Characters

Abstract

Unlike Death of a Salesman, The Crucible has a large number of characters. Responding to evil and to personal danger, each enters his own crucible, thereby testing his integrity. As protagonist, John Proctor exemplifies the tensions between self-preservation and integrity. At first, Elizabeth is so unforgiving and unyielding that integrity about her marriage becomes a vice; later, she admits her own complicity in her husband’s deed. Lacking integrity, Abigail accuses others in order to save herself. Like Elizabeth, Hale moves from one position to another. Beginning with integrity (open-mindedness about the possibility of witches in Salem), he ends by abjuring integrity (to save one’s life, one should lie). But as Murray points out, no single character represents the author’s view of the right path. Although Elizabeth praises Proctor’s decision to die, she would also praise his decision to live. Hale is unconverted by Proctor’s action, as is Danforth, who has his own integrity (he wants a confession to justify his deeds but refuses to accept a lie).