`The Crucible' by Arthur Miller is an extremely powerful and thought provoking play. Internal conflict within the main character, John Proctor, has a major influence over events in the play. This internal conflict occurs as a result of infidelity and subsequent guilt.

The internal conflict John Proctor experiences has a great influence over his relationship with Elizabeth. John Proctor is a well respected man in the town of Salem, Massachusetts and is married to Elizabeth (Goody Proctor.) Seven months prior to the events involving witchcraft that took place in Salem, Proctor had ended his affair with Abigail Williams, his servant at the time. However, since ending the affair, the relationship between Proctor and Elizabeth has been strained to say the least. Proctor's attempts to please Elizabeth are always met with her suspicion, "You were alone with her"" Elizabeth's feelings of suspicion are evident at this stage in the...