Crucible: Salem Witch Trials and Strong-willed John Proctor Essay

Submitted By mc7171
Words: 334
Pages: 2

In the play, The Crucible, Authur Miller develops numerous conflicts between characters. Miller sets his play in Salem Massachusetts, an environment with which was notoriously known for its witch trials of 1692. As reverend of Salem and father and uncle of initially accused witches, Reverend Parris plays an enormous role in the plot of this story. Young Abigail is the heart and soul of the witch trials, leading all the other girls in the accusations. The strong-willed John Proctor displays a steady manner, but his sins cannot be hidden and he cannot be freed of them. Through the use of conflicts Miller displays emotions and a lack of morality. The conflicts that are the most expressive are the conflicts between Reverend Parris and Abigail, Reverend Parris and Proctor and Proctor and Abigail. Continuing with the conflicts involving Parris, Abigail, his niece proved to be a difficult one. Anyone would have conflicts with the high spirited adolescent, being a liar and a hypocrite. Parris blames Abigail for Betty's illness in the beginning of the novel and he believes the rumors of the town's people who say that her name is not entirely white (12). The conflict is settled when Abigail confesses her encounters with the devil and Parris believes her.

In being the young woman that she is, Abigail creates the conflict between herself and John Proctor. It seems that he wants nothing more to do with her and this angers Abigail and she displays her hatred towards Elizabeth in