The Crucible shows an individual standing up against authority in two main characters. Those two characters are John Proctor and Reverend Hale.
John Proctor has a larger individual influence against the Puritan authority, so I will start with him. John knows early on that Abigail and the girls in the forest were not affected by spirits in any way. Abigail admits to John that they were simply dancing and took fright.
We were dancin' in the woods last night, and my uncle leaped in on us. She took fright, is all.
John does not do anything with that knowledge though until the witchcraft trials are getting far out of control. It's then that John decides to take his knowledge before the court in an effort to save the lives of his friends. He knows that what he is doing will undermine the authority of the court, but John is still willing to ruin his good name in the community to undo the mistakes of the court.
Parris: He's come to overthrow this court, Your Honor!
Reverend Hale is also willing to ruin his good name in defense of the accused. Unfortunately, he can't convince the court to change its mind. So instead of working directly against the court's authority, Hale begins to counsel the accused. He wants to convince them to confess in order to save their lives.
Why, it is all simple. I come to do the Devil's work. I come to counsel Christians they should belie themselves. . . Life, woman, life is God's most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it. I beg you, woman, prevail upon your husband to confess. Let him give his lie.
Unfortunately, neither Hale nor Proctor succeeds, and far too many innocent people are killed.
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