The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is a story that contains many struggles. These struggles come about as a result of the strict Puritan society in which the story takes place. There are two main struggles in the book. The first never actually takes place in the story, but is described many times throughout the first act and is the basis for the trials. It is Abigail's and all the other girls' need to be free and act like teenagers. The second is the result of the corruption of the trials. It is John Proctor's fight to convince the townspeople that the accused women are not witches (especially his wife), and that it is Abigail who should be killed instead. .
In Puritan society, the role of the child is to be quiet, and stay out of the way. When Abigail is being considered a witch in the first moments of the story, Rev. Paris is very worried about how this will effect his image, and not of the fate of Abigail. It is this society where Abigail feels the need to break loose and to act the way a teenager should: freely. This is the reason why she goes dancing in the forest. She is expressing her need to act her age and to break out of the restrictions of Puritan law. Her struggle is to do what she wants in a society that believes in ordering her around.
It becomes obvious soon after the trials started that many people were going to be falsely accused by their neighbors as a method of revenge, and as an outlet for their maliciousness. When Abigail uses this case to attack Rebecca Nurse, one of the best Puritans in the Salem, John Proctor begins his efforts to stop the injustice. This increases when Elizabeth Proctor is tried and sentenced to death. This is John Proctor's struggle. He must fight to save his wife, his community and eventually himself. In addition, he also has to convince the leaders of Salem that they are mistaken in believing in Abigail.
Although Abigail and Proctor are mortal enemies, their struggles can be seen as almost identical.
