analysis of john proctor as a rebel

Essay by gabsafHigh School, 10th grade October 2014

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The Crucible, a play written by Arthur Miller, demonstrates how John Proctor, a member of the Puritan religion, helps move along the society forward. The play takes place in a town in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. One night, a servant named Tituba along with Abigail and other young girls, tried practicing witchcraft in the forest. The next, Reverend Parris's daughter, Betty, becomes ill and everyone believes that her illness is linked to witchcraft. Paris calls Reverend Hale, a witchcraft expert, to come to his house to examine Betty. When he arrives, Abigail betrays Tituba and tells Hale that Tituba is a witch. This is the beginning of the Salem witch trials. From this point on, Abigail and the other young girls start accusing other people in the town that speak to the Devil. When John Proctor's wife, Elizabeth, and other noble people in the town are accused of being a witch, Proctor petitions.

His rebellions character is what moves the Puritan society out of a hypocritical and unjust state of mind.

The Puritan society is filled with hypocrisy and John Proctor stands up to it. The Puritans claim that the reason they punish people is to follow God. However, all the accusers in this play either to accuse others in order to protect themselves, or because they have grudge against them or because they have an ulterior motive. When Abigail "confesses" that she is a witch she says,

I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him, I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!" (Act I, page...