The Crucible
2007 Question 3:
Choose a play in which a character makes a crucial
error. Explain what the error is and discuss to what
extent this is important to your understanding of the
characters situation in the play as a whole.
Introduction
• Theme – Reputation, Identity
• John Proctor makes a crucial error in the play –
He commits adultery with Abigail Williams.
• Proctors actions have lead to his dilemma of
whether to confess or not. – Confess and live
but lose his good name, or die and salvage his
self respect and integrity.
• Relate this to the question.
Main Body
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Paragraph one:
Explaining his error.
Link back to the beginning of the play with Abigail
Proctor makes a crucial error when he has an affair with Abigail
Williams
• “ You are no wintry man- John Proctor”
• Miller’s choice of the words “no wintry man” suggests that Abigail
and Proctor had a heated relationship. “Wintry” contrasts with
Elizabeth’s quote: “I do keep a cold house.”
• As a result of Proctor’s error he risks his relationship with Elizabeth
and is faced with his dilemma
Proctor’s Dilemma
• He can confess and stay alive but lose his
reputation, his name, his integrity and his
idea of himself. The alternative is to die
and by not implicating other people and by
not confessing falsely, he can restore his
sense of himself, integrity, pride and
reputation.
Why is Proctor’s name so
important to him?
• Proctor does not sign the confession
• “How may I live without my name? Have
given you my soul; leave me my name.”
• The act of signing reveals true and final
justice of his position . This is symbolic of
his integrity and shame.
Conclusion
• The title is important as it emphasises
something pure coming out of something
impure, which relates to the play as a
whole as Proctor makes a mistake but by
the end of the play his dignity and
reputation is restored.