John Proctor As A Tragic Hero In The Crucible By Arthur Miller
According to Aristotle, “A man doesn’t become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall.” Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, written about the Salem Witch trials, presents itself as an allegory for McCarthyism. In this work, protagonist John Proctor is the tragic hero of the play. John most clearly fits the mold of a tragic hero in the play based on his effort to save his wife, his change of character, and his pride that not only lead him to his death, but to a sacrifice for Salem. To begin, John went to extensive lengths to try and help save his wife, Elizabeth Proctor, who was accused of witchcraft and ultimately imprisoned. As the deputy tells the Proctors that Elizabeth has been accused of witchcraft, her husband John grabs the warrant, rips it up, and argues, “vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! This warrant’s vengeance! I’ll not give my wife to vengeance!” (Miller 1246). Along with pleading with …show more content…
In the beginning of the play, he thought mainly about himself, and little about others. He continually grew into a selfless character as the play progressed, making him almost completely selfless by the end. By confessing of his sin in court, he gave up all his dignity in hopes to help Elizabeth. John pleads to Danforth, “I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name – you will believe me, Mr. Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one!” (Miller 1259). This selfless act was one of many that demonstrate John’s growth in the play. Towards the end of the play, John says to Elizabeth, “I would have your forgiveness, Elizabeth”, showing he truly wants redemption from his sin committed against her, while before he was stuck in his sin and never asked for forgiveness (Miller
How Does Arthur Miller Create Tension In The Crucible
918 Words | 4 PagesJohn is a very reputable and respectable man in Salem, however, he succumbs to sin and commits adultery with Abigail, the house’s maid. His decision has tormented him and damaged him greatly because if word got out, he would lose his good name, yet, he strives to compensate for his sin by coming clean to the jury: “A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I beg you sir… see her what she is… God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance” (Miller 85). By revealing his wrongdoings to the court, he has sacrificed his reputation for the greater good: that the hysteria Abigail and the girls are causing will stop.
John Proctor As A Hero In The Crucible By Arthur Miller
404 Words | 2 PagesJohn Proctor is a pedofile but a hero. In Arthur Miller's movie, "The Crucible,” released in 1996 in the United States, the town of Salem is consumed by a mass hysteria as people are accused of witchcraft left and right. John Proctor, the star of the movie, plays a crucial role on how he could have been the character to have ended this madness. In "The Crucible,” I believe John Proctor could have ended the hysteria in Salem by avoiding the affair with Abigail Williams, being more honest, and exposing the lies. To begin with, John Proctor should’ve left Abigail Williams alone.
How Does John Proctor Mature In The Crucible
500 Words | 2 PagesJohn Proctor committed adultery with Abigail Williams before the play begin. However, nobody knew, except John Proctor, his wife Elizabeth, and their servant girl, Abigail Williams. This act proves to be an issue, for example, Elizabeth begins to suspect of John and Abigail so she sends Abby off. John confesses to his actions However, the tension is still tangible in the Proctor’s house and Elizabeth is still saddened by this event. As a result, John is easily angered because his wife is still suspicious of him.
John Proctor As A Tragic Hero In The Crucible By Arthur Miller
502 Words | 3 PagesJohn tried to go without anyone finding out that he committed adultery, but they soon find out. He goes to the court with Mary to get her to tell that Abigail is lying about being a witch and he ends up telling of his adultery with Abigail for her to lose the respect of town. When he tells of his adultery Elizabeth is brought. She is brought in because she has never lied and the court wants her to tell that John is telling the truth of the adultery. She is brought questioned and she says “No, sir”(1335).
John Proctor In The Crucible By Arthur Miller
833 Words | 4 Pages“A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth the evil things” (KJV, Matt. 12:35). What makes a good man? A good man is one who follows Christ in every way that he can. Is he perfect? No; the Bible states, “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (KJV, Eccles.
The Crucible John Proctor Tragic Hero Essay
918 Words | 4 PagesIn this argument, John can be heard saying “Spare me! You forget nothing, learn charity woman.” John was, of course talking about Abigail and her messy entanglement in his life, her affect on the marriage is great. John exemplifies his anger toward Elizabeth for his own mistakes because he is ashamed. The person that he is in the play cannot express shame at the current time so he blames other people for his own.
John Proctor Strengths
1070 Words | 5 PagesJohn then went to the court to expose all of Abby's lies. "If you do not free my wife tomorrow, I am set and bound to ruin you, Abby" (Miller 151). John did not want Elizabeth to rot in jail for the blunders that he had made. Naturally, many of his flaws led to his downfall, resulting in his death. For example, when john was asked to confess he would not sign his confession and allow them to parade it on the church.
Imperfection Of Truth In The Crucible By Arthur Miller
1020 Words | 5 PagesJohn Proctor starts off in the play as a guilty man who is self judging and the ends the play finally saying that he is a good man. John's wife, Elizabeth Proctor says, "He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him" (134). Elizabeth's words explain that John has finally realized although he did a bad thing he is still a good man and not a witch. John changes from a self judging character to a forgiving one.
Examples Of Courage In The Crucible
558 Words | 3 PagesJohn, who before the play started had committed adultery with one of the accusers, comes to the acknowledgment that in order to save his wife, he must willing to give up his name and reputation by confessing his transgression before the court. When Proctor, alongside Giles Corey and Francis Nurse, goes to the court to draw back the curtains on the accusers and reveal how the children truly are, he admits “I have known her, sir”(Act III, pg. 230). By admitting to the infidelity, John is trying to demonstrate how the accuser, Abigail, is not as pure and innocence as she has made herself out to be. In doing as so, he willing relinquished his good reputation by putting the lives of his wife and friends before his own. It was a daring demonstration to challenge the court at first, but it took a tremendous amount of courage to put those in jeopardy ahead of himself, knowing the full consequences of his actions
Abigail Williams Scapegoation
772 Words | 4 PagesEven though John was not accused he confesses his affair with Abigail to Danforth saying, “I beg you, sir, I beg you-see what she is... She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave... God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat.” (Miller ). Proctor was well aware of the consequences of his confession, however, the accusation of his wife put him between a rock and a hard place so to speak.
John Proctor: A Tragic Hero
747 Words | 3 PagesIn the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the town of Salem is afflicted with hysteria, intolerance, and accusations that lead to death. According to philosopher Aristotle, a tragic hero possesses a tragic flaw, excessive pride, and an inevitable downfall. Protagonist John Proctor illustrates a tragic hero because he is presented as happy, powerful, and privileged, which later leads him to suffer because of his own actions. First of all, John Proctor possesses a fatal flaw, pride, which is a characteristic of a tragic hero. Proctor’s fatal flaws includes honesty and pride.
Goodness And Nobility In The Crucible By Arthur Miller
1218 Words | 5 PagesThis quote reveals, Elizabeth’s genuine understanding and faithfulness in her husband. She believes that John carries the burden of his own guilt, which is a lucid indication that he has a sense of morality. John feels this guilt, as he recognizes and takes responsibility for the sin he commits, against his wife. Additionally, due to John’s guilty conscience, he also realizes the value and tenderness that his wife brings him. He accepts his misdoings, and never utters a blame against his wife, for his actions.
Examples Of Heroism In The Crucible
1192 Words | 5 PagesJohn Proctor; A Tragic Hero Most people see a hero as a perfect, courageous person who does not stand down at the sight of danger. What most people do not think of is a person who goes against society to fight for morality. This is the case for John Proctor in the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller. John lives in Salem, Massachusetts, where the scare of witchcraft is about.
The Role Of Suffering In The Crucible
551 Words | 3 PagesThe Crucible “The Crucible” is a play, by Arthur Miller, about the Salem Witch Trials. After reading “The Crucible”, you will be asking yourself, is it necessary for a person to suffer? The answer to the question is shown through the characters, Giles Corey, John and Elizabeth Proctor, and Abigail Williams. John Proctor is a respected puritan man in the community. John had made the mistake of sleeping with, a teenage girl, Abigail Williams.
What Is John Proctor's Reputation In The Crucible
1159 Words | 5 PagesHe explains to the court that Abigail is involved with his crime, adultery. He admits to Danforth that he had an affair with Abigail during his marriage with Elizabeth. Although he confessed, he wasn’t straightforward when he did but sadly Danforth knew exactly what he meant. John yells, “It is a whore! – I have known her sir, I have known her” (110).
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