"Pretend Time" Season 1 Episode 11

Flawed is defined as, “having a defect or imperfection”, by the Webster dictionary. In the Crucible everyone had imperfections and committed sins. The seven deadly sins which are pride, wrath, envy, lust, greed, gluttony, and sloth. As the characters in the Crucible develop their flaws are shown as Salem becomes more corrupt. I will list the characters from 1-7. One being the least flawed and seven being the most.

Mr. Putnam is described as a selfish rich man with many grievances. Anything Mr. Putnam would say or do would always lead back to getting or having the most land. On page 99 (PDF) on line 7 it says, “Giles: My proof is there! Pointing to the paper. If Jacobs hangs for a witch he forfeit up his property - thatNs law! And there is none but Putnam with the; coin to buy so great a piece. This man is killing his neighbors for their land!” His greed was his flaw in character and although it showed a great weakness he is one on the scale.

                                        

Reverend Hale is described as an egotistical man. He is filled with pride because he believes he is the all know of witchery. On page 133 (PDF) line 4 it says, “Hale: Why, it is all simple. I come to do the DevilNs work. I come to counsel Christians they should belie themselves... There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!!” Hale realizes that witchcraft isn’t real and the girls are pretending. They started pretending when Hale made them confess. He blamed himself for the murders because of this. Therefore making him number two.

                                                                                      

Mary Warren is a follower and wants to fit in which leads her to sinning. Mary is objected to sloth as she goes against the rules of Salem. In act three she tries to help stop the girls who are sentencing people to hang. On page 121 (PDF) lines 6-8 it says,

“Mary Warren: DonNt touch me - donNt touch me! At which the girls halt at the door.

Proctor, astonished: Mary!

Mary Warren, pointing at Proctor: YouNre the DevilNs man!”

Mary went back to pretending and accused Proctor of doing the devil's work. Her character is greatly flawed as she has sent innocent people to hang. This makes her the number three.

                                      

Danforth is described as an intelligent judge but extremely egotistical. During the trials he’s given proof yet still sentenced them to hang by sticking by his principle beliefs. His pride led him to allow these killings to occur. On page 113 (PDF) line 9 it says, “Proctor, his voice about to break, and his shame great: In the proper place - where my beasts are bedded. On the last night of my joy, some eight months past. She used to serve me in my house, sir. He has to clamp his jaw to keep from weeping. A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I beg you, sir, I beg you - see her what she is...But it is a whoreNs venge-ance, ...”. Proctor gives up his pride to show Danforth how Abigail isn't trustworthy. Danforth still ends up discarding the evidence and sentencing Proctor to hang. Danforth is numbered four.

                                   

Parris is described as narrow-minded and self centered. Parris is the minister of Salem and is always worried about his reputation. On page 12 and 13 (PDF) line 11 it says, “Parris, studies her, then nods, half convinced: Abigail, I have Sought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me, and now, just now when some good respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my very character...”. Parris is more concerned with how the people perceive him than the well being of his own daughter. Throughout the trials he tries to defend his name because he is full of pride. Parris is number five.

John Proctor is described as a sinner and a fraud because he doesn’t like hypocrites except he himself is one. His flaw or sin was lust because he committed the crime of lechery with Abigail. On page 113 (PDF) lines 4, 5, and 7 it says,

“Proctor, ... I have known her, sir. I have

known her.

Danforth: You - you are a lecher?

Proctor: ... To Danforth: A man will not cast away his good name. You surely know that." Although Proctor admits to his sin, the wild actions of Abigail all lead back to the fact that she imagined herself with Proctor. Proctor is number six.

Abigail is the main character with the most flaws. She is described as a liar and soiled. Abigail has many sins such as lust, greed, wrath, and envy. Her sins are caused by her feelings towards Proctor. She is trapped in the idea of having him and would do anything for him. On page 113 (PDF) line 9 Proctor says, “...She thinks to dance with me on my wifeNs grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, t lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whoreNs venge-ance, and you must see it; ...”. He admits to Abigail wanting his wife, Elizabeth, dead so she can have Proctor all to herself. This put Abigail at number seven because she is to blame for the whole tragedy of Salem based on how she acts.