John Proctor, a farmer, is the protagonist of the story. He is a well-respected man in Salem, but it is revealed that he had an illicit affair with the adolescent Abigail Williams prior to the events of the play. This mistake comes back to haunt him when his wife, Elizabeth, is named a witch by Abigail and the girls who follow her. John is aware—from conversations with both Abigail and his servant, Mary Warren—that the girls have fabricated their accusations. Though he despises the trials, he is initially reluctant to challenge the girls for fear that his indiscretion with Abigail will be exposed, costing him his good name. 

After Elizabeth is arrested, however, John confronts the court with evidence, including depositions and a signed petition vouching for the characters of Elizabeth, Rebecca Nurse, and Martha Corey. His actions are viewed as attempts to undermine the court, and his own integrity and Christian faith are questioned. Eventually, John, too, is imprisoned and accused as a witch.

John initially decides to falsely confess to witchcraft in an attempt to spare his life, but in the end, he refuses to lie and chooses to be executed rather than sacrifice his good name. One of the central conflicts of the play concerns John's internal struggles in the wake of his immoral affair. Ultimately, he redeems his good name and his soul by refusing to surrender his integrity.

Elizabeth Proctor is a complex and morally upright character who plays a pivotal role in The Crucible. As John Proctor's wife, Elizabeth is a woman of integrity, deeply committed to her family and values. She is acutely aware of John's affair with Abigail Williams, and although she is determined to forgive him, the betrayal has eroded her trust, creating a strained dynamic between them. Despite her pain, Elizabeth does not allow her bitterness to turn to malice, and she holds herself to a high moral standard.

Elizabeth's reputation as a model citizen is widely recognized in Salem; however, this does not shield her from the community's hysteria and the resulting accusations of witchcraft. Her arrest reflects the extremities of the trials, where even the most respected individuals are not safe from suspicion and fear. After her imprisonment, Elizabeth's unexpected pregnancy brings a temporary reprieve from execution, though her future remains uncertain.

Elizabeth's strong sense of honor and integrity guides her actions and decisions. She wrestles with her husband's fate and his struggle to come to terms with his guilt and shame. Though she wishes for John to live, she ultimately respects his choice to maintain his integrity by refusing to falsely confess to witchcraft.

Elizabeth's final act of support allows John to find peace with himself, underscoring her strength and capacity for forgiveness. Through Elizabeth's character, Arthur Miller explores themes of forgiveness, loyalty, and the complexity of personal sacrifice in the face of societal and personal turmoil.

Abigail Williams is the young woman with whom John Proctor had an affair while she was a servant in his household. Abigail becomes very attached to John and hopes he will start a genuine relationship with her, despite the fact that he already has a wife. It is suggested by Betty that this is Abigail’s motivation when she takes part in Tituba's ritual at the start of the play, where she allegedly drinks blood as part of a charm to kill Elizabeth Proctor.

When Reverend Parris catches Abigail and the other girls in the forest, Abigail becomes the ringleader in their desperate attempt to avoid punishment. She is quick to shift blame onto others in the town, accusing innocent people of witchcraft to protect herself and divert suspicion. Her accusations unleash a wave of hysteria, which Abigail manipulates to her advantage.

Abigail's manipulation and cunning reach a level where she seems to believe in—or at least acts as if she believes in—the hysteria she has engineered. Her power in Salem grows, but her motivations remain selfish and destructive, highlighting her willingness to sacrifice others for her own desires.

Reverend Parris is Salem's local reverend, and his daughter Betty's illness at the start of the play is one of the events that sets off the witch trials. It is suggested—particularly by John Proctor—that Parris is a greedy and unchristian man. Indeed, Parris is shown to be deeply concerned with his reputation and power, which he fears are being challenged by some in town. In an attempt to maintain his authority, Parris becomes a staunch advocate for the trials and eventually loses his grip on reality and logic. Even when Mary Warren admits the girls have been lying, Parris refuses to believe her.

Through Reverend Parris, Arthur Miller critiques the dangers of unchecked ambition, fear, and the misuse of religious authority. Parris's moral blindness and self-interest serve as a cautionary element in the play, highlighting how individuals can exploit crises for personal gain, ultimately harming the community they are meant to protect.

Reverend John Hale, a minister with expertise in witchcraft, arrives in Salem to oversee the trials. Initially a staunch believer in the threat of witchcraft, Hale's faith in the judicial process wanes as he witnesses the injustices of the proceedings. His transformation from zealous advocate to disillusioned critic highlights his moral integrity, though his inaction to prevent the execution of innocents underscores his internal struggle. Hale's dawning realization of Proctor's innocence and his ultimate rejection of the trials as a farce illustrate his complex character. Despite his good intentions, Hale's inability to challenge the court's authority renders him a figure of moral ambiguity. Full Reverend Hale Analysis

Tituba is a significant yet often overlooked character in The Crucible. She is both a catalyst for the Salem witch trials and a representation of marginalized voices in Puritan society. As Reverend Parris's enslaved woman from Barbados, Tituba occupies a vulnerable position within Salem, where she is both mistrusted and scapegoated due to her race, cultural background, and lack of social power.

Tituba's involvement in the forest ritual with Abigail, Betty, and the other girls—though mainly out of a desire to please them—makes her an easy target when the townspeople seek someone to blame for Betty's illness and the subsequent fears of witchcraft. Under intense pressure and threat of violence, Tituba confesses to witchcraft, although it is unlikely she truly believes in the accusations. She begins naming others to shift attention from herself, inadvertently fueling the hysteria that spirals into widespread accusations.

Though she holds little power, Tituba's coerced confession sets a precedent for the mass accusations that follow, embodying Arthur Miller's critique of how social inequality and racial bias can contribute to injustice within a community.

Giles Corey, an octogenarian farmer, is characterized by his strength and practicality. Despite his age, Corey remains mentally sharp and physically formidable. His refusal to succumb to the mass hysteria enveloping Salem is emblematic of his grounded nature. When accused of witchcraft, Corey chooses silence over confession, ensuring his property passes to his sons rather than being seized by the town. His noble defiance is immortalized through his last words, "More weight," as he is pressed to death, signifying his resistance against the oppressive forces of the trials.

Rebecca Nurse, a respected matriarch in Salem, is a paragon of wisdom and moral fortitude. Accused of witchcraft, her conviction exemplifies the extent of the town's collective insanity. As a mother and grandmother, Rebecca's strong sense of justice and spirituality is unwavering. Her refusal to confess, even when it could spare her life, serves as an inspiration to others, including John Proctor, highlighting her profound influence and integrity.

Mary Warren is one of Abigail's friends and a servant in the Proctor home. A poppet belonging to her is found in Elizabeth Proctor's possession. This results in Elizabeth's arrest for witchcraft. Although she is weak and easily influenced by Abigail, Mary eventually tries to put things right by telling the court that the girls made up their accusations of witchcraft. When the girls turn on her, however, Mary is too afraid to stand by the truth, and she rejoins the girls, helping them accuse John Proctor.

Danforth comes to Salem to oversee the witch trials. Like Parris, he is committed to carrying out the trials, even in the face of evidence that the accusations are false. Danforth is depicted as short-sighted and unwilling to admit to errors. Notably, he refuses to postpone the executions of Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor for fear that any leniency will cast doubt on the guilt of those he already condemned to die. Ultimately, his misplaced confidence in his own judgment prevents him from administering true justice.

Ezekiel Cheever is the clerk of the court, and he performs his role dutifully and unquestioningly, albeit with occasional hesitation. Cheever is responsible for drafting the warrants for those accused of witchcraft. When he arrives at the Proctor home to deliver Elizabeth’s warrant, he is initially bashful. Then he notices a poppet, which has a needle protruding from it. This he takes as evidence of Elizabeth’s guilt, for during the day’s court proceedings, Abigail Williams had accused Elizabeth of bewitching her by use of a poppet and needle. He ignores the Proctors’ contrary claims, preferring to fulfill his duty. Cheever thus represents the choice to conform in the face of collective fear and hysteria.

Thomas Putnam, a wealthy landowner in Salem, is driven by greed and manipulation. His exploitation of the witch trials for personal gain is evident as he seeks to acquire land from accused neighbors. Putnam's accusations are fueled by longstanding grievances and a desire for power, illustrating how personal vendettas can exacerbate communal hysteria.

Francis Nurse is an older man who is widely respected and regarded by the Salem community. He and his wife, Rebecca, are friends with the Proctors. Despite the Nurses’ innocence and excellent reputation, they become victims of the witch trials. This is in large part because of a long-standing land feud with the Putnams, who retaliate by defaming the Nurses.

Ann Putnam, haunted by the loss of her children, channels her grief into the witch trials. Her envy towards Rebecca Nurse's familial success and her role in spreading rumors highlight the destructive power of resentment. Ann's eagerness to believe in witchcraft stems from her need to find explanations for her personal tragedies.

Marshall Herrick is the taciturn local marshall. He helps carry out the trials’ proceedings, but he remains reserved in his personal judgments. In fact, he even stands up for the integrity of certain accused citizens of Salem when asked. Herrick represents a neutral party who participates in the trials without necessarily condoning the persecutions.

Sarah Good is a local woman who is homeless and considered an outsider by most members of the Salem community. She is nearing sixty years of age but is rumored to be pregnant, which fuels accusations of witchcraft. Sarah Good is among the first individuals to be accused of witchcraft. Her tenuous status in the community makes her a ready target of such accusations.

Judge Hathorne, a principal figure in the witch trials, is notorious for his harsh demeanor and predisposition towards guilt. His conduct during the trials is marked by a lack of empathy for the accused, as he prioritizes the authority of the court over fairness and justice.

Mercy Lewis, the Putnam's servant, is portrayed as sly and merciless. Her alignment with Abigail and participation in the accusations reveal her opportunistic nature. Mercy's behavior reflects the way individuals can be swept up in hysteria and use it for personal advancement.

Betty Parris, the daughter of Reverend Parris, becomes one of the initial triggers of the witch hunt when she falls ill. Her condition, either feigned or a result of trauma, underscores the vulnerability of youth to manipulation and the power of suggestion.

Susanna Walcott, a follower of Abigail, is caught in the hysteria that engulfs Salem. Her participation in the accusations illustrates the contagious nature of fear and the vulnerability of those who seek belonging within the tumultuous environment.