Novel Review: The Crucible

Authors use details in order to make the reader understand the intricacy of a novel. Arthur Miller uses emotions to further stress the sever consequences of the events in the novel. Arthur Miller picked the title of The Crucible for his novel because it means a sever test. Throughout the novel, the honesty of the characters is constantly being tested. Throughout the novel many characters, such as John Proctor, changed. However, many remained the same. Abigail Williams and Thomas Putnum both seemed to be unaffected by the events at hand.

Throughout The Crucible, many characters, such as John Proctor, were changed or altered by the events at hand. At the beginning of the play John Proctor was a sinner. He had had an affair with Abigail Williams, his hired girl. John's wife, Elizabeth, learned of the affair and immediately dismissed Abigail. However, Abigail remained deeply in love with John, determined to gain him back. Throughout the play, we see various acts where John chooses to stay away and even turn against Abigail. When Abigail and him are alone he states, "I would cut off my hand before I ever reach to you again." This shows that John is changing and repenting for his sins. Furthermore, John even testifies in court against Abigail, stating that everything she is saying is false. Abigail has been falsely accusing various towns' women of witchcraft, in order to save herself from punishment. However, in the end John is also accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death. At the end of the play, John refuses to write a confession, stating that he is guilty of witchcraft, in order to save his life. He says that his name is all he has and he will not give that up. Furthermore, John makes his peace with Elizabeth, his wife. John is no longer a sinner and a false man. In fact in not choosing to lie and save himself, John dies a righteous and noble death.

Many characters, however, remained the same throughout the novel. Abigail Williams remained the same cruel and manipulative person throughout the entire play. John Proctor and Abigail Williams had a brief affair at one time. Since them Abigail has been determined to gain John's love back. Abigail and some other town's girls were in the woods dancing, which is against their strict religious beliefs. While in the woods, Abigail made a spell in order to kill Goody Proctor, John's wife. Abigail and the other girls were caught and in order to avoid punishment began to falsely accuse women of witchcraft. Throughout the play, Abigail does all she can in order to regain Proctor back in her life. She is cruel and deceitful. In the end Abigail ends up stealing the congregation's money and running away further showing how she remained unaltered by the horrific events she caused.

Another character that remains the same throughout the whole play was Thomas Putnum. Throughout the play Thomas Putnum is portrayed as a greedy and cold man who is only after furthering himself in life. In the beginning of the play we learn that Giles Corey and Mr. Putnum are in a disagreement over a land dispute. In actualality the land is rightfully owned by Giles Corey but Thomas Putnum tries to claim it. This exemplifies the extreme greed of Putnum. Furthermore, we learn that Putnum tells his daughter to falsely accuse Giles Corey of witchcraft. Putnum does this in order to gain Corey's land. Throughout the play we learn how greedy Putnum really is. He will stop at nothing, even murder, in order to gain wealth.

Horrific events often bring out the goodness and righteousness of and individual. Throughout the play the righteousness of Giles Corey is further revealed. Giles refuses to reveal to the court the person who heard Putnum tell his daughter to falsely accuse Corey of witchcraft. Giles Corey did not want to bring any other people into this horrible fiasco. Because of his refusing to reveal the person's name, Giles Corey was killed. This truly exemplifies the goodness and courage of this one individual.