The Crucible

• Messianic Character
• Disregards the theocratic law for his own moral values of right and wrong
• Knew about the pretence of Salem, (Abigail, Page 19,  ACT I)
• His views on Salem do not change through the play
• Come to terms with his morals and his sins by the end of the play
• self-righteous, "A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth!"
• Does not relinquish his name because it is the only part of him that will live on after death
• Values his reputation as much as anyone else within Salem
• Goes on a Cathartic journey (providing psychological relief through the expression of strong emotions, purgative journey)

John Proctor, a character who regards himself as a fraud, is used by Miller to show an almost prophet-like stand against hypocrisy and the injustice of Danforth's law as the flawed anti-hero.

• Is given power through confessing that she has been visited by the Devil
• Reveres John Proctor as her own personal Messiah, come to save her
• Challenges the strength of her empowerment through the Devil by challenging Danforth's authority.
• "And mark this, let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you." Imposes her authority upon her 'gang' of witches.
• Violent past, "I have seen some reddish work done at night, and I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down!"
• John Proctor taught her about the pretence's of Salem
• Biblical language to describe her Devilish acts
• Jezebel character
• both JP and AW care about the reputation of their name.

In the Crucible, Abigail Williams is the instigator of hysteria and author of lies. Miller uses her as a Jezebel character to highlight the downfalls of a theocratic society and the importance of ones name.

• Selfish and greedy
• Fears for his reputation
• Has steadily built up a force of opposers since his time in office however strives for approval amoungst Salems inhabitants, and when Danforth arrives, him.
• Demands for house deads and gold candles, because he believes he is more powerful and therefore 'entitled' to them.
• Constantly changing his opinion on whether the girls are witches or not, he does this to try and protect his own name and, to show his own indecisiveness of the theocratic law and his willingness to abandon others for his own gain
• self obssessed
• Miller uses him to show the errors in the theocratic law and the almost obssessive way in which people value their reputation 

Miller uses Reverend Samuel Parris, a man who cannot make up his mind or keep his opinions to himself, to show the self serving nature of a church with power and how a  self obssessive need for approval amoungst the villagers, and those with higher power leads, to being ultimately despised.

• Outsiders view upon Salem
• Miller uses him to show that he isn't criticising religion
• Is a parallel of Parris, Miller uses him to show the opposite directions that religion can go in.
• Questions every villager in Salem to ensure their belief within God, ("Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small.")
• Wanted to go to Salem not to accuse people of being witches but to spread the word of God
• Has amazing hair in the movie.
• Goes through many 'turning points' through the play, first believing the witches  then sympathy for those affected, until he finally resigns all belief of witchcraft.

In the Crucible, Reverend John Hale, is introduced as an optimistic, liberal Christian ready to spread the word of God. Miller uses to him to juxtapose Parris and show the opposite directions that religion that can go in, whilst also displaying how it isn't completely religions wrong doings that led to a theocratic society without morals.

• Husband on Ann Putnam
• Bitter over old land disputes
• Believes that he and his family hasn't been given the respect and rights that he deserves
• Seeks to increase his wealth and landholdings however he can, even by accusing those of witchcraft.
• Miller uses him to highlight how grudges are kept under the surface within Salem and how many people use them as a reason to accuse those of witchcraft.
• "There are wheels within wheels in this village, and fires within fires!"
  • Mrs. Ann Putnam
• holds a grudge against Francis Nurse for preventing Putnam’s brother-in-law from being elected to the office of minister

John Putnam is a bitter man in the Crucible, mainly over land disputes and the previous, failed, election of his brother-in-law. Miller uses Putnam to highlight grudges hidden beneath the surface of Salem and how they were use to accuse people of witchcraft to gain land and wealth.

• Justice is personal to Danforth
• Take Proctor not signing his confession as an insult
• Believes completely in his ability to distinguise truth from fiction, "We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment"
• Views those that disagree, or challange, him as suspects and those working against the church
• "A person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between"
• Danforth dominates everyone who enters his courtroom. Everyone with the exception of Abigail Williams
• He hangs innocent people to avoid sullying his reputation

Judge Danforth is a man who believes whole heartedly in his theology and the laws of the state, as well as his own ability of rooting out liars. Miller uses him to highlight how far people would go to protect their reputation as well the extreme lengths many went to uphold the church.