The Crucible by Arthur Miller

Crucible

Arthur Miller's play The Crucible describes the witch hunts and hysteria of Salem, Massachusetts. At the onset of the play a group of young women dance in the forest, including Tituba, a black slave, Betty, who is the Reverend Parris's daughter, and Abigail Williams. Abigail Williams turns out to be the play's antagonist, a manipulative woman who helps bring about the downfall of the play's protagonist, John Proctor. Proctor and Abigail had an affair the previous year, and Abigail again tries to seduce Proctor who refuses her advances. Out of spite, Abigail participates in a massive deception, causing the entire town to suspect a group of people of witchcraft.

The play's protagonist is John Proctor, who struggles with the dark secret of his adulterous affair with Abigail Williams. Eventually Proctor is forced to choose between telling the truth and ruining his reputation; the truth will expose the witchcraft hysteria for what it is but it will also ruin Proctors good standing in the community. Therefore, the central conflict in the play consists of a man-against-himself scenario in which Proctor's own conscience haunts him. Proctor knows the hysteria is caused by lies and the deceit of Abigail Williams yet Proctor feels powerless to reveal the truth. While he resists coming completely clean and exposing his affair, he eventually tells the whole truth, but only after the town is in chaos.