The Crucible by Arthur Miller is an interpretation of the Salem witch trials of 1692 in Puritan Massachusetts in which religion, self-preservation and Self-dignity plays a vital role. The three factors I listed played a huge role in the lives of John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, Reverend Hale, Danforth and many others. Many other characters such as Abigail Williams and her friends can be characterized as greedy, bitter, and selfish. In the play, Miller reveals how people can go against their own morals and thus protect themselves. In Arthur Miller's play The Crucible, he reveals to readers how fear has intensified in Salem due to people's desire for personal gain. Fear has intensified to the point where it has stopped people from acting on what they know is right. The increase in the number of accused and the penalties imposed on them is also sparking fear in the city, increasing both silence and accountability. Fear grips the town, with Abigail at the wheel, helping to create a situation in which the search for truth will no longer be possible. Fear gripped the city so much that people exposed their neighbors to deceitful crimes, just to protect themselves. Fear is the key subject of The Crucible. The reason young girls are able to make such accusations and condemn innocent people for witchcraft is because they prey on the fear of the townspeople. The fear of being caught dancing in the woods pushes young girls to tell lies. The fear of disappointing God is why Reverend Hale begins his interrogations. The fear of being considered an adulterer causes John Proctor to remain silent when he should have spoken. Fear of what might happen if she confesses the truth prevents Mary from confessing. Afraid of being caught in the middle of a paper...help he forced her to say all these things. The girls were just as guilty as the characters I listed above. They only thought about protecting themselves, without taking responsibility for their actions. All the characters I have spoken about throughout my essay have a common interest, that of their own preservation. All the characters believed in one concept: to protect me and protect me only. Many of them threw innocent people under the bus just to protect themselves. Tituba helped the girls, she did not practice witchcraft, she simply expressed the rituals of her culture. When the girls knew they might get in trouble for dancing in the woods, they quickly turned on Tituba. Fear made everyone in Salem terrified of being accused of false crimes, so most people did what they could to protect themselves..