Arthur Miller's play The Crucible shows the protagonist, John Proctor, on a tragic downward spiral as he discovers error in his path. Proctor is used as a vehicle for Miler's social criticism against the House Committee on Un-American Activities. It was led by Senator Joseph McCarthy in 1953. It was a time when anyone with leftist views was prosecuted on trivial evidence, an identical affair to the Salem witch trials some 300 years earlier. John Proctor begins in the first act as a selfish man, more concerned with his own reputation than the lives of others around him. However, in the end, his moral epiphany shows him in a new light which thus forces the audience to forgive him all his imperfections. The transformation of Proctor's character and his journey to redemption in the eyes of the audience is what this essay will be about. In the first act, Proctor is a character that the audience immediately dislikes and despises due to his arrogant manner; self-obsessed nature and hypocritical attitude towards others. “Put it out of your mind, Abby, we never touched” is a perfect archetype of Proctor's self-righteous manner. He is denying that the relationship between them ever happened to ensure that his name remains pristine in the city. Reputation is a crucial aspect of Salemite life, and most of the Proctor's decisions took into account what would happen to his reputation. This quote also portrays him in a domineering manner with an air of superiority over Abby as he tells her what to do and refuses to let her think otherwise. The word “put” is a great choice as it is an imperative verb, which supports the idea that Proctor is in control. The way he talks to Abby during the act is interesting but hypocritical. “(A knowing smile... middle of paper... at least they're trying to show God that they're not completely condemning a man to death, they're at least giving him a chance to confess. However, when Proctor refuses and to as a result he condemns himself to death, redeeming him in the eyes of the public. Over the course of the show we have followed Proctor's journey from his arrogant nature at the beginning to someone we don't necessarily have sympathy for at least empathizing with his situation. Miller's message about McCarthyism is extremely evident throughout The Crucible that it is just as absurd as the Salem witch trials in 1692. Proctor can be read in many ways, from a tragic hero's journey. to a rude awakening in the world of morality, but what is important is the tortuous passage he took that led to his redemption in the eyes of the public. Works Cited The Crucible - Arthur Miller