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ZakSmith
Mrs.Larson
English3,Period6
2October2014
TimetoTakeaTest
Childrenallovertheworldgothroughacountlessnumberoftestsintheirschoolcareer.
Howeverthesetestsdonottestpeopleontheirmoralityandthesetestsdonotresultindeath.In
ArthurMillersplay,
TheCrucible
,thepeopleinthetownofSalemareforcedintoadifficult
situationwhereeveryoneistested.ThecharactersJohnProctor,ElizabethProctor,andMary
Warrengothroughtestsoftheircharacterthatdoresultindeath.
JohnProctorstestiswhatstartedalltheproblemsinSalem.JohnProctorisnotperfect,
hemakesmistakes.JohnhasanaffairwithhisservantAbigailwhichmakeshiswifefireher.
NeitherofthesewomenarehappywitheachotherandalltheirtensionisdirectedatJohn.The
wordofhisaffairisneverreleasedtothepublicsoJohnProctorsnamehasgreatweightyetin
thetown(127).ThestorygetsintensewhenAbigailaccusesElizabethofpracticingwitchcraft.
TherightresponseforJohnistoadmittotheaffairtorevealAbigailslyingwaysandmotivefor
wantingElizabethtohang.Johndoesexactlythisbecauseheisthekindofpersonwhowill
sacrificehimselftosaveothers.Howeverhisplanbackfiresandheissentencedtohangfor
practicingwitchcraft.JohnProctorisaskedbyDanforthtoconfesstothecrimebutittakes
Elizabethsfinalthoughtstoconvincehim.AtthispointJohnrealizesthatconfessingwouldnot
onlydirtythenamesofalltheotherconvictedpeoplebuthisownnamewouldberuined.John

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knowsthatwhateverhechoosestodoitisagoodman[that]doesit(109).HoweverJohnstays
strongtohisChristianmoralsandrefusestolieresultingindeath.
ThesecondtestofcharacterintheCrucibleisthetestofElizabethProctorshonesty.
ElizabethsteststartsafterJohnhashisaffairandAbigailgetsfired.ElizabethisnttrustingJohn
aftertheaffairandsheisactingcoldwithhim.StagedirectionsdescribeJohntastingElizabeths
stewandlookingdistasteful,thenstate:Heisnotquitepleased.Hetakesapinchofsalt,and
dropsitintothepot(41).ThisshowsthatElizabethhaslostherpassionandnolongercaresif
itsgood.Elizabethreallyneverdoesanythingtodeservehertestbutactmadathercheating
husband,whichisconsiderednormalforthecircumstances.WhenElizabethiscalledtothecourt
forsuspicionofwitchcraftJohnadmitstohisaffairtosaveher.HowevertoproveJohnistelling
thetruththejudgesaskElizabethifJohnisalecher.Elizabeth,beingthegoodwifesheis,liesto
thejudgetosaveherhusbandsnamefrombeingtarnished.Elizabethmaylieatthisonetimebut
evenReverendHaleadmits:ItisanaturallietotellIbelievehim(114).Evenwith
Elizabethbeingthegodlywomansheiseveryonestillthinkssheworkswiththedevil.Elizabeth
doesgettoredeemherselfbyadmittingtobeingabadwifeandapologizing.
ThethirdtestofcharacterhappenswiththeProctorsservantMaryWarren.Maryhasa
lottodowitheveryonegettingcondemned.Maryisasubservient,naive,lonelygirl(18)soits
hardtothinkthatshecouldhelpkillpeople.Abigailhasallthepowerinthecourtandsheis
sharingitwithwhoeverhelpsher,thisexplainswhyMaryisactingthisway.Maryshowsthat
sheisjustpowerhungrywhenshesaystoProctor,Illnotbeorderedtobednomore,Mr.
Proctor!(60).MarystestbeginswhenProctortriestogethertoaccuseAbigailoflying.Mary
shoulddothisbecauseitistherightthingtodoanditwillsavealotofpeoplefrombeing

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hanged.MarydoesconfesstolyingandthatAbigailwaslyinghoweverthejudgethenasksher
toproveitbyfaintinglikeshedidwhilepretending.Marycannotdoitbecauseshedoesnthave
agroupofpeopledoingitaswell.InsteadoftakingthedefeatshegoesbacktoAbigailsside
andblamesJohnProctorofusingwitchcraftonher.Marystartsoutgoodbutdoesntfollow
throughandendsupgettingJohnProctorhanged.
InArthurMillersplay,TheCrucible,threecharacterstakeonsomedifficulttests.
Whethertheyaredifficultbecauseofpeerpressureorgoingagainsttheirmoralstheyeitherpass
orfail.JohnProctorsacrificedhislifetokeephisgoodnameaswellasthegoodnameofothers.
Healsolefthiswifealone,inaprisoncell,andpregnantaftercheatingonher.IntheendJohn
didtherightthingandpassedhistest.ElizabethProctorliedtothejudgetosaveherhusbandbut
wentagainstherChristianbeliefs.Eventhoughsheliedshedidntknowthecircumstancesand
stillpasseshertest.MaryWarrensteppedupandconfessedtolyingtosaveinnocentpeople.She
thenwentbacktoAbigailtoescapepersecutionandliedagain.MaryWarrenfailedhertest
becauseshedidntstaytruetowhatisright.Marymightfeeldifferentlythough.Shemightthink
shemadetherightchoice.Allinallnomatterwhattestpeoplefaceinlifetheanswersare
alwaysuptothem.Justknowthatsomeonemightdieasaresult.