which characters have changed over the course of the play the crucible

by Shaniya Wiza 3 min read

Reverend Parris

Samuel Parris

Samuel Parris was the Puritan minister in Salem, Massachusetts during the Salem witch trials. He was also the father of one of the afflicted girls, and the uncle of another.

and Reverend Hale are two characters in "The Crucible

The Crucible

A small group of teen girls in 1692 Salem, Massachusetts caught in an innocent conjuring of love potions to catch young men are forced to tell lies that Satan had invaded them and forced them to participate in the rites and are then forced to name those involved. Thrown into the mix are gr…

" that did change, and Ezekiel Cheever

Ezekiel Cheever

Ezekiel Cheever was a schoolmaster, and the author of "probably the earliest American school book", Accidence, A Short Introduction to the Latin Tongue. Upon his death, it was said that "New England never known a better teacher." He has been called "the chief representative of the colonial schoolmaster".

is one that did not. Reverend Samuel Parris is one character from "The Crucible" who changed drastically throughout the course of the play. In the beginni...

In the play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Each of the characters of Proctor, Hale, and Elizabeth changed from the beginning of the play to the end of the story. Proctor becomes more honest; Hale becomes more skeptical, and Elizabeth becomes more forgiving.

Full Answer

Which characters change the most in the Crucible?

In the wonderfully written play 'The Crucible', by Arthur Miller, many of his characters change in big ways as the story progresses, and three of these characters that changed the most are; John Proctor, Reverend Hale, and Elizabeth Proctor. These characters change a great deal throughout this play.

How does John Proctor change throughout the play The Crucible?

Due to all the events John Proctor went through, he changed into a better person. John Proctor changed for the better and became a town hero who died to save lives of innocent people. Major events throughout the play made John Proctor change his emotions, believes and judgements.

What do you learn about the characters in the Crucible?

For each of these characters, you'll get an overview of their relationships with other characters in the play, a short description of their personality, and a rundown of the actions they take throughout the play. John Proctor is the central character whom the drama of The Crucible revolves around.

How does Reverend Hale change during the course of the Crucible?

Reverend Hale is another character that changes during the course of "The Crucible." Upon his entrance in the midst of Act I, he is depicted as a strong, knowledgeable intellect. His intelligence seems to leave no room for compassion.

What characters changed the most in The Crucible?

In the Crucible, many of the characters go through changes because of the intensity of the situation. But there is only one character that I think changed the most, and that is John Proctor who is the protagonist of the novel The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

Which characters changed over the course of the play The Crucible?

Abigail Williams, Elizabeth and John Proctor, Mary Warren, Reverend Parris and even Reverend Hale had changed drastically because of what they had to go through during the course of the play. However, other characters such as Ezekiel Cheever and Marshall Herrick did not really change noticeably.

Which characters were tested and changed as a result in The Crucible?

Many more people fail than pass, but three notable characters stand out. Reverend John Hale, Elizabeth Proctor, and John Proctor all significantly change over the course of the play.

Has Abigail Williams change throughout The Crucible?

The relationship between Abigail and John Proctor changes even further over the course of the play; by Act 3, Abigail no longer cares about John as much and makes no move to halt his arrest and hanging for witchcraft.

How did Mary Warren change in The Crucible?

Studying Mary Warren showed us different sides to her. We see her as fragile, frightened, lonely and unimportant. This has changed by Act 2 though. She has changes in attitude towards different people especially Proctor and by Act 3 Mary has broken down and is back to what she was in the beginning.

How has John Proctor changed in The Crucible?

This leads to an important change of his personality: John Proctor changes from a normal citizen and a sinner to a tragic hero, a person of high sense of morality. This evolution of his character is due to many situations he is faced with and which aroused strong feelings and beliefs.

How did Parris change in The Crucible?

As the play moved along, he grew more introverted and we see his paranoia grow larger. He was also blaming every other person for every little mishap in Salem for his own benefit. Reverend Parris was a man of many different traits and as the play moves along these ever changing qualities are easily seen.

How does Reverend Hale change throughout the play?

Throughout the play, Reverend Hale was changed by his faith, his knowledge of the truth, and by his guilt. From the beginning of the play, it was quite clear that Reverend Hale's character was deeply rooted in his faith and understanding. Hale firmly believes that everything in life can be explained by books.

Which characters are tested in The Crucible?

Terms in this set (3)John Proctor. The test imposed on Proctor was when he had the choice of "confessing" to the witchcraft trials or not to confess and die. ... Elizabeth Proctor. ... Abigail Williams.

How does Elizabeth change in The Crucible?

Elizabeth experiences many dramatic changes in her life, but her main defining moment illustrates the play's theme of forgiveness and bitterness. Throughout Act I and II Elizabeth Proctor is a cold, yet moral character.

How did Rebecca Nurse change in The Crucible?

How Does Rebecca Nurse Change Over Time? In contrast to characters like John Proctor and Reverend Hale, Rebecca doesn't show much development over the course of The Crucible, likely because Miller wanted to use her character as a moral high point that everyone else in the play could be measured against.

How does Abigail change by the end of the play?

At the end of the play, when Abigail realizes that her plan has failed and that she has condemned Proctor to hang, she displays the same cold indifference that governs her actions throughout the play. She flees Salem, leaving Proctor without so much as a second glance.

What characters change the most in the Crucible?

In the wonderfully written play 'The Crucible', by Arthur Miller, many of his characters change in big ways as the story progresses, and three of these characters that changed the most are; John Proctor, Reverend Hale, and Elizabeth Proctor. These characters change a great deal throughout this play. John

What act does the Crucible take place?

This is evident by his interrogations which took place during Act III, the Trial, as well as the biographical information provided in Act I of "The Crucible.". However, his emotions do come out in Act IV. He appears sympathetic and kindhearted while begging the women in prison to confess to save their lives.

Why did John Proctor attend Mass?

Furthermore, in Act II, it is revealed that John Proctor attended mass scarcely because he hated Reverend Parris so much. His materialism (as proven with the gold candlesticks) was something that greatly bothered the town of Salem. In Act IV, Reverend Parris is humbled.

What is the Crucible? What is its purpose?

One definition of "crucible" is "a severe test of patience and belief, or a trial". This definition pertains to Arthur Miller's four-act play, "The Crucible." The definition is suiting, because it is during this play that the wills of innocent women and men are put to the test when they are accused of things they did not do. It was the ultimate trial of determination and willpower to withstand such a wretched ordeal. Abigail Williams, Elizabeth and John Proctor, Mary Warren, Reverend Parris and even Reverend Hale had changed drastically because of what they had to go through during the course of the play. However, other characters such as Ezekiel Cheever and Marshall…show more content…

How did Arthur Miller develop the plot of The Crucible?

The Crucible by Arthur Miller Plot : In “The Crucible” Arthur Miller made the plot develops through the conflicts by using high tension and climaxes. He ends each of the four acts with a climax. In addition, he allowed the protagonist to develop throughout the acts. “The Crucible” has many internal and external conflicts.

What is the theme of the Crucible?

It is common for humans to fear change and what is unknown, in the play The Crucible this is witchcraft and the devil, in more recent times it can be seen in post World War Two and Cold War United States, through McCarthyism. The themes in the crucible are as important to people in the 21st century as in Salem in 1692.

What did Arthur Miller believe?

Miller believed individual dilemmas always grew out of the crucial social contexts that confront average people. Everyday ordinary people are faced with choices, and “maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets” (Miller). Arthur Miller (1915-2005) is closely associated with American Postmodernism movement, which began in the late 20th century and is characterized by

How many characters are in the Crucible?

To start off with, I'll discuss the seven characters in The Crucible who are integral to the plot of the drama: John Proctor, Abigail Williams, Mary Warren, Giles Corey, Rebecca Nurse, Reverend Hale, and Elizabeth Proctor. For each of these characters, you'll get an overview of their relationships with other characters in the play, ...

Why are some names useful in the Crucible?

Some of these names are useful to know because they give context to character relationships that shape how events unfold in The Crucible (for instance, James Bayley is the brother-in-law of Putnam who was passed over for minister of Salem due to opposition by other townspeople, including Francis Nurse, which causes bad blood between the two families). Some of the other names might be useful if your teacher asks you to list off people accused of witchcraft over the course of the play, or to list people who accused others of witchcraft.

What logically follows from the combination of his dispassionate questioning and his belief in witchcraft?

The combination of his dispassionate questioning and his belief in witchcraft means that what logically follows is him ordering the arrests of everyone who signed the petition affirming the good characters of Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey, holding Giles in contempt of court, and ordering Proctor’s arrest.

What is the name of the old man who has no problem suing his friends for perceived insults?

A cantankerous old man who has no problem suing even his friends for perceived insults, Giles is described by Miller as "a crank and a nuisance, but withal a deeply innocent and brave man" (p. 38). Act 1: Giles wanders into the Parris house to find out what’s going on.

Why did Giles storm into court?

Act 3: Giles storms into court to try to prove his wife isn’t a witch. He ends up being condemned for contempt of court when he won’t name the person who told him that Putnam’s daughter accused George Jacobs of being a witch in order to be able to purchase George Jacobs’ forfeited land.

Who is Abigail in The Proctors?

Abigail is the niece of Reverend Parris and the cousin of Betty Parris. She also used to work as a servant with the Proctors, before she was sent away by Elizabeth Proctor for having an affair with Elizabeth's husband John. She is friends (or at least acquaintances) with Mercy Lewis and eventually becomes the ringleader of the "afflicted" girls (i.e. the girls who accuse people of being witches). Miller describes Abigail as " seventeen...a strikingly beautiful girl, an orphan, with an endless capacity for dissembling " (p. 8); in essence, he is calling her a pretty little liar.

Who is John Proctor?

John Proctor is the central character whom the drama of The Crucible revolves around. This primacy is helped by the fact that he has relationships with many of the other characters in the play: Proctor is husband to Elizabeth Proctor, former (adulterous) lover of Abigail Williams, employer of Mary Warren, friend of Giles Corey and Francis Nurse (and by extension their wives), and not a fan (though not precisely an enemy) of Reverend Parris. Proctor is described by Miller as “respected and even feared in Salem,” having “a sharp and biting way with hypocrites” even though he “regards himself as a kind of a fraud” (p. 19) due to his affair with Abigail Williams.

Who is the major change in The Crucible?

to get full document. The Crucible John Proctor ’s Major Change One of the characters in “The Crucible” that undergoes a major change is John Proctor. Proctor is one of the most important characters and he gradually changes throughout the course of the play.

What is John Proctor's personality?

At the start of the play John Proctor has a strong willed personality and shows good leadership and authority. Through the changes that he makes, Proctor becomes a better person who finds a sense of goodness in himself.

Why does John Proctor have an affair with Abigail Williams?

In the beginning, he has an affair with Abigail Williams, which causes all the problems because Abigail believes that if she can accuse Elizabeth Proctor, Proctor’s wife, of being a witch, than John Proctor will love her.

How does Proctor save his life?

Proctor almost gives in to saving his life by signing a confession that confirms him being a witch but at the end of the play he is more concerned with what is important than his public reputation. Proctor claims that God will save him for telling the truth and he will go to heaven.

What did John Proctor change at the end of the play?

At the end of the play, John Proctor changed to be devoted to his wife and family and he transformed into a courageous man . John Proctor says this while being at the courthouse, “I have three children, how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, when I sold my friends.”.

Why did John Proctor change?

John Proctor changed throughout the play because of events that made him have to change his judgment, beliefs and emotions. The beginning of the play, John Proctor is not presented as a good man, he is portrayed as weak and unfaithful.

What did John Proctor say to Elizabeth?

John Proctor say’s this to Elizabeth and his servant, “I’ll whip you if you dare leave this house again.”. Him saying that was prime evidence that he turned ill-tempered and violent.

Is John Proctor a good man?

The beginning of the play, John Proctor is not presented as a good man, he is portrayed as weak and unfaithful. John Proctor says this as he is feeling guilty about having an affair with Abigail, “But I’ll plead no more! I see how your spirit twists around the single error of my life, and I will never tear it free”.

How does Reverend Hale change in The Crucible?

How Does Reverend Hale Change in "The Crucible"? The events of "The Crucible" change Reverend Hale by testing his faith in God. Because he is forced to accept that his beliefs have been manipulated and realizes that he has sent innocents to their deaths, he loses faith in the law and questions his faith in God.

What is the most complex character in Arthur Miller's play?

One of the most complex characters in the Arthur Miller play, Reverend Hale undergoes a journey through the play. Starting with the best of intentions, his confidence is shaken as the events unfold, and he becomes completely disillusioned with the justice system and frustrated with the injustice of punishments afflicting the innocents accused ...

Who is the protagonist in The Crucible?

John Proctor, the protagonist of Arthur Miller's Puritan take on McCarthyism, "The Crucible," is a man who faces several dilemmas, each a sequel to the previous one, showering upon his head like an early American Job. His great dilemma at the outset is adultery, a flaw he is trying to expiate; this segues into accusations of witchcraft.

What does Proctor say to Elizabeth in the scaffold?

Proctor emerges from his dilemmas as a purified saint, gold emerging from the crucible: beyond all crises, he tears his confession and mounts the scaffold, telling Elizabeth: "show a stony heart and sink them with it." She answers, "he have his goodness now," and Miller ends with the marvelously grisly image of death-knell drums that "rattle like bones in the morning air." Miller exemplifies the reason for dilemmas in our lives: they exist for our purification, even in death.

What does Miller call Proctor?

Miller, in Act One, calls Proctor "a sinner ... against his own vision of decent conduct," and his crises proceed from private to public and back again. Proctor, about to be swept into the maelstrom of the Salem Witch trials, actually believes his crisis is passed as the play opens; having confessed to wife Elizabeth his adultery with Abigail Williams, he has "gone tiptoe in this house all seven month" in repentence; Elizabeth's judgment, he declares, "would freeze beer." As she relents, calling him "a good man," she is accused of witchcraft by the vengeful Abigail.

Did Miller take artistic license with Proctor's age and position in the proceedings?

Miller took artistic license with Proctor's age and position in the proceedings, but he retained the testimonies of the events , knowing that the audience's intense interest in these would also intensify Proctor's second dilemma.

Main characters

  • In this article, I'll go over each of the Crucible characters by name, pinpoint which act(s) each character appears in and/or is mentioned in, and briefly describe each character and what she/he does in The Crucible.
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Synopsis

  • Act 1: We find out that Proctor had an affair with Abigail that he says he no longer wishes to continue. Proctor is skeptical of witchcraft and of Parris's claims of persecution and leaves shortly after Reverend Hale arrives at the Parris household. Act 2: Elizabeth and John discuss the events that have been happening in Salem; Elizabeth encourages John to tell the court what Abi…
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Fictional character biography

  • Abigail is the niece of Reverend Parris and the cousin of Betty Parris. She also used to work as a servant with the Proctors, before she was sent away by Elizabeth Proctor for having an affair with Elizabeth's husband John. She is friends (or at least acquaintances) with Mercy Lewis and eventually becomes the ringleader of the \"afflicted\" girls (...
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Personal

  • Rebecca is married to Francis Nurse. She is friendly with everyone in Salem except for Ann Putnam, whose concerns over her daughter Ruth Rebecca kind of brushes off in Act 1.
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Cultural references

  • Act 4: Elizabeth is asked by Danforth and Hale to convince John to confess to save his life; instead, she basically just acts as a sounding board while John agonizes over what to do. She also tearfully confesses that John Proctor is the best and that she shouldnt have judged him because only he can judge himself, and tells him that whatever he chooses is okay by her (p. 127):
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Quotes

  • When Parris and Hale try to get Elizabeth to stop John after hes torn up his confession and is on his way to the gallows, she does not, stating, He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him! (p. 134).
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Family

  • Reverend Parris is the father of Betty Parris, uncle of Abigail Williams, and minister of Salem. He is not portrayed in a positive light in this play, being described by Miller from the very beginning as someone who \"cut a villainous path through history\" who \"believed he was being persecuted wherever he went.\" Through his actions and words, Parris \"very little good to be said for him\" (…
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