The Crucible - Important Character Analysis :: Arthur Miller

In The Crucible, Arthur Miller establishes the universal theme that good does not always prevail over evil. It shows that fear and perplexity can produce a mass hysteria that destroys public order and rationality. This theme is clearly identified through the characters actions throughout the tinker. Three characters in the play demonstrate different types of human condition through the decisions they make. Reverend Hale and John Proctor represent the human condition to choose rationally sequence Danforth advocates a more traditional side. All but Danforth have a change of heart from the given situation. The Crucible argues that even when a society is corrupt, a person with high moral character can follow their conscience to make a good decision.Reverend Hale is called to Salem to help mold the witchcraft chaos. At first he is confident in doing his job as a reverend by following the church standards. He agrees with the chat up?s tactics, which involves searching for confe ssions to aid the trial in sentencing people to death. Over the course of the play he experiences a huge transformation. As he listens to twain sides of the trial, he realizes that the church and court standards may be wrong, and he begins to question these standards within himself. He stops supporting the court because he can no longer accept the false prosecutions that Danforth continues to make. His final decision in going against the church and following his heart shows the true side of his character. He goes through the relaxation method of the play trying to save people?s lives. When someone asks why he has come back he states, ?Why, it is all simple. I come to do the devil?s work? (986). This shows he feels that doing what may seem wrong to others is actually the right thing to do. His efforts are in vain, however,because in the end the prude Court overrules all other opinion.Danforth is the judge of the witch trials and is very stubborn in his ways. His handling of the tri als is overbearing and intolerant. He is shocked when Francis Nurse dares to judge his federal agency and states, ?Peace, Judge Hawthorne, do you know who I am, Mr. Nurse (959). He thinks that he is superior to everyone else and he believes he has the best judgment of all. Because of his job he is expression pressured to please the majority of the people.