Arthur Miller’s Play Highlights That in Times of Adversity Some People Are only Interested in Self-Interest, No Matter What the Cost to the Innocent.

Arthur Miller’s play highlights that in times of adversity some people are only interested in self-interest, no matter what the cost to the innocent.

Self interest is a way to gain some sort of benefit over the victim. Abigail was self interest to deflect her sins to avoid blackening to her name. ‘The Crucible’ written by Arthur Miller, opens in Salem in 1692. Arthur Miller wrote this play as an allegory of communism in the 1950’s. Arthur Miller features that in times of hardship some characters are self interested, however on the other hand some characters make sarificial decisions in the desire to do what is right. Arthur Miller named the play ‘The Crucible’ because it is a symbol of change when pressure is applied. The main characters that show self interest are Danforth and Reverland Parris who care about their reputation more then the town and Abigail to protect her clean name. On the other hand some characters have the desire to do what is right. This characters is John Proctor and partially Reverland Hale. Overall, The town of Salem has innocent characters that want to what is right at the risk of their lives.

Those in a position of authority, can be shown to act in self interest to protect their reputation. The Crucible is a symbol of pressure when metal is heated the impurities sink to the bottom. This is shown when Danforth was questioned about his authority and the legitimacy of the court. When Proctor asked for evidence Danforth replied with “an invisible crime... Witness… witch and the victim”(90) Danforth response was to shift the pressure away from himself to protect his 30 year reputation. Reverland Hale on the other hand changed because he knew that the girls were lying to fool the court; “They are innocents!”(115) Reverland Hale left the court because he did not want anymore blood on his head as the result of the non legitimacy of this court that cannot prove justice. When Hale tried to postpone Proctors hanging because he knew that the girls were faking the whole sitituation, Danforth denied the postponement because it could do damage to his authority and reputation. Danforth cares about his authority and reputation that shifted himself to self interest when he was questioned about the legitimacy of the court, on the other hand Reverland Hale partially changed in selfless because he had enough of the corrupt court.

Those who have high amount of respect, lie in order to save their reputation, however some change when pressure is applied. Parris was self interested about his reputation that made him conveal Abigail dancing from the court and Danforth. He cares a lot about his reputation when he said to Abigail that “I have fought here three long years”(26). John Proctor was initially self interested about his affair will Abigail. When the pressure was applied about John Proctors wife he finally became selfless to protect his wife. Near the end of the play John Proctor admitted that he finally “see some shred