1. Characterization. Choose one characters from The Crucible and write one paragraph giving three character traits (underlined) and evidence. Use the following example to guide you: In The Color Purple by Alice Walker, the protagonist, Celie begins as a young girl and grows into a woman. In the beginning, she is weak, which we see when she can never stand up to the men who abuse her. However, she is also caring, which she demonstrates when she takes care of children who are not even her own. Finally, in the end, she becomes independent; she opens her own business and doesn’t need the help of anyone else.

Answer 1

In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, John Proctor is a complex character who embodies traits of guilt, integrity, and redemption. Initially, Proctor is plagued by guilt over his affair with Abigail Williams, which profoundly affects his sense of self-worth and leads him to struggle with his conscience throughout the play. This internal conflict is evident when he states, "I have given you my soul; leave me my name!" indicating how deeply he feels the weight of his sins. Despite his guilt, Proctor also possesses a strong sense of integrity. He refuses to conform to the hysteria of the witch trials, which is illustrated when he chooses to expose the truth about Abigail's manipulations, even at great personal risk. Ultimately, Proctor seeks redemption; by the end of the play, he chooses to sacrifice his life rather than falsely confess to witchcraft, asserting that “I am not worthy.” This act of sacrifice highlights his journey from a troubled man to one who regains his honor through his courageous choices.