Essay About Courage In The Crucible

Outstanding Courage
Adversity is a constant in The Crucible. It is everywhere and destroys almost all courage. Everyone but a few is trying to save themselves or gain from others misfortune. Having courage to do what is right and save others is like being a deer no longer camouflaged amidst a pack of wolves. Those who display it stand out and are attacked. Giles Corey, John Proctor, and Elizabeth Proctor are some of the few courageous enough to do what is right in the face of danger.
Giles Corey goes against the court and most of the town to save his wife and others. Almost everyone believes the girls lie and yet he still calls out Putman. “This man is killing his neighbors for their land” (Miller96). Giles is willing to risk his life to

prove that all the so-called “witches” are just the unlucky people with land and money for the taking. Later, as the court wants names, he refuses as he knows they will be arrested. “I will not give you no name. I mentioned my wife’s name once and I’ll burn in hell long enough for that. I stand mute” (Miller97). Giles knows he will be tortured for the names, but he would rather give up his own life instead of letting other innocent people be put in prison or killed. He held on to that conviction until the very end. As the court was crushing him with stones for names all he said was, “More weight” (Miller 135). He said only two words at death and yet by his actions, those words multiplied to mean much more. They mean not all men will be corrupted in adversity. They mean facing death does not cause bravery to disappear. They mean one man did what was right and had the courage to do so.
Elizabeth Proctor displays courage, but in a different way than Giles Corey. As hale questions Elizabeth on her belief of witches she responds by saying, “If you think I am one, then I say there are none. Question Abigail Williams about the Gospel, not myself” (Miller70). Not only does she dismiss witchcraft, but also calls out Abigail out as a fraud and a liar. She shows her courage with her speech. She does not burst into a court, but she will not keep her opinion of the whole conspiracy a secret. She says whatever she thinks is right and best for everyone. Sadly, this backfires on her. When asked to testify against John Proctor, she thinks it is best to lie for him. She could have told the truth and taken Abigail and John out at the same time. However, she is loyal to John. She would not want to ruin him even to save herself. By trying to protect him, she accidently condemned him. She had no prior knowledge John had confessed his adultery with Abigail to the court. Though she hurt John, it took courage to lie for him. Even John himself said, “In her life, sir, she have never lied” (Miller111). Elizabeth was a Christian woman and was against lying, yet she broke her moral in front of many people to save John.
John Proctor shows courage through his actions and words.

He continually tries to save his wife. As Elizabeth is arrested, he tries to save her by force. He rips the warrant for her arrest to pieces and it takes two men to hold him back while she is taken away. During her imprisonment, John does everything in his power to prove she is innocent. He even tries to ruin his own name and life to save hers. In court, he says,” I have known her, sir. I have known her” (Miller110) referring to Abigail. Not only does this destroy his reputation, it could have been punishable by imprisonment or death. He was willing to sacrifice everything for Elizabeth’s safety. Unfortunately, Mary warren accused him of being a wizard. Now his options to help Elizabeth and himself is limited. However, when Elizabeth becomes pregnant, she is safe until the baby is born. John must decide whether to save his own life and condemn others or die and save those from being killed in the future. If he confesses to dealing with the devil, he will live. If he denies it, he will be hanged. John does confess, but will not let it be public. He knows a public confession will ruin his family, friends, and his name. He will have nothing left his he does live. However, the court will not accept it if it is not public. With his response, he signs his death

certificate:
Beguile me not! I blacken all of them when this is nailed to the church the very day they hang for silence…Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I Lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my Name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (Miller143)
John’s actions may have killed him, but it saved many others not only in name but in the future. He did not hide his courage.
Giles Corey, Elizabeth Proctor, and John Proctor let their courage shine when surrounded by death and destruction. They stood their ground not for pride. They stood their ground for what is right. They stood their ground because they had the courage to do so.