The Crucible is filled with numerous flawed characters like John Proctor, Abigail Williams, Reverend Hale, Reverend Parris, Mary Warren, Judge Danforth, and Mr. Putnam, each character displaying their own set of flaws. Flaws are considered to be an imperfection or a faulty mistake. Some examples, considering the context of The Crucible, include (1) Playing any role in an innocent person’s death/condemning, (2) Being disloyal to own family, and (3) The act of displaying untrustworthiness, pride, or unfairness. My ranking from least to most flawed is listed: Mary Warren, Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams, Judge Danforth, John Proctor, Mr. Putnam, and Reverend Paris.
Least flawed, Mary Warren became the servant of the Proctor’s household after Abigail Williams left at the beginning of the play. Throughout the trials, Mary had a vast character develop and did the best she could considering her position to protect and aid the innocent. In Act I, many saw her as naive and weak, but she gradually started to gain power and respect through Act II. Most of her authority came from her position as an official: “Mary Warren, pointing at Elizabeth: I saved her life today! Silence. His whip comes down. Elizabeth, softly: I am accused?” Mary used this gain of power to protect herself and innocent Elizabeth Proctor when she was being accused. Mary displayed the opposite of being flawed.
Reverend John Hale came to Salem to investigate young Betty Parris’s mysterious illness. Reverend Hale’s goal is to protect the town and its people from evil by encouraging honesty and the worship of God. Hale is shown to be sympathetic, patient, and assertive. During allegations, he takes the time to discuss and distinguish any charge of witchcraft before concluding thoroughly, dispensing fairness. At the end of Act III, Hale quits the court out of frustration. He believes that the girls are no longer telling the truth and that the judges are blind to their lies. This shows how he really did want justice to be delivered - for the right people to be accused. This makes his character have more minor flaws than others, just like Mary Warren.
Abigail Williams, a 17-year- old, was a problematic character during the play and often showed flaws of lying, but she was also extremely naive and influenced by love. Abigail was having an affair with 30-year-old man, John Proctor. It is exhibited throughout the text how much she genuinely admired him in Acts I & II.
Judge Danforth arrived in Salem to patrol the witch trials and judge accordingly. Danforth has a dominating and dictator-like aura to him. He thinks of himself as highly intelligent but fails to display it. Considering the mass amount of power Judge Danforth held, he could not recognize the extreme importance it had and ultimately fell to believe the young girls’ stories and lies. Judge Danforth also failed to listen to others during the trials in Act III, which led to the condemnation of innocent Giles Correy: “Hales: Excellency, he claims hard evidence for his wife’s defense. I think that in all justice you must - Danforth: Then let him submit his evidence in proper affidavit. You are certainly aware of our procedure here, Mr.Hale. To Herrick: Clear this room.” If Danforth could’ve got over his pride and listened to another reasoning rather than his own, Giles Correy could’ve still lived.
John Proctor, a 30-year-old man, was having relations with 17-year-old Abigail Willaims while he had a wife, Elizabeth Proctor, and children. Proctor was extremely flaw-full considering he committed adultery and went against his own family. His main flaw was the actions he played in his death.
Greatest flawed Reverend Parris and Thomas Putnam were both power-hungry men who only looked out for themselves. Parris was uncle to young Abigail Williams, yet offered her no guidance, and the minister of Salem’s Church. He was described to be a paranoid man who was obsessed with his self-image. Act I states: "Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time. But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest, I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it.” That quote is a perfect example that shows us how Parris only cared about his public image.
Mr. Putnam was wife to Ann Putnam and known for being the richest man in the town. Both he and Parris played a role together in the mass hysteria that took over. Putnam urged Parris to speak up and take action against the witchcraft on them; when Reverend Parris did this, he benefited while others were sentenced to death. Thomas Putnam bought up those who were convicted to land. Act III states: “If Jacobs hangs for a witch, he forfeits up his property—that’s law! And there is none but Putnam with the coin to buy so great a piece.” Putnam thrived off of his false accusations and gained more land and power because of them.
Both men displayed unfairness, pride and aided in the condemnation(s) of innocent people, making them the most flawed characters in The Crucible.
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