The characters in The Crucible were once real people and not just a part of a fictional story. Miller uses John Proctor as the main character in the play as he is the Miller hero in the situation that matters to Miller himself. John Proctor is a straightforward and decisive man who has been unfaithful to his devoted wife Elizabeth. However, Miller doesn’t put John Proctor down for this. It is possible to tell that Proctor feels guilty for his actions and has attempted to put this behind him before the beginning of the play and his attitude towards Elizabeth backs this up because he appears to show remorse for his actions. It would also appear that Proctors relationship with Elizabeth is rather patchy at times and it appears obvious that he is always trying to stay on good terms with her I can back this up with evidence because at the beginning of act two it mentions that John Proctor tastes the soup that Elizabeth is preparing for him and he isn’t quite pleased with it so he adds a pinch of salt to whilst Elizabeth is out the room, and when Elizabeth serves it to him, he comments on its taste by saying “ It’s well seasoned” and Elizabeth replies “ I took great care” (whilst blushing with pleasure). Although it would appear that John is trying to stay on good terms with Elizabeth, he does make a remark on his relationship and how it is patchy, I think this because he says “ It’s still winter in here yet”, now although he is indicating that it is actually winter in the area, he is also indicating the relationship that he has with Elizabeth is still cold. This indicates to me that John Proctor is a stubborn man given no speaking his mind yet he is capable of tenderness, especially to women. John Proctors language throughout the play is simple, direct, and colloquial; its dullness occasionally livened by a hint of humour yet his language is capable of effectiveness and courageousness against his oppressors.
Elizabeth Proctor is less complex than John yet she is still more than a mere embodiment of goodness. She is gentle, devoted to her husband and children even though the children don’t need to be brought into the play to show this, as it is obvious that she cares for them because in the very beginning of act two, when Miller explains John Proctor arriving home, he indicates the fact that Elizabeth can be heard singing softly to the children, possibly to get them off to sleep. She is well spoken her mind and tends to give a good quality of advice to her social superiors and her husband John in times of seriousness, like in act two when John and Elizabeth appear to be having an argument over the mentioning of Abigail Williams in the Proctor household and Elizabeth says “ I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you but a good man, John- only somewhat bewildered”. This indicates that she meant no harm by reminiscing on the time when John Proctor admitted to his affair with Abigail and that she cannot judge John for his actions and that she only tries to see the goodness within him.
Abigail Williams is the niece of Reverend Parris and was the woman who stole John Proctors heart for that one night of passion. A sensual adolescent, she has been flattered by John Proctor’s attention and offended by their cessation. Her attitude towards Elizabeth is not a pleasing one and could be said that she despises Elizabeth due to her lust for John Proctor. Abigail often tells John Proctor things that may make him remember that night he had with Abigail and causes him to become hot under the collar, she says things such as “ John, I am waiting for you every night” however, John Proctor tends to enclose the situation by replying with “ Abby, I never give you hope to wait for me”. This may be an attempt by John Proctor to dishearten Abigail but most probably to no avail. Proctors attitude towards her makes it clear that we are here to see her as divided, Proctor is moved to pity at her confusion yet he is still determined to expose her for her false accusation of accusing John Proctor of associating with Satan. The Abigail that remains towards the end of the play is convincingly human and yet a frightening character but her disappearance from the play after act three is an indication of Millers unwillingness to make her as crucial a character as he first intended.
A crucible is a pot in which metals are melted down, usually in order to purify them by separating out baser elements that have become mixed with them. Using this as the title, Miller implies a concern with a process of purging by fire. This is a familiar metaphor for mans spiritual improvement as a result to a period of great strain and temptation, thus it identifies the spiritual development of John Proctor as the plays central theme.
