The Crucible- Struggles in the Play The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is a story that contains many struggles. These struggles come about as a result of the strict Puritan society in which the story takes place. There are two main struggles in the book. The first never actually takes place in the story, but is described many times throughout the first act and is the basis for the trials. It is Abigail's and all the other girls' need to be free and act like teenagers. The second is the result of the corruption of the trials. It is John Proctor's fight to convince the townspeople that the accused women are not witches (especially his wife), and that it is Abigail who should be kil