Transitioning to Act Three we see a side of Elizabeth that wouldn’t expect which would be dishonesty to save John from his death. Elizabeth being known through Salem for never telling a lie, is asked to tell the truth about John committing adultery so they can both be free. “I came to think he fancied her. And so one night I lost my wits I think, and put out on the highroad,” (1148). From that quote she broke her streak of honesty because she couldn’t tell if John wanted her to tell the truth, so she lied to court about John not being a lecher.
John Proctor was more sacrificial because one selfish action should not define a person’s life as a whole. John Proctor is a sacrificial character because he revealed himself as a lecher in attempt to save those accused of witchcraft. By revealing Abigail 's true intentions with the accusation, he thought maybe the court would call off the witch hunt. When Proctor first told Abigail about his idea, she replied by saying “You will confess to fornication? In the court?” which Proctor responded with “If you will have it so, so I will tell it” (Miller 142).
Despite the need for a constant principle of the Puritan life which included the need to purify and cleanse the church of all sin, John Proctor’s affair with Abigail Williams leads him to restrain from questioning and accusing others due to his extensive guilt and hypocrisy, while in contrary Abigail amplifies her sin by using her interminable love for John Proctor to manipulate the court and create a witchcraft hysteria in the town of Salem, in which many innocent people were accused. Although the affair has greatly affected both Abigail and John Proctor’s lives, there is no greater destruction that dwells upon them than the culmination of sin that their affair creates in opposition to the principles of the
In The Crucible, a drama by Arthur Miller, John Proctor demonstrates courage by speaking out for what he believes in while knowing his consequences, admitting his wrong doings with Abigail to save Elizabeth’s life, and choosing to be hanged over having his name posted on the church door because the second his signed confession is posted, his and his loved ones reputations will be ruined. In the beginning of the play all John Proctor cared about was his reputation. However, ultimately he sacrificed his reputation by telling the court he committed adultery. John telling the court he was guilty ruined his reputation, which made all hell break loose. He explains to the court that Abigail is involved with his crime, adultery.
This is a moral dilemma taking place. Either decision someone chooses a life will be taken away and both outcomes are evil but in different ways. With pushing the guy off the bridge, a person would feel guilty for pushing him but then relieved for saving more lives. For the train just killing the 5 people and not doing anything, a person won’t feel guilty for pushing someone and ending their life but then will feel guilty for not doing anything to help. Also, in a quick-thinking situation, I believe that individuals might be in shock and not know what to do and don’t have enough time for thinking so they wouldn’t do anything to help.
Innocent lives are ruined due to false accusations and in our efforts to always want to be right, we are letting criminals get away. When Mr. Cannon was telling his story, I believe he didn't mention anything about the police reading him his rights and that they just attacked him out of nowhere. I understand that the police are supposed to interrogate all suspects, but the laws regarding the proper protocols are rarely followed. I often times feel that, racial bias factors in interrogation tactics and that certain suspects are treated better than others. For instance, John Burge in my head is considered a criminal, even though he was convicted, he still is not facing the consequences that Mr. Cannon has to deal with as being an African American person in the community.
Victor also allows Justine to die for the murder of his younger brother because he’s afraid of what people will think. “My tale was not one to announce publicly; it’s astounding horror would be looked upon as madness by the vulgar”(83). He’s more concerned with what will happen to him, someone who actually had something to do with William’s death, than to Justine, who is completely innocent. Lastly, the monster says he will leave Victor and his family alone if Victor makes him a female companion, but he can’t even do that. “I thought with a sensation of madness on my promise of creating another like to him, and trembling with passion, tore to pieces the thing on which I was engaged”(180).
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. The last instance of his heroic bravery is when he decides to be hanged instead of going along with the lies of witchcraft. He stood up for what he believed in and ultimately had to pay the price for it. That, is true bravery from John Proctor.
After which the alleged witch is imprisoned and the prosecutors don’t lose face. They do this because if other people discovered that someone was falsely imprisoned than the people would want change, this would lead to the prosecutors losing power. In today's society this still happens only it has moved from the court system to the general public, accusing people based on race ethnicity and even rumors. The Crucible is showing how people instead of admitting being wrong would rather carry out the argument in hopes that eventually they would win, in The Crucible when Giles refused to answer aye on nay if he was a
John Proctor defies the church by forgetting the adultery commandment, a major sin that is punishable by death. This causes tension between him and Judge Danforth who believes Proctor is guilty of adultery because of his affair with Abigail Williams. Danforth begins to conceive that Salem citizens can not only carry out sins and break away from the church, but from the government as well. This is perceived as a personal fear, but it’s the actions Danforth carries out that makes the fear spread among the community. He questions those who are convicted, and punishes them without a proper trial.