Arthur Miller’s drama, The Crucible, depicts characters with great internal struggles. The Puritan society where the drama is set is based upon a rigid social and religious system. As such, citizens often struggle to reconcile social and religious expectations. This is amplified during times of real conflict. For example, Proctor and Hale struggle with their reputations and morals throughout the trials depicted in the play. Proctor struggles with whether he should tell to judgment about his affair with Abigail. Indeed, he does not only want to keep his reputation but also wants to protect his wife Elizabeth. Proctor also decides to die because he surely wants to keep his soul clean and pure. He does not want to die for lying anymore. That
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Although he is put to death, he still chooses what is right. His reputation will be destroyed after confessing his affair with Abigail and he also will be killed by the court anyway; therefore he does not want to lie anymore. He is ready to die for justice. John renounces his reputation in order to abide his morals. He tries to protect the people by manipulating to sign the paper, which demonstrates for their innocent sins. He does not feel he is good enough to die with those who have integrity before. He feels guilty for what he has done, so he does not want to be a fraud anymore. His decision is to confess to the court with a demand that cannot public his confession. It is impossible to the people see him betray his friend and be the liar by signing a confession. He struggles with himself to rip the confession up after singing it because his soul does not allow him to ruin his friend and his own name. John says that God does know his confession will be enough for the court. John says, “I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor” (Miller 133). He ultimately realizes that he wants to maintain his good reputation and might not be a liar. Thus, he chooses death to protect his reputation and bring no shame upon his conscience. Hence, in his inner turmoil, he prefers morals to reputation to demonstrate his conscience. Conversely, in this play, Hale chooses what is right by convincing the people to lie about witchcraft and save their lives as well as he can build his reputation up in
Although he is put to death, he still chooses what is right. His reputation will be destroyed after confessing his affair with Abigail and he also will be killed by the court anyway; therefore he does not want to lie anymore. He is ready to die for justice. John renounces his reputation in order to abide his morals. He tries to protect the people by manipulating to sign the paper, which demonstrates for their innocent sins. He does not feel he is good enough to die with those who have integrity before. He feels guilty for what he has done, so he does not want to be a fraud anymore. His decision is to confess to the court with a demand that cannot public his confession. It is impossible to the people see him betray his friend and be the liar by signing a confession. He struggles with himself to rip the confession up after singing it because his soul does not allow him to ruin his friend and his own name. John says that God does know his confession will be enough for the court. John says, “I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor” (Miller 133). He ultimately realizes that he wants to maintain his good reputation and might not be a liar. Thus, he chooses death to protect his reputation and bring no shame upon his conscience. Hence, in his inner turmoil, he prefers morals to reputation to demonstrate his conscience. Conversely, in this play, Hale chooses what is right by convincing the people to lie about witchcraft and save their lives as well as he can build his reputation up in