The Crucible

In the play, The Crucible, Aurthur Miller's protagonist is John Proctor. He's a farmer and a well respected man in town, but he has a terrible secret; he's had an affair with Abigail Williams. Abigail is very vengeful towards John when he refuses to continue the affair, which causes the beginning of the Salem Witch Trials-- the persecution of accused witches-- and John, along with eventually everyone else in the town, has to suffer for it. Many innocent people are tried and hanged in a court that's based off of vengeance, all because John didn't admit for the sake of his own reputation; but when he finally does, he realizes it's far too late to turn back, and he is forced to chose between his reputation and integrity or his life; a sinful, corrupted pleasure turned into the corruption of a whole town, as Abigail found a way to corrupt John, a generally pure man.

There are many ways to symbolize a man like John; an example could even be a television. John educated people and taught them things; he tried to to tell the people of the town that the girls were lying and Hale eventually got the message; just as tv's can educate people and teach them things. Abigail had the ability to 'throw' John as she used his betrayal of his wife as ammo until the guilt 'smashed' him both mentally and symbolically; it had grown in him and grew in the town after the mass hysteria was over-- just as you can throw and smash a tv. Being a big name in the town, John was often watched; just like a television. A difference could be that he was well rounded-- he was courageous, brave, and determined; he tried to put a stop to all the false truths and the disloyalty of the people in Salem, just as he had been in the very beginning-- while tv's generally are square. John also was not lazy, and tv's tend to make people the exact opposite; and John also had the ability to be 'dark' at times and 'light up', the same way a tv is dark when turned off and then, at times, can kindle a whole room.

John taught and educated, was watched, thrown and smashed by guilt, had his light moments and dark moments, and was a seemingly judicious man; but when it comes down to it, he's the best symbol for himself.