John Proctor Hysteria

Words: 459
Pages: 2

In the play "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller, the intense fear and suspicion that takes over Salem during the witch trials make us wonder if the characters should have tried harder to stop the chaos. Some characters could have helped calm down the hysteria, but what they choose to do is influenced by why they act, what they're afraid of, and what they think is right. One person who stands out for having the ability to calm things down is John Proctor. He's seen as someone who could have helped stop the craziness because he's known for being honest and respected in the community.

In the story, there's a really important moment where John Proctor could have made a big difference in Act III. He had a chance to show that the people accusing others were lying and making things up during the trials. At first, he wasn't sure what to do, but as things got more serious, he decided to admit that he had cheated on his wife, Abigail Williams. By saying this, he showed that Abigail wasn't telling the truth and had been tricking everyone. This made people start to question why the accusations were happening and made them think about whether the whole hysteria was based on lies.
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Even though he was under a lot of pressure to save himself, he refused to lie and sign a false confession. He knew that telling the truth was more important, even if it meant he might die. This shows that standing up against unfairness, even when it's really hard, is