The Crucible written by Arthur Miller is set in a society in which the church and state combine as one. The Protestantism (Puritanism) is a form of strict religion including an individuals sin as a public concern. It is said by Danforth (deputy governor) during Act 3, "A person is either with this court or he must be counted against it." The crucible shows ultimate expression including witchcraft, lies, and fears.
             Reputation is of tremendous importance in Salem, Massachusetts during 1692. Public and private sins are the same. As the play begins, Parris fears Abigail's increasing disruptive actions. He tries to hide the problem of his child being in a coma from the town but fails to do so. Proctor fails to be true to his sickly wife and encounters in an affair with Abigail. These problems are the beginning of many. At the end of act 3, too many reputations are at stake, and the fear of death begins to turn thoughts into the risked minds for a rebellious action that will cause much disturbance and confusion. Fear ties in greatly with the reputation of each person in this play.
             To lie is defined as to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive. Mrs. Proctor is a woman that does not lie as said by her husband in the courtroom. With the fear of saying the wrong thing and making her husbands name amiss. At this point, Abigail then realizes that she now has the blame and fakes being bewitched by Mary Warren. Miller demonstrates that the residents in Salem were not simply a hysterical mob; every person had at least one reason for acting the way he or she did- through lying and with that comes fear. The crucible is about a test on each person. Abigail's jealousy for Elizabeth sets the witch hysteria into motion. Elizabeth Proctor was an honest woman. John Proctor says to Danforth "In her life, sir she has never lied. There are them that cannot sing, and them that cannot weep- my wife cannot lie. I have paid much to learn it, sir....