Helen Keller once said, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through (an) experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” In literary works, the crucible can represent a hard test in a time of a severe trial. The author of The Crucible, Arthur Miller, ingeniously chose the word as the title of his play because several characters, Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Judge Danforth, experience very hard tests of character throughout the story. Even though many can argue every character goes through an extreme test, Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Judge Danforth go through the most difficult tests of character during the play, which ends up proving who they really
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In the third act of The Crucible, Danforth is the man who leads the trials. He refuses to accept the evidence which others bring that prove the children are wrongfully accusing others of witchcraft. “No, no, I accept no depositions… Do you know, Mr. Proctor, that the entire contention of the state in these trials is that the voice of Heaven is speaking through the children (Danforth; 88).” It is here that John bring a petition, signed by the citizens of Salem, saying that the accused are innocent. If Danforth had acted with honor, he would have accepted this evidence and would have even begun to question whether or not Abigail was lying. Instead, he took the easy way out, and continued on believing whatever accusation Abigail and her friends made. “You misunderstand, sir; I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. It is not just (Danforth; 129). In the final act of the play, Reverend Hale insists on Danforth pardoning those accused because Hale has realized Abigail has caused the death of many innocent people just to save her reputation. A person with a pure character would have at least allowed for this postponement. However, Judge Danforth also cares about his reputation, and doesn’t want to relieve these accusations because others have already died on the charges of the same crime. As a result, other victims of Abigail’s heartless crime, including John Proctor, are
In the third act of The Crucible, Danforth is the man who leads the trials. He refuses to accept the evidence which others bring that prove the children are wrongfully accusing others of witchcraft. “No, no, I accept no depositions… Do you know, Mr. Proctor, that the entire contention of the state in these trials is that the voice of Heaven is speaking through the children (Danforth; 88).” It is here that John bring a petition, signed by the citizens of Salem, saying that the accused are innocent. If Danforth had acted with honor, he would have accepted this evidence and would have even begun to question whether or not Abigail was lying. Instead, he took the easy way out, and continued on believing whatever accusation Abigail and her friends made. “You misunderstand, sir; I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. It is not just (Danforth; 129). In the final act of the play, Reverend Hale insists on Danforth pardoning those accused because Hale has realized Abigail has caused the death of many innocent people just to save her reputation. A person with a pure character would have at least allowed for this postponement. However, Judge Danforth also cares about his reputation, and doesn’t want to relieve these accusations because others have already died on the charges of the same crime. As a result, other victims of Abigail’s heartless crime, including John Proctor, are