Integrity in a World Of play, the Crucible, Arthur Miller

Integrity means being true to ourselves. It involves being honest, upright and decent in our dealings with others. Integrity guides our thoughts and words; making sure they align with each other. Additionally, it ensures our actions congruent with our principles. Integrity requires internal honesty and self-awareness. In his play, The Crucible, Arthur Miller presents John Proctor as a farmer in his mid-thirties, respected and even feared in Salem. Apart from being depicted as honest and virtuous, Proctor’s character undergoes transformation throughout the play.

Despite committing adultery, by the conclusion of the play, John Proctor emerges as a man of integrity. He confesses to his misdeeds, saves his wife, refuses to subscribe to falsehood, and eventually dies denying the existence of witchcraft.

Although he committed lechery, John confesses to the court about his illicit acts that transpired with Abigail, a teenager who was employed as a maid at his establishment. With his wife sentenced to death, he grapples with two choices; either remaining silent about his doings with Abigail, or tarnishing his name in an effort to save his wife and thereby sacrificing his reputation. He confesses, “I have known her, sir. I have known her” (Miller 110). Even with the understanding that his name would be tarnished in society, he chooses truth over deception as his integrity demands it. When Judge Danforth questions Elizabeth, John’s wife, about Proctor’s infidelity, she responds, “my husband—is a goodly man, sir.” (Miller 113). She lies trying to protect John, fully aware that if he was not a man of integrity, she would have revealed the truth. Although John’s actions were incorrect, Elizabeth lies to save him because she perceives him as a genuinely good man. Proctor, however, realizes that by concealing the truth, he would be acting cowardly, betraying his wife and doing the bare minimum one could do in a situation of such gravity.

John, being the man of integrity he is, acknowledges his mistakes and tries to make amends. We see him warding off Abigail, illustrating his desire to rectify his faults: “I will cut off my hand before I reach for you again” (Miller 23). Proctor is shown determined to resist Abigail and commits himself to do the right thing for his wife and himself. In his quest to uphold honesty and correct his wrongdoings, he inadvertently invokes Abigail’s wrath, who then accuses Proctor’s wife of witchcraft in a bid to eliminate her. In Act 3 of the play, we see John in court along with Mary Warren who is prepared to testify against Abigail’s allegations. Together, they endeavour to plead on behalf of Elizabeth. However, Mary Warren is manipulated by Abigail and the other girls, causing her argument to crumble. This event leaves John Proctor desolate, leading him to confess his affair with Abigail Williams in court.

Throughout Act 4 of the play, we see that Elizabeth tries to convince John to confess in order to save his life: “I want you living, John. That’s sure” (Miller 136). She is successful, and John confesses in order to save his life. He says that he saw the devil, claims that the devil bid him to do his work, and conveys that he bound himself to the devil. However, he denies that he saw anyone else with the devil. When they ask him to sign his name, he tears up his written confession, choosing instead to retain his integrity.

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