Simplicity of $A_n$ I have seen two proofs of the simplicity of $A_n,~ n \geq 5$ (Dummit & Foote, Hungerford). But, neither of them are such that they 'stick' to the head (at least my head). In a sense, I still do not have the feeling that I know why they are simple and why should it be 5 and not any other number (perhaps this is only because 3-cycles become conjugate in $A_n$ after $n$ becomes greater than 4).

What is the most illuminating proof of the simplicity of $A_n,~ n \geq 5$ that you know?


Here are the ingredients I think about:


*

*$A_n$ is $n-2$-transitive on $\{1,2,\ldots,n\}$. That is, if $1\leq i_1\lt i_2\lt\cdots \lt i_{n-2}\leq n$ are any $n-2$ integers, and $j_1,\ldots,j_{n-2}$ are any $n-2$ distinct integers between $1$ and $n$, then there is an element of $A_n$ that maps $i_k$ to $j_k$ (in fact, one and only one element of $A_n$ that achieves this).  This is easy: just write out the corresponding permutation. If it is even, this gives you an element of $A_n$. If it is not even, then adding a transposition involving the elements that do not occur among the $j_k$ makes it even and does not change the image of the $i_k$. 

*In particular, if $\sigma\in A_n$ fixes at least two elements, then every element with the same cycle structure to $\sigma$ is conjugate to $\sigma$ in $A_n$.

*If $N$ is a normal subgroup of $A_n$, and $\sigma\in N$ fixes at least two elements, then every element with the same cycle structure as $\sigma$ is in $N$.

*In particular, if $N$ is normal, contains a $3$-cycle, and $n\geq 5$, then $N$ contains all $3$-cycles; and since the $3$-cycles generate $A_n$ when $n\geq 3$, then $N=A_n$.

*If $N$ is nontrivial and normal in $A_n$, and $n\geq 5$, then it contains a $3$-cycle: this involves a bit of manipulation, but the fact that $n\geq 5$ is as essential here as in (4) above: it gives you enough room to maneuver, room that you do not have in $A_4$ ($A_3$ and $A_2$ are also simple, but for silly reasons). 
But I'm not sure if this particular line qualifies as "illuminating" in terms of giving you great insight into the structure of $A_n$; I feel they give me a good feel for what you can and cannot do in terms of playing with permutations (especially the transitivity, and the actual mechanics of point 5 above), and they remind me why $n\geq 5$ is important. 
