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