The Crucible is a story of the Salem Witch Trials that occurred in the community of the Puritans of Salem in 1692. The Crucible had many characters that were motivated by the wrong reasons but a few characters were motivated positively. The characters that were motivated positively were John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Giles Corey. They are characters that have integrity, are humble, and have ethics. You can say that these people were the heroes and were led by a positive motive.
John Proctor is a clear protagonist throughout the story, faced many conflicts but held to be tough until the end due to the strong integrity he had when faced with many unnerving situations. John Proctor said this to his wife, “You will not judge me more, Elizabeth…” (Act 2, Line 150 ). He demonstrates how his integrity kicked in with his wife towards her judgment of him. John Proctor wanted to get Abigail to confess so he admitted to his mistakes, “A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I beg you, sir, I beg you—see her what she is. My wife, my dear good wife, took this girl soon after, sir, and put her out on the high road...She thinks to dance with me on my wife's grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat” (Act 3, Line 853). John confessed to the judges and tarnishes his name for the moment but saves his moral integrity by telling the truth. After everything that was going in on church, he faced the dilemma of keeping quiet or ruining his integrity by not speaking up. John Proctor was a hero throughout the story for his integrity kept motivating him to do the right thing.
Save your time!
We can take care of your essay
- Proper editing and formatting
- Free revision, title page, and bibliography
- Flexible prices and money-back guarantee
Place an order
Rebecca Nurse, married to Francis Nurse, was another hero who had a strong sense of ethics. She had a deeper impact on the other characters from different perspectives. Rebecca Nurse said, “ Mr. Parris, I think you’d best send Reverend Hale back as soon as he comes. This will set us all to arguin’ again in the society, and we thought to have piece this year. I think we ought to rely on the doctors now, and good prayer...There is prodigious danger in the seeking of loose spirits. I fear it, I fear it. Let us rather blame ourselves and-” (Act 1, Line 559-560 ). Fearing for the worst, Rebecca wants Mr. Parris to reevaluate his decisions. Rebecca was trying to have the Putnams look inside themselves for the answer; also to talk with others for more reasoning. Rebecca said to John, “ No, you cannot break charity with your minister. You are kind, John” (Act 1, Line 655). Rebecca wants John to think about what he is saying to everyone because he is not thinking clearly before speaking; although John is a sensible man who knows how to do better. She knows he is making a mistake and wants him to correct himself before the situation gets worse for him. Rebecca Nurse has a strong sense of ethics throughout the story which is what gets her hung at the end but she is still a hero.
Giles Cory, To be a foolish man at the start of everything, a hero in the story who dies being humble. he is tortured to death for not cooperating because he would send another man to be hung. “More weight” ( Act 3) is stated by Giles before he was crushed by stones. Through this event he shows how he is humble about what's life; instead of saving and continuing his, he ended his so another man’s isn't cut short. He also displays his courage and becomes a hero for saving a life by sacrificing his own. Giles Corey mentioned his wife's name at the beginning of the story and he mourns over it, “ I will give you no name. I mentioned my wife’s name once and I'll burn in hell. Long enough for that. I stand mute”( Act 3, Line 429 ) I can infer from this quote that he is grateful for obtaining the paper that can prove his accusation against Putnam. he will not give up a name for the judges and Giles dies for it. Giles Corey is a hero because he was humble towards the end of the story and dies a true man under Christian law.
In The Crucible, many characters were faced with tough situations and could not overcome them. Few in the story we're strong enough and even died believing in themselves till the end. John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Giles Corey were three of those who died in the end but they all stood their ground and stood up for what they believed in.