The Crucible Essay, Research Paper

The Crucible

For a person to change they usually have to undergo a meaningful event. Most people don t even realize they change or they think they don t have to. When a person does change they usually do it for themselves or someone they really care about.

In the book, the people of Salem felt grief, betrayal and heartbreak. Under these circumstances people would most likely change, as John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor and Reverend Hale did.

After his affair with Abigail Williams, John Proctor felt guilty, but also annoyed by his wife s paranoia with the whole situation. Once he got fed up with her coldness and shouted Spare me! You forget nothin and forgive nothin ! Learn charity, woman. I have gone tiptoe in this house all 7 month since she is gone (Miller). When Elizabeth was accused of witchcraft though his guilt took over the feeling of annoyance. He was ready to save his wife s life, even if that meant risking his own. My wife will never die for me! I will bring you guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me!

(Miller). He didn t want Elizabeth to die for his actions. John wanted another chance to prove to her that he could be loyal and that he truly loved her, no matter what. During the accusations Elizabeth also changed.

Elizabeth Proctor judged and questioned John a lot more after his affair. She often reminded him of the situation, which lowered her self-esteem even more. On the day John was to be hung she told him I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another (Miller). She realized she might lose him and she no longer wanted to judge him for his sins. All she wanted was to love him for him. Reverend Hale also changed through this horrible time.

Reverend Hale used to go by the books, literally. Everything he learned and went by came from his books. Up until he visited Salem he never learned anything from reality.

He finally realized that in the real world people will lie and falsely accuse other people to get what they wanted. He saw everyone lying and knew his books couldn t help in this situation so he started to listen to his heart. Hale felt great sympathy for all of the accused and their families. At the end of the book he begs Elizabeth to get John to confess by saying Life, woman, is God s most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it. I beg you, woman prevail upon your husband to confess (Miller). He felt like he could have stopped all of the hangings if he realized earlier that all of the accusations were lies, and now he was trying to make up for that.