Essay | The Crucible

In the time- honored classic, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is a play about sin, paranoia, hysteria, and religious intolerance. The main character, hardworking farmer John Proctor, is a tragic hero with a secret, fatal flaw. His lust for young Abigail Williams, a teenage servant, leads to their illicit affair. When John's wife, Elizabeth, finds out about it, she fires Abigail. This causes vindictive Abigail to seek revenge on Elizabeth by accusing her of witchcraft, which sets the entire witch hunt frenzy into motion. The ultimate downfall of these three characters is the result of their constant attempts of retribution upon one another.

John and Elizabeth Proctor have a very shallow and strained marriage. The major problem for them is overcoming the affair John had with Abigail before the play begins. After his indiscretion, Elizabeth no longer takes pleasure in being with John, nor does...
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