The Crucible And Doubt: Character Analysis

Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, and John Patrick Shanley’s, Doubt, possess similar character struggles which ultimately decides the leading character’s fate. John Proctor, from The Crucible and Father Flynn, from Doubt, face struggles with fears and doubts which are caused by gossip ultimately having their reputation potentially ruined in their respective society. Sister Aloysius doubts Father Flynn’s innocence by questioning his motives from gossip which eventually damaged his reputation. She begins to doubt him when she beings to think that “Father Flynn gave Donald that altar wine” (Shanley) and in doing so, Father Flynn’s reputation will worsen creating fear in Father Flynn. This example is again seen in The Crucible when John Proctor wanted society to “leave [his] name” (281) before his reputation is ruined. The characters want to preserve their reputation as having a good reputation in society is …show more content…
In The Crucible, it is seen that characters, such as Tituba, acts for her own benefit because of fear. Tituba is accused of being a witch when she replies "No, no, sir, I don't talk with no devil!” (3). The fear of what could happen to her becomes a reason to protect herself from what could happen. In Doubt, Sister Aloysius tried to reach the truth behind Father Flynn’s motives by lying stating that “if he'd had no such history, the lie wouldn't have worked” (Shanley). Father Flynn’s fear of being caught because of his past makes him take a step to protect his reputation in the long run by quitting the church. Having fear, which is caused by gossip, makes characters change how they act to protect their reputation. In conclusion, the leading characters in The Crucible, and Doubt were greatly influenced by the gossip which causes doubt and having the fear of losing the good reputation in their