The Characterization Of John Proctor In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

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Authors do have the responsibility the teach or advocate for social change. In the Crucible by Arthur Miller (Text 1), the plot is centered around the Salem witch trials and the irrationality that fueled it. Novels, poems, and plays are written for various reasons and many of which that does not include the promotion of social change. It can be argued that if authors had that responsibility, pieces of literature would seem instructional and educational and as Miller says that type of writing would not be received well by audiences (Text 2). However, by giving authors the option, the audience can find and determine the advocacy of social change themselves and it would be better received if the audience believes they came to the conclusion themselves. …show more content…
Arthur sees John Proctor as a representation of himself while Danforth is a representation of McCarthy. By looking at the play with this perspective, the reader sees that Miller characterizes Danforth as harsh and illogical because that is how he felt that McCarthy and the communist accusations were. It is obvious through the characterization of Proctor and the judges, that Miller is making comments about how the accusations that are circumstantial and not based on evidence and how righteous people are being accused senselessly. With the death of John Proctor, Miller subtly plants the idea that the judges are not the ultimate judge of character and that while the innocent may be charged and targeted they remain innocent at heart (Text 1). Miller drew inspiration from the event surrounding him and drew parallels between the two events. Because Miller lived during the anti-communist era, the fear and concern that characterized the era were at the forefront of his mind (Text 2). As a writer, Arthur Miller wrote about what he knew and drew from the ambiance of the era in order to write a story that represented the McCarthyism