Giles Corey may be the most courageous man in the "The Crucible". Yet his foolishness, possibly from old age(83) alone, and his over-pridefulness make him a weak man as well. .
Giles showed numerous examples of Courage throughout the book. One example is when he defended his wife, who was being charged with whitchcraft. While pleading to Judge Danforth, Danforth is annoyed and warns, "Be gone, your old age alone keeps you out of jail for this". Giles replies "They be tellin" lies about my wife sir.", and goes and to plead more until he is pushed out of the court. .
It was clear Corey's pride eventually served as a weakness. While defending his wife, Giles told the court that he heard that Mr. Putnam had intentions to use charges of witchcraft to secure desired land in Salem. When Giles refused to give the name of the man that he heard this from, he was thrown in jail. Eventually, The court tortured Giles (pressed with heavy stones) to coerce him to give up the name. Yet his pride was too strong. He was unwilling to do so, even in exchange for his life. In his last breaths before being crushed to death, Giles had only two words, "More Weight".
Giles greatest weakness was that he was much too foolish. It may be from strictly old age, or maybe that he was just a stubborn man. Giles Corey didn't think for even a second before he spoke. He didn't care about public opinion and it hurt him in many ways. He had numerous law suits in that year alone. Even John Proctor, who seemed to be Corey's one good friend, had recently been taken to court by Giles. Giles made his biggest mistake when he discussed with Reverend Hale about his wife, Martha's reading of strange books. He foolishly asks "Mr Hale, I've always wanted to ask a learned man, what signifies the readin" of strange books?". After Hale asks him what he means by this, Giles responds "Martha, my wife. I have waked at night many a time and found her in a corner, readin" of a book".
