The Crucible John Proctor Fear Analysis

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The Effect of Fear in Salem
In theocratic Salem, reputation directly impacted and played a significant role in the way the inhabitants of Salem conducted themselves. In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, numerous characters thought out and centered their actions surrounding the desires to enhance and protect their own reputation with the purpose to maintain perception in the best light possible. Both Abigail and John Proctor’s actions were caused by fear that was inflicted by the ruling theocracy and directly affected the lives of many others in negative ways.
Abigail’s fear that her reputation would be tarnished was her driving motivation. When anyone offered a direct insult to the integrity of Abigail’s reputation, she immediately would …show more content…
The accusations of witchcraft Abigail waged against many of her fellow citizens condemned several innocent lives and impacted the entire town of Salem. She utilized her manipulative nature and forced the girls from the woods to engage in her accusations in an attempt to make her falsehoods convincing. Towards the end of the play, Mary confessed that she and the other girls were untruthful about the Devil. In an endeavor to deviate attention, Abigail took control of the situation and pretended a bird was attacking her, “You cannot want to tear my face. Envy is a deadly sin, Mary.” (115). In the chaos of the moment and for fear of her retribution, the other girls followed Abigail’s lead and cried out that the bird was attacking them as well. In concurrence with Abigail, John Proctor’s fears also affected the entire town of Salem. From the initiation of the madness, John had the knowledge and ability to terminate the hysteria within the town. He was cognizant from the beginning of Abigail’s fabrications. While deciding if he should expose Abigail, he confides in Elizabeth, “I am only wondering how I may prove what she told me, Elizabeth, if the girl’s a saint now, I think it is not easy to prove she’s a fraud, and the town gone so silly. She told it to me in a room along – I have no proof for it.” (53). John appeared to be sincerely contemplating if he should come forth with the truth. His decision to abandon the reality affected the entire town of Salem. Comparable to the outcomes surrounding Abigail, so many innocent lives could have been protected if from the onset, John had told the truth about Abigail’s
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