A Summary of "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller

     The Crucible is a play that demonstrates how hysteria can lead to downfall. The play first focuses on Abigail Williams, a young and jealous girl, plotting revenge on Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail started the accusations of witchcraft because she wanted Elizabeth's husband, John Proctor, to herself. He had an affair with Abigail previously, causing Elizabeth to dismiss her from her servant duties. Abigail accuses many of the women in Salem, including Elizabeth, of being seen with the devil. Once Elizabeth is accused and imprisoned, John Proctor tries to defend her innocence.
     In the third act, John Proctor and his servant, Mary Warren, come to the court for the sake of Elizabeth. Mary states that she lied previously about seeing the devil and has come to help prove Elizabeth as not guilty. Once the judge calls in Abigail and the group of girls enter the court, they have already premeditated that they weren't going to confess to their fraud and cause problems for Proctor. Mary goes insane after the girls' act, and then sides back with them. Proctor is then found guilty and put in prison.
     The concluding fourth act reveals Proctor's decision against witchcraft. He admits to the crime of witchcraft, although he does not agree or believe in it at all, so he could live. In the end, however, he could not sign his name to the confession papers. Thus, the judge has no choice but to send him to his death by hanging. John Proctor ended up dying for the sake of injustice, even though he was not involved in witchcraft. Elizabeth does not stop him from his destiny, and the play ends with her saying, "He has his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him" (Miller 145).