The Crucible: John Proctor John Proctor is a character from the Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller, Throughout the play he changes from being a troubled, self-exiled, sinner to becoming a person of high moral standards. The characters in this play are simple, common people that live in the town of Salem in the year 1692. There is a rumor of witchcraft floating about in the town that has led to accusations about many of the townsfolk. The accused are charged and convicted of a crime that is impossible to prove (witchcraft). The reasons the villains select the people they do for condemnation are both simple and clear because all of the accusers have ulterior motiv