A Dynamic Character in the Crucible

            In the Crucible, John Proctor plays a dynamic role. Proctor is a good man, he is honest, upright and he always goes right to the point. In the beginning of the play, Proctor does not want to be involved in the witch-hunts. His secret, that he will not share with the community because he does want to ruin his public reputation, is his one true flaw. This is his lust for Abigail Williams. The play's plot revolves around an affair between Abigail and Proctor. In order to stop the trials he has to overcome his fear of losing his reputation and tell the community of his adultery, which shows a very crucial change in the story's plot.
             Before the play begins, there is the crucial event of Abigail and Proctor's affair. Abigail had worked in the Proctor's home, but when Elizabeth Proctor (his wife) becomes jealous, and she fires Abby. This Jealousy puts the hysteria of the play's plot, the Salem witch trials, into motion. In his fear of losing his public reputation, John struggles to show Abigail that he no longer has feelings for her. "Abby I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched Abby.""(23) Abigail knows, however, that he is just pretending in order save his public reputation from being be soiled. .
             As the story progresses, Abigail goes on a rampage through Salem, destroying the lives of innocent people. She is so jealous of Elizabeth Proctor that she starts accusing people of witchcraft in order for her to get closer to Proctor. Proctor realizes that he must end her rampage and that there is only one-way to do this, he must confess his adultery to the community. This is Proctor's biggest change as well as the turning point of the play. This confession would ruin his good name. Proctor eventually makes an attempt, through Mary Warren's testimony, to make Abigail a fraud, without revealing the crucial information.