The Crucible Take Home Test 10-23-09 B8

In Arthur Millers Drama, the Crucible, the protagonist, John Proctor is involved in many crises. He is caught in an affair with a much younger girl, and after John goes back to his wife, the young girl accuses her of witchcraft, John fights for her, but it is useless after he himself is accused. All of the drama in Johns life puts him under extreme pressure, and eventually change him. John Proctors sin, and relationship with Abigail determined his fate, and changed his personality through his immense guilt. In the beginning of the play, John is introduced as the strong, respectable, and reasonable voice of Salem. We find out that he has committed adultery with a girl about fifteen years his junior. He denies their previous relationship, But I will cut off my hand before Ill ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby (Miller 22) and tries to focus purely on his relationship with his wife, but his efforts are suppressed by Abigail who is persistent, and most often gets her way through her intimidating manner. Abigail will do anything to have John as her own. She starts by accusing his wife, Elizabeth, of witchcraft. After the accusations against his wife, the faltering of Johns confidence, and good nature, he has begun to crack under the pressure. When being questioned of his wife and his religious habits, he is unable to recite one of the Ten Commandments Adultery, John (Miller 64). In Jonathan Edwards essay, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Edwards states that

people are guilt in the mean time is constantly increasing (Edwards 4), which is the reason for Proctors inability to recite the sin adultery which is the largest sin he has committed. When John committed adultery, he was asking for trouble. John becomes maniacal and is beginning to see his fate, God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together! (Miller 111). Johns guilt is slowly getting to his head, whilst Abigail is pushing harder for vengeance. This goes along with Edwards theory, Your guilt in the mean time is constantly increasing, and you are every day treasuring up more wrath (Edwards 4). Abigail finally resorts to accusing John himself of witchcraft. Johns personality may have changed, but he still owns his pride. Though he was falsely accused by a girl who was acting out for revenge, John refuses to properly confess to witchcraft, he would rather die than lie. John Proctor, who was the voice of pride and strength in the play, was cursed by a moment of passion. His sin, and lust for Abigail decided his fate. After his sin was committed, he refused to return the feelings that Abigail had so tragically given him. Abigail then became obsessed with revenge, so obsessed; she put his live in danger. As time went on guilt and vengeance grew, ultimately leading to the death of John. Word Count: 493