“Because it is my name...you have taken my soul...leave me my name!” (Arthur Miller Act 4 Line 724) John Proctor ,from the Crucible by Arthur Miller, is driven by a will stronger than most, says this in the face of death. At this point many trials have pushed Proctor to question his own morals and help shine light on his true personality. The trial that began to make Proctor question his very being, is when he sees Abigail alone. Another ship that pushes him forward through an ocean of self doubt is when he goes to court to free the convicted. Additionally, a court that trials his own being is when he decides to tear up the confession. John Proctor is a man of self worth and has honor for himself and others.
Proctor has fallen to the
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In the first place, John goes to court fully aware that if his evidence is deemed false then he will be taken to court, but he goes through with it. Proctor is acting not just to free his wife, but also when asked if he will leave if his wife is left to live, he refuses. Furthermore Proctor pushes for his friend’s wifes to be freed as well as his wife. This shows Proctor is willing to help those in need. Not to mention when Danforth is asking if letting Proctor’s wife live longer, then will he drop the case. Proctor declines this agreement and seeks to free those he deems are falsely accused. As can be seen Proctor is a selfless man who will sacrifice what he loves for the betterment of others.
Months of torture didn’t break Proctor’s will, and this is shown in great detail as John tears up his confession. As soon as Proctor is given the chance to live and abandon his friends, he is unsure. He shows that he cares for them by reconsidering, then tearing up the confession. Additionally, when given a choice between loyalty and life, he chooses loyalty. This shows his determined nature to do what’s right. As well as when Proctor is pushed to sign the confession, he decides to tear up the confession to show the town he is a good man. Proctor is a tried and loyal
Miller portrays John Proctor as initially selfish, but he becomes selfless by the end of the play. It’s shown throughout how as the trial goes on it changes John as a person, in the following after John has been accused and imprisoned they try to convince
John Proctor is allowing his name to be muddied while still preserving his name as a husband. The town is seeing him as impure; but all he cares about is saving his wife. John Proctor saving his wife, is allowing him to look at himself in the mirror and say “I may not be the best man, but I am trying to better myself as a husband.” The concept of looking at yourself in the mirror, being able to sleep at night, or meeting St. Peter at heaven’s gate, all are the reason he destroyed his fake confession.
Up until the point of incarceration, Proctor's strong character is demonstrated as he denies the accusation even as the entire village is against him, going so far as to boldly state, "God damns all liars," (Miller 117) and that in believing the denunciation, the people are "pulling Heaven down and raising up a whore" (Miller 120). In the months following his imprisonment, John will still not confess, and is thus found guilty by the court and sentenced to be hanged. Not wanting to add another death to their town's toll, the court has pity on John. They implore his wife to "plead with him" (Miller 132) to confess as a last resort to save his life. When John's wife comes to him begging in a haggard state, 3 months pregnant, worn by the harshness of prison, and weeping for her bitter regrets as she realizes her husband's death is imminent, he can stand firm no longer.
When Judge Danforth asks Proctor to give his honest (false) confession, Proctor refuses to confess because of the “shred of goodness in [himself]” (Miller 144). John Proctor decides to confess at first because he thinks his honesty has already broken, and he has nothing to lose by confessing. He thinks it’s more beneficial to make a false confession so that he can stay alive for the sake of his wife and children. However, when Proctor finds out the court wants a written confession that would be publicly announced, he reconsiders his action. John Proctor says the court will not “use [him]” to influence public opinion or condemn other innocent people to death (Miller 142).
Nothing’s spoiled by giving them this lie that were not rotten long before” (Miller 1352). He is ultimately giving up his confession even though he knows it is not the right thing to do. A previous break to Proctor’s Christianity beliefs is when he commits adultery; however, instead of standing up for himself he gives into the court’s desire. When John Proctor confesses, his actions prove a huge weakness John Proctor has. However, his actions of confessing result in a strength.
He trusts himself and goes with his gut even when everyone else is telling him something different. When he is first accused, everyone told him to confess, even though he didn’t do the crime. But he goes with his gut and doesn’t listen to them. Then, when John Proctor is in jail, they try and get him to sign a paper saying he confesses. He signs it, but won’t give it back.
John Proctor here is reinstating that he wants to continue if he has his name and if Danforth and the court cannot provide that to him he does not know how he could possibly go on. Based on the quote John’s quality of life would eventually prove to be dreary if he did confess as he would feel like he no longer had a soul. Although John knew it would be a risk for him to confess his wife helped convince him that life was worth living, but it’s his own choice. Elizabeth sorrowfully states to John “Do what you will. But let none be your judge.
Proctor talks good about the people who decided not to confess. He Doesn't want to say anything that will harm them. Proctor doesn't think he’s doing the right thing by confessing and wants to change his mind to do the right thing. John proctor is successful in helping his friends be
The Crucible Argumentative Essay John Proctor should have risked taking a stand against a system that was against his beliefs. In the past, people have sacrificed themselves for what they believed in. As seen in The Crucible by Arthur Miller, John Proctor defies the court, and it results in his execution. John Proctor should have risked taking the stand, because he maintained his reputation as a good man and role model.
John Proctor faces many different forms of conflict, whether it be self to self or self to society. Facing the court, Proctor gives his words and mind to try and free the ones accused. His personality and internal conflicts are arguably more intense. To be damned or forgiven by his society. The only way out of persecution is to smear his name.
John Proctor’s character is one based on reputation, and guilt. The guilt comes from his affair with Abigail Williams. The reputation aspect comes from when he is accused by Mary Warren of trying to turn her to the Devil. I believe that John Proctor grows tired of the accusations, as to why he speaks of his false involvement with Satan in front of the town. Specifically, Deputy Danforth uses John Proctor as an example for conviction as he is certain he will be able to turn others
He realized that he didn’t need the support from his wife to make the most honorable decision. John was hung for not confessing. Yet, his legacy of fighting for what you believe in still prevailed. Proctor’s death displayed great perseverance, which is an attribute, reflected in the American
“Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name?
The first impressive characteristic of John Proctor is his bravery. Speaking out against the “afflicted” girls in the way he did could cause serious question of him as a person. From the court’s standpoint John could be seen as directly opposing the court, which would have him jailed, or could even have him be accused of witchcraft. Also, he would have had to have known that Abigail Williams would have immediately accused him of being a witch once he spoke out against them. However, that did not stop him from delivering the truth to the court.
John Proctor never settles for keeping his opinion or what he thinks is right to himself. He knows telling Danforth that he is guilty for adultery won’t help his cause but it shows his desperation to win the case in order protect his wife, Elizabeth. John Proctor was sick and tired of watching Abigail win with a lie, in this case he spoke the truth knowing his consequences. John states, “Excellency, forgive me, forgive me. She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave!