First to Worst

            The Crucible is a renowned work of literature written by Arthur Miller that dramatically depicts what took place during the Salem Witch Trials in the late 1600s. This 1953 piece shows how flawed every individual person is. Every character within the play either made flawed decisions or was flawed within. During the time of this Puritan society, flaws were based on the seven deadly sins: pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth. Lying and revenge were also viewed as sins, while fear also drove the village to insanity. From least to most flawed, I would rank the characters: Reverend Hale, Mr. Putnam, John Proctor, Reverend Parris, Mary Warren, Judge Danforth, and Abigail Williams.

            

Reverend Hale’s dynamic character makes him the least flawed. At the beginning of the play, Reverend Hale was the epitome of pride. In Act One Hale claimed, “They [heavy books] must be; they are weighted with authority.” Here, Hale was consumed with the concept that he knew everything and that he should be highly respected. Throughout the play, Hale realized that he had not been correct and returned to the court in Act Four seeking proper justice for those unfairly condemned.

Mr. Putnam’s greed was his most prominent sin. Throughout the play, Thomas Putnam was very rapacious for territory within Salem, Massachusetts, and felt his family deserved more respect. Giles Corey accused Mr. Putnam of telling Ruth to blame an innocent person so his reputation wouldn’t be ruined. In court, Giles Corey claimed, “If Jacobs hangs for a witch he forfeit up his property - that’s law! And there is none but Putnam with the; coin to buy so great a piece. This man is killing his neighbors for their land… I have it from an honest man who heard Putnam say it! The day his daughter cried out on Jacobs, he said she’d given him a fair gift of land.” Although Mr. Putnam denied the accusation, it is very likely to be true given the circumstances and his greed-driven persona. Although he played a prominent role in the tragedy, greed is not uncommon, and his avarice did not affect how the trials went down.

John Proctor is ranked fifth most flawed because he tried to make up for his sins. Mr. Proctor’s most obvious flaw was his lustful affair with Abigail. However, he tried to expiate this sin and rekindle his marriage with Elizabeth. Near the end of the play, John Proctor rips apart his confession and exclaims, “You have made your magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs.” Proctor’s hubris leads him to believe he has confessed his sins and that there is nothing else that he can do to save both himself and his reputation. Instead of plastering his confession on the front of the church, he capitulated to his hanging.

Reverend Parris is the fourth most flawed because of his intense desire to protect his reputation over saving citizens’ lives. After Abigail told Parris what supposedly occurred in the forest he replied, “It must come out - my enemies will bring it out. Let me know what you done there. Abigail, do you understand that I have many enemies?” Parris was obviously much more concerned with how others would view him than dealing with the proper punishment. Throughout the entire play, Reverend Parris did this on multiple occasions. If he had not been consumed by his pride and had not egged on the witchcraft story, the tragedy may not have happened.

Mary Warren’s flaws were her inclination to please every party. Her envy of the girls fitting in with each other drove her to side with them and lie in court. In Act Three, Judge Danforth asked Mary, “Then you tell me that you sat in my court, cal-lously lying, when you knew that people would hang by your evidence? Answer me,” and she replied, “I did, sir.” By lying in court the first time, she supposedly gave Abigail’s claim credibility which lead to the hanging of many innocent people.

Judge Danforth is ranked sixth because of his pride and reluctance to properly evaluate the trial. In Act Three, Danforth asks Francis Nurse, “And do you know that near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature?….. And seventy-two condemned to hang by that signature?” Here, Danforth’s pride gets the best of him, and he seems proud of himself for convicting and sentencing so many people. Also, even after many holes were poked in the prosecution’s cases such as Mary Warren’s confession to faking fainting, Danforth continued to support the girls’ claims.

Abigail Williams is the most flawed character in The Crucible because of her lust towards John Proctor, her mendaciousness, and her envy. After Elizabeth discovered John and Abigail’s affair, Abigail was let off. She was very envious of Elizabeth and wanted to kill her. In Act One, Betty shouts at Abigail, “You drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!” In addition, the tragedy within the play would not have taken place if Abigail had not blamed Tituba. Her constant lying was the reason the Salem Witch Trials took place and she is most responsible, therefore most flawed.