The Crucible: Character Analysis, Themes, and Allegories

Abigail Williams

Desire for power, love/lust for John Proctor, jealousy of Elizabeth. Ex-servant of Proctors, affair with John, manipulative toward the girls, niece of Parris.

John Proctor

Personal integrity, guilt over affair, desire to protect his name and family. Husband of Elizabeth, former affair with Abigail, respected by Hale, distrusts Parris.

Elizabeth Proctor

Moral righteousness, protecting her family, personal forgiveness. Wife of John, distrusts Abigail, later forgives John.

Reverend Parris

Reputation, authority, self-preservation. Uncle of Abigail, disliked by Proctor, supported by Putnam.

Reverend Hale

Originally to root out witchcraft; later to seek truth and justice. Begins aligned with court, eventually supports Proctor and denounces court.

Mary Warren

Fear of Abigail, desire to do the right thing, self-preservation. Servant to Proctors, manipulated by Abigail, pressured by Proctor and court.

Giles Corey

Protect his land/family, speak truth. Loyal to Proctor, dies heroically without naming names.

Thomas Putnam

Greed for land, power in the town. Uses daughter to accuse others; enemy of Giles Corey.

Reverend Hale's Character Development

Starts as confident expert on witchcraft → increasingly doubts court → ends disillusioned, begs accused to confess to save their lives.

John Proctor's Character Development

Begins guilty and secretive → tries to expose the truth → chooses personal integrity over false confession, dies with honor.

Elizabeth Proctor's Character Development

Initially cold and hurt by John's affair → slowly softens → forgives him and respects his choice to die with dignity.

Personal Integrity vs. Societal Pressure

John Proctor's Final Choice: He refuses to sign a false confession to protect his name and integrity, symbolizing personal honor over societal compliance.

Miller and HUAC

Miller refused to name names during McCarthyism, just like Proctor wouldn't name others—both stood by their principles.

Connection to Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience"

Thoreau says unjust laws must be resisted—like Proctor and Hale resisting the corrupt court.

The girls dancing in the woods

Act 1.

Accusations and hysteria

Act 2.

Trial and Proctor's confession/admission

Act 3.

Proctor's moral choice and execution

Act 4.

Mass Hysteria & Fear

Abigail uses fear to control others; the court acts on fear instead of reason.

Allegory

The Salem Witch Trials mirror McCarthyism—fear leads to irrational accusations and ruined lives.

McCarthy's 'Enemies from Within'

Like in The Crucible, McCarthy used fear to justify repression and unfounded accusations.

Deputy Governor Danforth

Obsessed with preserving the court's image; refuses to admit error even when innocent lives are at stake.

Parris

Cares more about his reputation than justice or truth.

'Harrison Bergeron'

Similar in its critique of oppressive equality and control—shows the danger of absolute authority and forced conformity.

Refusal to Falsely Confess

Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Giles Corey die rather than lie—representing moral strength.

Dickinson's Poem

Refusing to conform is seen as madness, but it's actually wisdom.

The Crucible as Cold War/Red Scare Allegory

Represents the fear and paranoia of the time, similar to the Salem Witch Trials.

Salem Witch Trials

Represents McCarthyism/Red Scare.

Act 3 Trial

Mirrors HUAC hearings.

Forced Confessions

Naming names to avoid punishment (like Miller was asked to do).

'Civil Disobedience' by Thoreau

Main Argument: People must follow conscience over government when laws are unjust.

Connection to Rev. Hale

He realizes the court is unjust and urges people to act against it.

Connection to Proctor

He sacrifices his life to avoid supporting an unjust system.

'Much Madness is divinest Sense' by Dickinson

False Confessions: Those who go along with hysteria are seen as 'sane,' but true sanity is resistance.

Questioning Norms

The poem champions independent thinking, even when it's punished—like Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Giles.

'Harrison Bergeron' by Vonnegut

Both Salem and Vonnegut's world are ruled by fear, oppression, and forced conformity.

Societal Pressure

Those who resist are labeled dangerous or insane.

The Poppet

Symbol of twisted innocence—used to falsely accuse Elizabeth of witchcraft.

Elizabeth's Pregnancy

Symbol of hope and the preservation of life amidst chaos.

John's Torn Confession

Symbol of reclaiming integrity and rejecting corrupt authority.

Parris' Golden Candlesticks

Symbol of greed and materialism—shows Parris' true priorities, not spiritual ones.