Ethical behavior is, surprisingly, a rare trait in humanity. Integrity is often overlooked until it manifests itself in someone at a specific moment. In the 1950s, during the era of McCarthyism, many people were arrested on suspicion of communism. The lack of ethical behavior during this time caused people to turn against each other and distrust each other, regardless of their previous relationships. No one contradicts the accusations, even to save a friend or colleague. In Arthur Miller's play The Crucible, morality and its absence are crucial themes in The Crucible, but a rare and special trait in the characters. John Proctor is a character who fully embodies the theme of integrity in The Crucible, but his integrity is buried deep within him. From the moment John Proctor is introduced, Arthur Miller makes it clear that Proctor's image of himself is distorted when it comes to how he is seen by others. Proctor considers himself a bad person. However, outwardly he has a very confident and assertive attitude. Due to his crime of infidelity, he struggles with a lot of inner turmoil. Miller describes this struggle in his introduction to Proctor by saying, "He is a sinner, a sinner not only against the moral fashion of the age, but also against his own vision of decent conduct" (19). The author sets the stage perfectly by giving readers insight into the complex plot of The Crucible and how the flawed character of Proctor is intertwined with the story. Although he is not a satisfied man on the inside, he presents himself in a completely different way. Everyone respects Proctor and recognizes him as someone who should not be messed with. He is “respected and even feared in Salem” (19). However, some resent him for his frankly honest personality. Miller again illustrates middle of paper... The ethical characters of The Crucible adhere to their true beliefs and are not swayed by the influence of the court. During the Salem hysteria, Proctor grows as a character and eventually makes peace with himself. Miller examines the theme of ethical behavior in the play in order to draw parallels with the hysteria of the McCarthyism era. In 1950s America, it took great integrity to refute accusations of communism against public figures. Although the witchcraft hysteria of the late 1600s and the McCarthy era were different in many ways, both were resolved through universal human integrity. The ability to do a morally good action and ignore the possibility that it will be harmful to oneself is a valuable trait that should not be overlooked. Works Cited Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 2003. Print.