
John Proctor also has an extremely strong and sensible character as is easily aware of the foolishness and wickedness. He is aware of the stupidity of the witchcraft trials and also aware of how wicked Abigail is. Abigail's simple, vengeful, malicious motives are easily seen by the audience and the Proctors but are difficult for the other members of Salem to see. For that reason and many others, John Proctor is an extremely well respected, influential member of the village; he is a 'good example'. Proctor is the voice of reason and justice in 'The Crucible'. He is a good man but because of his affair with Abigail Williams, he questions whether or not he is a moral man, yet this major sin is the only big fault he has had. Miller places John Proctor as the main protagonist of the play, as he is the main moral character. He is a rational man with a rough manner who seems not to care about expressing his own true opinion. Miller portrays Proctor as quite a modern man, who is not superstitious and shows that he has doubt in some of the aspects of orthodox religion, mainly he hates Parris' hypocritical fascination with hell. He symbolises humanity in the play, he is someone who has made mistakes and learned from them, this draws the audience's sympathy to him, even if he is a sinner who has had an affair. The true character of Proctor that Miller portrays towards the end of 'The Crucible' hardly seems capable of giving in to lust for a controlling, wicked young girl like Abigail.
Abigail's wickedness is revealed in further depth when she dramatically claims that Mary Warren's spirit is attacking her as a bird, trying to hurt her. Even when Mary Warren begins to cry she continues expresses just how cruel and heartless she is. The trials started because so many people were breaking the orthodox rules of the puritan religion and sinning but Abby sins so easily and breaks the Ten Commandments by lying, in this way she can use religion to her advantage. Abby is such a deceptive hypocrite, just the type of person Proctor hates most which seems to make it unbelievable that Proctor ever got mixed up with her.
Proctor mistakenly overestimated Mary Warren as he underestimated Abigail as he felt that Mary Warren was strong enough to not give in to the spiteful treatment from Abby. He was wrong as even when Mary Warren tries to tell the court that the girls are lying, she soon breaks down and tells Danforth that Proctor is the 'Devil's man', and that he made her sign the 'Devil's book' and made her try to overthrow the court. He strongly believes in justice and cries out that 'God is dead' and that 'a fire is burning in Hell' because the court is 'pulling Heaven down' and 'raising up a whore'. This expresses his care for truth, integrity, and most importantly God.
The court officials feel terribly guilty after Proctor has been taken away as they know that he strongly cares for the truth and now know that the accusations of witchcraft are all lies, as a result of these lies an innocent man's life may end. They ask Elizabeth to plea with him and ask him to reconsider admitting to witchcraft so his life will therefore be spared, expressing the great respect outsiders from the claustrophobic village of Salem have for him, which was very unusual as the society was so close and confined. When he is brought in to see his wife; he looks filthy and pitiful and has suffered a lot, including being tortured. This expresses his strength and willing to do what is moral and just. He does not talk about the pain and persecution he has suffered and asks about Elizabeth's pregnancy and the boys which shows how he puts his family before himself and how much he deeply cares for them as he is willing to go through so much for them. The key test for Proctor is if he will allow himself to suffer yet more pain for the cause of justice or if he will choose to save himself. It is considered if it is a worse to lie to save yourself or if it is worse to tell the truth even if it leads to your death. Miller shows that Proctor can choose to face his death for his pride and his beliefs, as it is not a question only of his reputation, but it also about the reputation of his family. He feels he could not be a good father to his children if he gave up his name to save himself so easily. He does not wish to admit to witchcraft as he wants to hold up the family name, he is such a well respected man and he wants to keep that respect by doing what is right and not continuing the accusations which have caused so much misery already. He asks Elizabeth what she would think if he confessed to witchcraft, but Elizabeth says that she cannot judge him. She says that she will have him do what he wishes, but she does want him alive. He says that he 'cannot mount the gibbet as a saint'; for it would be a 'fraud' but she says that she has her own sins, for only a 'cold wife' would let her husband have an affair. This shows how brave both of them are as they know the consequences of not admitting to the accusations and illustrates just how much Proctor cares about, not only his, but his family's name. Proctors concern about upholding the family name is emphasised more when Proctor finally says that he will confess to witchery, as he asks Elizabeth once again if what he is doing is evil but she answers that she cannot judge. Proctor's strength and bravery lead to the conclusion that he is strong enough to face his own death by not admitting to witchcraft. His great indecisiveness and hesitation in admitting to the charge also further helps to create the audiences belief in his inevitable death.
However, Proctor's hesitancy gives a false sense of hope to the audience as it is believed that such a good, decent man's life will not end because of the wickedness of one young girl. Nevertheless, tension is added and the audience return to feeling that John Proctor's death will be inevitable as when the court officials demand a written confession, he demands to know why he must sign. They want him to sign to show the people in the rest of the village, who will not confess, what they should do and to prove the purity of his soul to others. This shows how the rest of the village looks up to and respects him, 'it's a weighty name; it will strike the village that Proctor confess'. However, he is an extremely proud man, 'I have given you my soul, now leave me my name'. He feels that he has confessed to God and that that is enough, further expressing his faith in God. The officials also ask him to say that he saw other people with the devil therefore accusing them of witchery. He wants to know if his regret must be public and asks how he can teach his children to walk like men if he has sold his friends. Proctor wishes to keep only his name for the respectability of his children and consequently Danforth refuses to accept his confession and orders that he is to be hanged. He will not even lie to save his life even though he knows his death will not be justified. Elizabeth is begged to plead with Proctor to sign a confession, but Elizabeth states that Proctor has 'his goodness now', and 'God forbid that she take it from him' showing her great self-control and willpower.
Elizabeth shows the sense to do what is right and wrong but by doing this Proctor is faced with the dilemma of accepting his own death, causing bringing shame on his family name even though everyone around him wants him to stay alive. Elizabeth is finally shown not to be a cold woman; she refuses to try to influence her husband and even admits her faults, accepting some bit of the blame for her husband's affair. It shows that she can overcome her problems as she does not run and leave her husband when she discovered the affair. She is also quite fragile here showing the strong emotions and clear compassion she has towards her husband. Elizabeth shows great strength of mind and generally as a person. She eventually forgives him for the sins he has committed and knows that he is now faithful as he is willing to give so much up for her. She is extremely strong as she lets her husband do what is right even if it means she will never see him again. She also shows strength and bravery as her execution is left looming for another year until after she has given birth to her baby and will never get to see the child grow up.
Miller emphasises Proctor's strength and courage in the way he presents Proctor as a martyr as he died for the cause of justice and for what is right. His bravery and courage in the event of his death lets his amazing strength of character show and creates not only the audiences' respect for him but also the respect of the villagers of Salem. Even outsiders of the village such as Hale and Danforth have admiration for him, as he is willing to give his life for the cause of justice. He is extremely emotional and is extremely concerned about holding up the respect of the family name and reputation, both illustrate his deep love for his wife, 'you are a marvel, Elizabeth' and his love for his children. He also knows he will never even get to see his baby grow up. These strong characteristics of his personality make his death and the ending of the play unavoidable. This inevitability is clear, as there are certain aspects of his character that will not let him stand and let his name be disrespected and to go against his main beliefs and integrity. He does not believe in blackening his name for the sake of survival and overcomes adversity by not giving in to the pressures of society, which ultimately ends in death. It is this untimely death that cleanses him from all of his past sins and lets his once true, hidden character shine; the true character of a moral, honourable, well respected man.
Jenni Corcoran 10N
