The Crucible

The first act of any book is the most important. If you can’t cement the characters in the reader’s mind thoroughly then your story will be disjointed and lacking clarity. I believe that Arthur Miller does a good job of this as he explains each and every character with lots of detail, something not many play-writes do as well as him.

The main characters in the first act I think are Betty, John proctor, Abigail and Paris. These character are ether physically or mentally attracted to Betty’s situation. Betty is in a coma like state and her father the reverend of the dull town Salem is doing everything in his power to help his girl, and save the Parish.

This incident is very important to Paris, This is his parish and if he can’t keep witches and devils out of his home then how will he keep them from his town. Parris ideas are shown well in the first act, he believes “there is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit.”this idea is what drives his decision and the actions he takes.

Abigail shows that she is not all that she seems clearly in the first act, at first when speaking to pairs she shows her self to be a frighten girl. when talking to mercy she show a different character with more control. she shows a third face when talking to John proctor, she shows love and lust for John. the different side’s of Abigail shows that she is a more complex character that she originally seems.

John proctor is well described by Arthur miller. “he is a sinner” describes him very well through out the first act his mischievous going are exposed to the audience.he not only has had a sexual relationship with a minor but he wants to become the reverend of the parish.

In act 2 it doesn’t just deepen the story it gives characters motives and explores salem a bit more that the frist act witch takes place solely in bettys room.

John proctors character is starting to develop into a protagonist, the second act gives him a role and a task to fulfill. This I believe begins to show him as the main character. You can also see the inner battle about to surface, as he has to deal with his thoughts to do what is right by his moral compass.His relationship with his wife I believe symbolises his inner battle as they show many emotions within the second act which could be similar to what john is feeling inside.”I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you but a good man,” thisb thisb Elizabeth’s opinion of john I believe it also is similar to his on him delf. He wants to be a good man and live up to his views of him self. But he judges him self harshly, although he says that his wife need to learn charity, I believe that he would help himself if he did also. Artur miller does this to create a small amount of sympathy for john.