The Crucible Essay – Katelynn Petrak

                The purpose of this essay is to discuss the play, The Crucible. In particular, what will be discussed is characters in The Crucible that behave in a conforming matter. This behavior can best be described and understood by using Kohlberg’s moral precepts for explanation. Specifically, Kohlberg has three distinct descriptions of perceptions that we have taken by individuals that motivate them to behave in certain ways. These three categories are pre-conventional behavior, conventional behavior, and post-conventional behavior. All three categories are factors that we considered when individuals decide to act in any given situation. If we understand the consideration and action, we will be able to achieve a better understanding for the character.

                There are characters in The Crucible that believe in a certain way to describe them as pre-conventional. Pre-Conventional behavior is when you behave in a certain way to obtain reward and avoid punishment. The first example of a pre-conventional character is Tituba. She shows this reasoning after Abigail Williams was questioned about herself and others dancing in the woods and blamed everything on Tituba. When Tituba was questioned, she was told she could redeem herself by admitting to working with the Devil and telling the names of everyone involved. When Reverend Parris confronts Tituba he says, “I will take you out and whip you to your death if you do not confess.” Tituba confessed to seeing the Devil and that Goody Good and Goody Osburn were with him. Tituba is a pre-conventional character because she confessed to avoid death. The next character to be discussed that behaves in a way to avoid punishment is Reverend Parris. He arrives at the Salem jail and proceeds to lament about finding a dagger stuck in his front door from his threatening neighbors. Parris begs Deputy Governor DanForth that “you cannot hang this sort. There is danger for me.” Where Parris is referring to upstanding, community members John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse who have positive reputations and plenty of friends in the town. Parris recognizes that Proctor and Rebecca Nurse have many supporters, and citizens would be motivated to rebel if they were publicly hung. Reverend Parris is a pre-conventional character because he will become a target after hanging Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor and becomes desperate to avoid the punishment of retaliation from the town. And the final character to be discussed is Abigail Williams. When she was eating at Parris’ house, she pulled a needle out of her stomach and claimed “it [was Elizabeth Proctor’s] familiar spirit [that] pushed it in.” Abigail lies in hope that Elizabeth will be charged with attempted murder and hung. Abigail is a pre-conventional character because she lied about Elizabeth using witchcraft in order to kill her without punishment and gain the reward of taking her place beside John. So, you can see from the examples provided that The Crucible has many characters that behave in a way to avoid punishment and obtain reward.

                There are many characters found in The Crucible that are conventional. Conventional behavior is when you behave in a certain way to fit into a group. Mary Warren is a conventional character. During the court proceeding Mary is testifying against Abigail and claims, “I’ll never hurt [Abigail] more” and revokes her testament. This is because Mary recognizes Abigail as the most powerful person in Salem and is afraid of her. By contradicting Abigail’s version of events Mary will be in a direct conflict with Abigail, and Mary is unsure whether she will be able to win against her. Mary is a conventional character because she completely revoked her statement knowing that Abigail is lying to conform and maintain harmony in the group of girls, particularly Abigail Williams. Mary retracting her confession against Abigail reflects her fear of retaliation and willingness to conform to fit in. The next character to discuss is Eziekiel Cheever. He behaves in a way that illustrates he wants to be in a group. As Cheever is retrieving the accused Elizabeth Proctor from her home, he says to his friend John Proctor that he “must do as I’m told” whilst taking John’s wife into custody. Eziekiel Cheever is a conventional character because of his willingness to drag his friend’s wife out of their home to be taken to jail. Cheever does this to fit in with the rest of the court and those around him. The final character is Reverend Parris. While Thomas Putnam tries to persuade Parris to declare the presence of witchcraft in the town, Parris is worried that “there is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit.” Parris is worried that a witchcraft scandal involving his family would give the group of people conspiring against him enough power to drive him out of the town. Parris is a conventional character because he is preoccupied with his reputation and authority and will act any way to keep it. He believes there is a group of townspeople against him and is worried about no longer fitting in if he draws negative attention to his family name. One can see from the examples provided, The Crucible has many characters that show a desire to fit in.

                There are post-conventional characters found in The Crucible. Post-conventional characters internalize a sense of right and wrong. They are confident in their values and beliefs regardless of punishment, reward, and group acceptance. The first post-conventional character to discuss is John Proctor. During the court proceeding John accuses Abigial of lying and confesses that “I have known her” to substantiate the charge he has just made against Abigail. John admitting to his lecherous behavior weakens Abigail’s reputation and character. John is a post-conventional character because he goes against what society expects of him and chooses to prioritize his own moral principles. He admitted to the affair with Abigail even though it would ruin his reputation. This shows he is willing to do what he believes is right even if it means going against societal norms. The next character that is confident in their sense of values and beliefs is Giles Corey. After being charged with witchcraft, he was sentenced to be pressed with great stones. As they were killing him with stones, the court kept asking him to confess to witchcraft, where Giles uttered “more weight.” He died, still in defiance to confess to something he did not do. Giles Corey is a post-conventional character because his last words were an attempt to expedite his death while also showing that not even imminent death could convince him to speak. This shows his commitment to his own principles and values, even at the cost of his life. And finally, the last character is Elizabeth Proctor. Elizabeth suspects her husband John still has feelings for Abigail, which is intensified when she learns he had lied about being alone with her. While they are discussing this situation Elizabeth asks “John, if it were not Abigail you must go hurt, would you falter now?” Elizabeth believes that John hesitates to reveal Abigail as a liar because he does not want any harm to come her way. Elizabeth is a post-conventional character because by discussing the situation involving Abigail and her husband John, it represents her understanding of her husband’s moral dilemma and her willingness to prioritize truth and integrity over personal comfort and reputation. It is evident from the examples provided that many characters in The Crucible behave in a way that meets their sense of values and beliefs without concern for punishment, reward, or group acceptance.

                In conclusion, it is evident that Kohlberg’s moral precepts have been a valuable tool in allowing the reader to achieve a better understanding for characters in The Crucible. It has also demonstrated why individuals behave the way they do when faced with certain situations. By categorizing moral development into pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional stages, we gain deeper insights into the characters’ motivations and actions. Pre-conventional morality reflects obtaining reward and avoiding punishment, conventional morality reflects acting in a way to fit in with a group, and post-conventional morality reflects an internalized sense of right and wrong, and confidence in set values and beliefs regardless of punishment, reward, and group acceptance. Understanding these stages enriches our comprehension of the characters’ moral journeys in The Crucible.