Many people are forced into a position that makes them stand up for a cause. John Proctor from Arthur Miller's The Crucible and Maximus from Warrens Film Gladiator, were two characters that evolved into activists. During the Roman Empire Maximus reluctantly became a glorious gladiator who fought for his country , the revenge of his family and his freedom. John Proctor's guilt drives him to stand up to the mass hysteria that is happening in his town, Salem.
             The Crucible took place during the Salem witch trails. Abigail Williams is the cause of everything that was going on. One night she and several other girls along with Tutumba, a voodoo worshiper, were dancing around a fire naked. She was caught by her uncle and told him that Tutumba put her on a spell that caused her to act that way. The lie she told her uncle turned into something very big. She began to accuse other well respected people and the town of being witched. The people in the town could do nothing but believe what was being told. And honorable man, Danforth describes the court as; "You must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between." Anyone who was accused of doing witchcraft was trapped into admitting because their other choice would be death.
             John Proctor had an affair with Abigail that he was very shameful of and strongly regrets. One day Abigail tells Proctor the witchcraft was not real. She tells him " We were all dancing' in the woods last night, and my uncle leaped in on us he took fright, is all". John is the only person at this point that knows the witch craft was not real. Proctor is a man that is very proud of his name so he becomes hesitant to speak out because he is afraid that people of the town will find out about the affair. By admitting he committed adultery it would ruin his good name.
             Abigail had sad feelings toward Proctors wife, El...