The Crucible

There is not one person in the world that does not have conflicts. The thing that makes conflicts different is the way that they are solved. The play, The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, is about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. In the play, John Proctor, a main character in the play, had many conflicts which eventually led him to his tragic death. He had conflicts with three characters in the play including his wife, Elizabeth Proctor. He also had a conflict with his ex-servant girl, Abigail. And last but no least he had a conflict within himself, as many people do.

Elizabeth Proctor, John Proctor's wife, is one of the people that Mr. Proctor has a conflict with. John lost trust with his wife because he committed a crime so cold; he committed adultery (he cheated on his wife with another woman) with his ex-servant girl, Abigail. Knowing this, it has caused a trust issue which created a conflict between Elizabeth and John Proctor. Even when she found out about it and he told her that the affair was over she still had not learned to trust him. "Proctor: Spare Me! You forgot nothin' and forgive nothin'. Learn charity, woman. I have gone tiptoe in this house all seven months since she is gone. I have not moved from there to there without I think to please you, and still an everlasting funeral marches round your heard. I cannot speak but I am doubted, every moment judged for lies, as though I come into a court when I come into this house". (Miller 1065) This quote shows how he is fed up with his wife not trusting him, and how he feels, she judges him. "Elizabeth- you were alone with her." (Miller1065) John Proctor was alone with Abigail (his mistress) and did not tell his wife that they were alone. So when he said it, it came out basically as "yes honey I was alone with the women I cheated with" (not an actual quote) the conflict between the two could be considered a major trust issue.

John Proctor had an affair with his ex-servant girl, Abigail. John Proctor eventually wanted to end the affair, because of the obvious reason of him wanting to be a "good man". Abigail did not want to end the affair, she was still in love with John Proctor "Abigail: John I am waiting for you every night" (1045 Miller), she still wants to be with him. "Proctor: Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby". (Miller1069). This is a major conflict that needs to be solved because she still wants him and it seems as if she would do anything to get him back. When they were in court, if he tells the court about his relationship with Abigail they will dismiss all the things she said (part of the Salem Witch trials, supposable Abigail was a Witch but now is a saint, but Proctor knows that she was never a witch and he wants everyone to know that she is a fraud) Proctor told the judges that he is a lecher. "Proctor, trembling, his life collapsing about him: I have known her, Sir. I have known her." (Miller 1098). Judge Danforth asked "Danforth,