Freedom - Crucible

To most people in the US freedom is an accepted concept that we take for granted. Freedom was once described by Arthur Miller as: “Guilt is un-freedom”. In the book The Crucible by Arthur Miller the character John Proctor goes through a great deal of trouble to achieve that freedom we take for granted. John’s struggle with guilt is the primary reason for his trouble with gaining freedom. John’s guilt comes from his affair with Abigail, his need for forgiveness from his wife and his need to keep his name. This book is about the Salem witch trials. Abigail was absolutely obsessed with John and would stop at nothing to gain him physically and mentally. Whenever she sees him she seems to fall in a deep lust.

When Abigail approaches, she immediately starts in, romancing him, then John tells her it is over. She then tells them that the whole witchcraft thing is a just a game. “Oh Posh. We were dancin’ in the woods last night and my uncle leaped in on us. She [Betty Parris] took fright, is all.” (pg.21 – Abigail). She has told him this because of her longing of him and this just shows that the witch trials were a pretense. John then tells her that she needs to leave him alone and that it is over. “Abby, put your mind you’ll

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142 – John) John basically is now saying that he sees no reason that his name on paper must be public. 138 – John) Proctor is saying that he won’t lie, but if Goody nurse does she will be like a saint.

In John’s moment of weakness he changes his mind numerous times about confessing and at one point gets confused about which is the right thing to do. “I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough!” (Pg. “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang. 138-John)John then said that he will lie, and save his life. Proctor is then told that to keep his life, he must sign a confession to doing witchcraft. Nothing’s spoiled by giving them this lie that were not rotten long before. Elizabeth) When she tells him this she clears him of any guilt he might have. When he reaches his home there is a very uneasy tension between him and his wife. This brings him to his final breakdown.

In the end John is freed of any personal guilt about his lechery with Abigail, and his guilt of being a witch.

Approximate Word count = 1080
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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