Good People Gone, Too Soon
Picture visiting a town, full of many strict religious peoples. Then, a picture comes back
to that town only a few years later, to find that many people have been killed for being accused
of embodying demons! As silly this sounds, this is what happened to Salem in the 1600s. What
drove these people to be persecuted to the point that they were killed. The author of The Crucible
writes a story based on a group of girls, largely driven by Abigail Williams, who lived in the city
of Salem who wrongly accuse people of witchcraft, leading to the deaths of 19 people, which
includes John Proctor, Giles Corey, and Rebecca Nurse, and the arrest of 200 townsfolk. Arthur
Miller, the author of The Crucible, conveys that people are driven to ultimately keep a good
name through admirability and this is shown through the characters Rebecca Nurseby refusing to
lie, John Proctor by refusing to tell everyone about how he is guilty, and Giles Corey by wishing
for more torture instead of confessing; all of which leads to each of their deaths.
The character Rebecca Nurse embodies that people are driven to ultimately keep a good
name through admirability. Rebecca Nurse is an old, knowledgeable, and respected woman in the
Salem community. When John Proctor initially said that he conspired with the devil, she was
called in to make her give in, also. She resists, saying how “it is a lie, how may I damn myself, I
cannot, I cannot” (Miller 674). She refuses to give in. This is admirable since she stays true to
her morals of not lying. This moral standing is believed to be beneficial for her since this way
she will not be punished by god. The consequences of punishment by lying from God are too
great compared to death.
The character John Proctor embodies that people are driven to ultimately keep a good
name through admirability. Shortly after John Proctor initially said that he conspired with the
devil and when Rebecca Nurse was brought in to make her give in, John Proctor is asked to sign
a piece of writing that shows the village that he confessed, even though he already confessed to
the judges. He refuses, saying that “God does not need my name nailed upon the church!”
(Miller 676). He presses on that he does not want to hurt his name and reputation in the village.
This shows admirability since he also is motivated to not confess by his morals. Of which is also
not to lie. The consequences of punishment by lying from God are too great compared to death.
The character Giles Corey embodies people are driven to ultimately keep a good name
through admirability. During the time that Proctor was imprisoned, John Proctor and his wife
Elizabeth Proctor were able to talk about whether he should give up his good name to save his
life. This is when Elizabeth lets John know about Giles Corey, who “ would not answer aye or
nay to his indictment” that he is a witch (Miller 670). He was pressed by “Great stones they lay
upon his chest until he plead aye or nay” (Miller 671). He died, under the stones, meaning that he
kept his name clear and clean of being a witch. This also shows how he is admirable as he is
motivated to not confess because of his morals, which is also not to lie. This is also because the
consequences of punishment by lying from God are too great compared to death.
The people of the Salem Witch trials were mistreated and killed in wrongful ways under
wrongful circumstances. The Crucible serves to show to what extent people believed in their
religion and morals through the characters of Rebecca Nurseby refusing to lie, John Proctor by
refusing to tell everyone about how he is guilty, and Giles Corey by wishing for more torture
instead of confessing; all of which leads to each of their death. It reminds us to think thoroughly
about things to make sure we don’t jump to silly conclusions which impact others in great ways.