In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, the characters portray many flaws such as selfishness, fear, and jealousy that are present in many individuals today. These flaws are often the cause of many problems and lead to the hanging of innocent people in Salem Village. Throughout The Crucible, the characters struggle with these flaws. They try to suppress them, but more often than not they give into the flaws and do something that they later regret, or that brings tragedy.

One of these flaws is selfishness. Many of the character's actions in The Crucible are derived from the want to protect themselves from persecution, even if that means hurting others. When Abigail Williams is accused of conjuring spirits while she was dancing in the woods, she realizes that in order to save herself she must claim that someone made her do it. She knows that her father and Mr...