Provocative Characters In The Crucible

A provocative person provokes others. It is not always used as a sexual way in most cases. A provocative character in a book can cause something to happen and develop throughout the story. What is a play with provocative characters? In The Crucible, Arthur Miller had three provocative characters that change and grew. The characters of Reverend Hale, John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor have been through extreme situation that caused them to change and grow.
John Proctor is the most important element of the play. He changes throughout the trial. He does not want anyone to find out his secret. Reverend Hale went to go visit him one night. Hale asks him to a repeat the Ten Commandments. Hale tells him that he misses one commandment. Elizabeth states “Adultery, John”(67). . John names all of the Ten Commandments expect for adultery, which ironically is the one that he commits
Hale was about to leave the Proctor’s house but Elizabeth proclaims, “Will you tell him?”(68). She wants John to tell Hale the truth about his affair with Abigail. John is willing to tell the truth to the judge. He does not

want his wife to die for his mistakes. He signs the paper that he is with the devil. He snatches the paper so everyone cannot see the proof. “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life!”(143). John would rather give up his soul then his name.
Reverend Hale grows more throughout the play.

Hale is a smart and important person. When he first arrives to the town he acts cocky. He states, “setting down his books: They must be; they are weighted with authority”(36). Hale wants to find the witches and prosecute them. The narrator proclaims, “It is Mr. Hale. He is different now drawn a little, and there is a quality of deference, even of guilt, about his manner now”(62). Hale starts to be more personal. He believes that it is his fault. He only wants the truth to end all the witchery in the town. He visits John and Elizabeth one night. Hale states, “No no, I come of my own, without the court’s authority. Hear me. I know not if you are aware, but your wife’s name is mentioned in the court”(63). He questions them why they don’t attend church. After the trail, he realizes it was all lies from silly girls and gullible

adults.
Elizabeth Proctor changes throughout the play. She learns to let go and to forgive. John makes a mistake that causes her to become emotionally hurt. She is accused of witchcraft. John proclaims, “Who charged her? Why Abigail Williams charge her.”(73). Abigail is out to get her. She wants Elizabeth out of the way to have John to herself. In the court, she defends John from getting accuses of adultery. John proclaims, “Elizabeth, tell the truth”(113). Elizabeth admits to John that it is her fault for his affair. “John, I counted myself so plain, so poorly made, no honest love could come to me!”(137). She never thought a man like John could ever love her.
The mistake that John had made was the reason all of the characters, were put in an extreme situation. There were many provocative characters throughout the play. They all had to deal with extreme situations. They had to make a difficult decision to tell the truth or lie. The situations made them grow and develop to provoke readers to keep on reading.