Theme Of Guilt In The Crucible
Robbie Panta
Outcomes of Unforgivable Sins
François-Marie, a famous enlightenment writer once said, “It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one” (Volaire 42). The play, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, contains many different types of guilt in the main character, John Proctor. Many innocent people in the Salem are hanged while the guilty people are thought of as saints. During this play, a young woman, Abigail Williams, accuses innocent people for witchcraft and seeks for more attention. Proctor is a farmer who lives in Salem Massachusetts. Proctor knows that the whole trial is a fraud and decides to inform the court that the accusers are pretending and lying. During the trials, Proctor found himself guilty for
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Proctor knew that by confessing, it would only make the court look better but by not confessing, the court would hang him. Proctor begs to Judge Danforth, “How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!”(132). Proctor knows that if he signs the confession, there will be a paper about it in the church door. Proctor values his life but, he does not want to be remembered as a liar who is willing to do whatever it takes for his own life. Also, Proctor is thinks about his children. He does not want to be a bad role model for their children. During the scene where Proctor had the choice to confess, “Proctor tears the paper and crumples it and he is weeping in fury, but erect”(133). Proctor tears the confession paper because he realizes that honor is more important. He decided to stop living a sinful life of lies and become a better person so, he refuses to get anyone else involved with the witchcraft controversy. Proctor has had a new perspective of the trails now the he realizes all of the mistakes he has made. In the beginning of the play, Proctors perspective towards the hangings was the avoid and not be involved in it in any way. Now, Proctor realizes that by confessing, there will be blame set on other innocent people so by ripping the confession paper, it will not make the court look better. Proctor also realizes that confessing would affect many other people in Salem and would not put a legacy in his
Theme Of Scapegoation In The Crucible
194 Words | 1 PagesThe Crucible by Arthur Miller is filled with fear, betrayal, and mass hysteria. The witch hunts that took place in this book were merely a domino effect of fear brought on by accusation of witchcraft. This ‘theme’ is commonly known as ‘scapegoating’ and, in this book, is commonly used by Abigail. Abigail perfectly embodies the theme of scapegoating by betraying friends and family to slip under the scrutinizing eyes of her town.
Persuasive Essay On The Crucible
726 Words | 3 PagesProctor begins his pleas by stating he needs assistance to get the favorable view, especially if no one steps in to show mercy. And how the Magistrates already are delusioned by the devil yet they know they are innocent. Although they were imprisoned they were still being accused of being seen making no sense to him. Then brings in how the Carriers sons were tormented till saying the “truth” but how they blamed their mother making her serve nine weeks. Even so his own son did not want to “confess” and could have continued to be tortured if no one had stepped in, which I believe if someone with power had stepped in since the start they would have not gone on that mad killing of
John Proctor Honest Analysis
566 Words | 3 PagesThen, John was accused of witchcraft. He was given the choice to tell the truth and be prosecuted or confess to a crime he didn’t commit and be set free. He chose to tell the truth and got sent to jail. During this time, he said “... what is John Proctor? I think it is honest” (page 138).
Examples Of Confession In The Crucible
1240 Words | 5 PagesThe Salem witch trials were a time period when any individual could be accused of witchcraft for numerous reasons. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller focuses on the deviation of the trials and how the town’s most religious and honest members of the community are tried with witchcraft. John Proctor, the town’s most honest man, is accused of being a witch and must decide if he should confess or not. Proctor’s confession will stop the town from rebelling and uphold the reputations of Deputy Governor Danforth and Reverend Parris. Hale also wishes for Proctor’s confession so he does not have to feel responsible if Proctor were to be hanged for his witchcraft accusations.
John Proctor Redemption Quotes
612 Words | 3 PagesShortly after ripping the confession up Proctor states “You have made you magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not Enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs” (Miller 144). Proctor is displaying the self-respect he has obtained from doing the moral thing. This quote also indicates Proctor’s personal change of attitude towards himself. For example, he was hard on himself earlier in the play, comparing himself with dust and later he claims he sees good in
Examples Of John Proctor's Honor In The Crucible
483 Words | 2 PagesProctor 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
Examples Of Argumentative Essay On The Crucible
564 Words | 3 PagesHis act of defiance resulted in death, but caused the people of Salem to question the court, which prevents any future deaths for suspected witchery. By refusing to lie, John Proctor preserved his name and held up his personal convictions. However, some may say that this was self-serving, because he left his family destitute, and his wife husbandless and his children fatherless. Nevertheless, “How can I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!...Because It is my name!
Who Is To Blame In The Crucible
811 Words | 4 PagesThe Crucible by Arthur Miller is a dramatic play that expresses a very important message and that is how far people would go to save themselves from the hands of death. There are many characters in the Crucible who are guilty of taking innocent lives, but there are three major characters who, without a doubt, are the most at blame. The play takes place in the city of Salem, a city filled with people that would do anything to keep their reputation clean. Throughout the play, Miller is introducing multiple characters that experience changes in their decisions and negatively influence more people eventually leading up to the witch trials. The main point that the story revolves around is that people would rather lie and blame someone else instead of confessing and accepting the punishment.
The Crucible: Is John Proctor A Good Man?
533 Words | 3 PagesHe cared greatly about his family and wife even though Elizabeth was often distant towards him. In the end of the play, Proctor chooses to die rather than sign his confession, ratting out his friends and ruining his good name in the town. He did this to protect the reputation of his children so they won’t have to grow up with a lying father. Lying went against Protctors’ views and that ideal is prevalent throughout the entire play. It is revealed that as soon as he had an affair with Abigail, he confessed to Elizabeth the next day because of the guilt he was carrying around.
Theme Of Integrity In The Crucible
914 Words | 4 PagesIt Proctor values his reputation, albeit in a positive way (unlike characters such as Abigail) when he says"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?
John Proctor's Final Act In The Crucible By Arthur Miller
400 Words | 2 PagesHe gave his life for his family name making sure that the people who are going to kill know not to say anything bad about his name. Proctors option of getting hung over telling everyone, which was a act of honor. It was a act of honor because he decided to get hung over letting the whole town know, and see what he had to do to keep his name good and not bad. Proctor did do some bad things, and did try and blame things on people which they did not do because
What Is John Proctor's Reputation In The Crucible
1159 Words | 5 PagesIn 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.
Pride And Honor In The Crucible
794 Words | 4 PagesMoreover, he would be justifying the existence of witches, which would further galvanize future spurious accusations. In addition, Proctor claimed, “I have three children - how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?” This quote insinuates that if he were to lie to his kids, they would not admire him as a role model and instead feel ashamed of him. Clearly, Proctor’s honor contributed to the ultimate decision of ripping up the signed
The Theme Of Revenge In The Crucible
388 Words | 2 PagesIn the play The Crucible, character such as Abigail and Thomas Putnam seek revenge from others, so much so that it becomes and recurring theme throughout the play. The theme of revenge can best be shown through the characters Abigail Williams, Thomas Putnam, and Giles Corey. Abigail Williams, one of the main characters in the play, becomes one to the biggest contenders for the theme of revenge. It is revealed in the beginning of the play that Abigail has committed adultery with John Proctor. This becomes the root of the revenge because Abigail now thinks that “there is promise in such sweat.”
Theme Of Conscience In The Crucible
1100 Words | 5 PagesA man of conscience is one who is aware of his moral and ethical beliefs and judgments and one who will prefer right over wrong. The life of such man is ruled by the desire to seek the truth and justice in all that surrounds him, including himself. These attributes are seen in both character, John Proctor from Arthur Miller’s play, “The Crucible”, set in Salem in the early seventeenth century and in Atticus Finch from Harper Lee’s novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” set in New York in 1950. In the play “The Crucible” set in the town of Salem which is burdened by the belief of witches, we are introduced to the main character John Proctor.
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