Fear is the belief that someone or something is dangerous likely to cause pain or a threat. American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world,” meaning that fear is very powerful and makes you make decisions you normally wouldn't make. Two characters that had to respond with fear in their sites are Abigail Williams and John Proctor. Abigail Williams and John Proctor were both set to respond to fear with decisions that they normally wouldn't make leading to the consequences they didn't expect. In The crucible, Abigail Williams was one of the initial accusers in the Salem witch trials leading to the arrests and imprisonments of hundreds of innocent people. After being seen dancing
…show more content…
His character is made to look like Jesus because he was such a good man. He was a farmer and tavern keeper. His only mistake he made was an affair with Abigail. Proctor was driven by fear because he didn't want to put a bad reputation on his name. This is shown by him refusing to sign the written confession. 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 my feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name” (Miller, 133). Reacting in fear, he doesn't want to ruin his family's name because they would take land and such away from him. Just as Proctor signs the paper he snatches the paper back up in fear and says, “I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough” (Miller, 142)! John Proctor being a religious man broke one of the ten commandments, “thou shalt not commit adultery.” Thus leading him to fear to be labeled an adulter. He even tells Abigail, “Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby” (Miller, 23). He eventually admits to the affair because he wants his wife to be
His character is made to look like Jesus because he was such a good man. He was a farmer and tavern keeper. His only mistake he made was an affair with Abigail. Proctor was driven by fear because he didn't want to put a bad reputation on his name. This is shown by him refusing to sign the written confession. 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 my feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name” (Miller, 133). Reacting in fear, he doesn't want to ruin his family's name because they would take land and such away from him. Just as Proctor signs the paper he snatches the paper back up in fear and says, “I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough” (Miller, 142)! John Proctor being a religious man broke one of the ten commandments, “thou shalt not commit adultery.” Thus leading him to fear to be labeled an adulter. He even tells Abigail, “Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby” (Miller, 23). He eventually admits to the affair because he wants his wife to be