Arthur Miller's portrayal of the Salem witchcraft trials in his play, The Crucible, allows the audience to view the central character, John Proctor, as he deals with difficult situations brought about by his affair with Abigail Williams. At the time of the trials, Salem, Massachusetts was under many pressures, one of these being the constant threat of attack from the hostile natives that lived in the forests surrounding Salem. Having a strong work and religious ethic was what kept the village afloat. However, the strict rules enforced upon the youth of the village, for example, no dancing allowed, was one of the main reasons the witch trials went ahead. The youth was caught dancing in the woods; to shift the blame from themselves, they accused others of forcing them to do so through witchcraft and the devil. Abigail Williams recognizes the opportunity to seek revenge on John Proctors wife - for throwing her out and blackening her name in the town - and accuses her of witchcraft. From this, events snowball, and a full-blown trial is underway.
             Throughout the play, the audience's feelings towards John Proctor change dramatically. In act one we meet him first as the adulterer. He has corrupted the young Abigail and now wants nothing to do with her. The conversation that Abigail and Proctor have in the bedroom of Betty brings light on this situation. Although the relationship has ended Abigail still wishes to see him. We are not sure if Proctor wanted to end the relationship or if his wife is discovering his lechery was the only reason he did so. "It's she put me out; you cannot pretend it was you. I saw your face when she put me out, and you loved me then, and you do now!" My view of him is one of contempt as he has cheated on his wife, and now that the relationship is over he still has feelings for Abigail. "I have seen you looking up, burning in your loneliness. Do you tell me you've never looked up at my window?"
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