External And Internal Conflicts In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

One character throughout “The Crucible” who constantly has these two forces tugging at them throughout the whole play is John Proctor. Since Proctor is a farmer living in Salem with his wife, Elizabeth, and his sons; he is a well respected member in his community. Being a very central character in the play, he is very concerned about his reputation in his society, therefore he faces these external and internal conflicts that ultimately causes his fate at the end of the play. By being pulled by his impulse to act upon self-interest and the desire to become a moral man. This envelops Miller's message that one must choose to make the right decision and not what is practical. One obvious example where Proctor’s desires to benefit his self-interest is his affair with Abigail Williams. In Act One, Proctor even admits that he “may think of [Abigail] softly from time to time” (Miller 23). Then he later slips up in the courtroom by admitting to committing lechery, …show more content…
At first, he is certain that his choice will be to confess as he tells Judge Hathorne before his hanging; “I want my life...I will have my life” (Miller 137). This leads to him saying that he has seen the Devil but his entire confession is being recorded on paper for all of Salem to see. When he decides to tear up his confession, it is still him acting out for his own self-interest instead of following his morals. Yet his action is justified since he when he recited the Ten Commandments in Act Two he claims, “Thou shalt not bear false witness” (Miller 67). Lying in court violates this commandments entirely, no matter how way you look at it, which is why Proctor decides to revoke his confession and demonstrates how his desire to be ethical man and his moral integrity has finally