John Proctor is the flawed but noble central character who struggles with his conscience. His wife Elizabeth is honest but cold, while Abigail is a manipulative orphan who ignites the Salem witch trials after Proctor rejects her. Reverend Hale changes from assuming to doubting the existence of witches as innocent people are convicted. Judge Danforth refuses to reconsider the trials even as their terrible toll becomes clear.

1. CHARACTERS IN
THE CRUCIBLE

3. Meet John Proctor…
• Proctor is the central character of
the play.
• He is a farmer in his thirties;
outwardly, he appears a man of
integrity and good sense.
– He has a sound reputation within the
community even if he is not liked by all
of his neighbors.
– However, he committed the sin of
adultery, and feels like a fraud

4. More on John
• He lives in a strained relationship with his wife
Elizabeth.
• The true depth of their love, however, is revealed in
the final act. It is in Act Four that Miller brings his
character to his final moment of truth, where Proctor
must look deep into his conscience and discover
what is truly important to him: his 'name'.
• Tied up in his concern for his own 'self', and
integrity, is his concern for others.
JOHN IS FLAWED, BUT NOBLE.

5. Elizabeth Proctor
• Her love and understanding for
• Elizabeth is married to John; she Proctor is evident in the last
is a good, honest woman act, when she leaves him to
• Elizabeth first appears in Act decide whether to confess
2, singing lullabies to her children
• Atmosphere in the house tense
with coming to terms with
husband's adultery
– She is accused of being cold
by both Proctor and Abigail
– But she recognizes Abigail's'
intentions before Proctor

6. Abigail: Masterful Manipulator
• Orphaned niece of Parris
• Leads Salem citizen in frenzied witch hunt
• Able to manipulate uncle, control other girls, and
seduce Proctor
– Elizabeth is only person she can't beguile, thus earning Abigail's
abhorrence
– Naming of witches gives her power, excitement, and revenge
– Good at reading events and situation and acting accordingly
– ABIGAIL REPRESENTS THOSE WHO CAN FUEL THE FLAME OF
EVIL.

7. Abigail
• Rebels against Puritan
oppression by seducing and
dancing
• Arrogance is her undoing—but
only after significant damage
• Does not appear in last
act, underscoring that the play
is ultimately about Proctor's
destiny and conscience

8. Danforth: Religious/Political Leader of
Community
• Represents authority of
law and church within
community
• Serious about position and
importance
– Note his speech in Act 3
• Determination to enforce
law is unrelenting;
inflexible and unemotional

9. Danforth
• Does not allow work of the court to be questioned
– How is this dangerous?
– Not interested in the individual
• Allows horror of witch hunt to continue
– Does he believe all that the girls allege or have events gone
too far to stop without undermining his own authority?
• Will not change course even though there are many
innocent victims

10. Reverend Hale
• Hale enjoys the nature of his calling
• Despite his assertion he will not necessarily
find witchcraft, it is apparent he assumes it is
present
• Hale changes dramatically during the play, and
comes to accept the responsibility of what he
started
– He tries to rectify wrongs, but it's impossible

11. Dynamic vs. Static Characters
• Dynamic characters change over the course of
a play or novel; they learn from events and
experiences
– Hale is a DYNAMIC character
• Static characters remain the same, and do not
change
– Danforth is a STATIC character

12. Parris and Giles Corey
Parris
• Unpopular in Salem
– Greedy and selfish
– Tears in opening scene not for his daughter but for his
own reputation and down fall
– Supports trial as long as own position is secure
– His change in Act 4 occurs from threats to his life, NOT
from guilt or compassion

13. Giles Corey
• Initially, a comic character
• Procter deals with his argumentative nature in
a good hearted way
• Unwittingly implicates wife in witchcraft, and
is arrested after refusing to name an
informant
– Eventually tortured in effort to extract a
confession

14. Rebecca Nurse
• Elderly and respected
Rebecca is one of the voices
of good sense in the play
• Hale has already heard of
her good reputation before
meeting her.
• The conviction of Rebecca
reveals how low the
community at Salem has
fallen
– She goes to her death with
dignity and acceptance.

15. Mary Warden
• Proctor's servant
• Weak, easily influenced
• Intimidated in court, easily "turned" by Abigail into
testifying against Proctor
– Represents how fear perpetuates wrong doing; she was too
afraid to speak the truth and exonerate the Proctors
• Illustrates how weak people are used by stronger
people to perpetuate wrongdoing

16. The Putnams
• Bitter couple
representing
jealousy, small-
mindedness, and greed
• Ann Putnam sent
daughter to conjure up
spirits to begin with
• Thomas Putnam sought
to gain from the
tragedies of others