The Crucible John Proctor Confession Essay

The end of the Crucible is very suspenseful when the protagonist, John Proctor, is faced with choosing between confessing to a lie or dying for the truth. At first, Proctor is hesitant and signs the papers, confessing himself to evil, but before the signed paper is collected by the court, he tears it apart and is sentenced to death. This was his best option, for it stopped him from living a remorseful life. His decision to tear apart the signed confession was the most correct not only for himself but for his family and the community as well.

In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, John Proctor was accused of witchcraft. John Proctor was a man of great integrity and knew he did nothing wrong. He was given the choice to confess and lie or be hung. Being the honest and stubborn man that he was, he decided his name was more important than his life. John struggled both internally and with others while trying to fight for what he thought was right.

In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, John Proctor is a complex character. Proctor’s actions in the play bring up multiple questions and uncertainty because of his sinful past of adultery. One move that comes into question that comes into question is his self-sacrifice at the end. Proctor rips up his confession and gives up his chance of living to save the reputation of the innocent people that are "witches." Many people do not find his act of self-sacrifice believable, but Proctor’s final actions show that he is sincerely a good man despite his past.

It is very notable that Hazel was the one who watched the event because it exhibits that she can still process information and feel sad about it, but it will eventually be forgotten. In comparison, George was the one to watch the television program while Hazel was washing the dishes in the film. This is unusual because George is still forced forget because of his handicap. Although in both scenarios they are sad, they simply, “Forget sad things”. This is dissimilar because though neither can remember, Hazel does not have a handicap.

His wording shows that he doesn’t know who he is and therefore believes he is a Monster as Ms. Petrocelli calls him. He accepts people’s judgments as his self-truth. Even though, he, himself, accepts the worst he still wants people to perceive him as a good person, especially his mom. Steve’s mom’s words cut deeper in him because his mom believes he didn’t do it while he knows he did. 5 days into the trial, his mother comes by and talks to him hoping to make him feel better, “I could still feel Mama’s pain.

Even though John Proctor betrays Elizabeth by having an affair, Elizabeth remains loyal to her husband. Her loyalty shows in Act Three when John is asked if his wife is honest and responds, “In her life sir, she will never lie.”. Although Elizabeth is an honest woman, she then lies in court for the sake of her husband’s fate. Her dishonesty results in her husband’s death despite that being the opposite of her intentions. Elizabeth shows that she will do anything for her husband as a loyal wife even going against her own morals.

Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name, God knows how black my sins are! It is enough” (Miller 142). John decided he would rather die an honest man rather than selling himself out even at the loss of his life.

Elizabeth: “No, sir.” Proctor: “Elizabeth, I have confessed it! She only thought to save my name”’ (393). Elizabeth has been praised for her honesty and morality all along but now has been exposed in court. Is she two faced or does she posses a pretense?

John's love for Elizabeth is also one of his inner struggles. John throughout the play is conflicted because he knows what he did was wrong but he thinks Elizabeth should not still be upset “ Spare me! You forget nothin’ and forgive nothin’.” (Miller 940). John knows deep down Elizabeth will never forgive him.

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.

People have to go through a hard crucible situation when someone point finger at them such as jews. It is kind of like nature of human to think about themselves first and protect themselves, but it takes too much courage for a person to stay with what they believe or accept their fault. Arthur Miller’s story which was played in The Crucible had actually happened in a village when people had to go through a difficult life choice in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. For a guilt/adultery, John Proctor faced a terrible persecution, Rebecca Nurse, a honorable woman in the society, who faced a horrible penalty of death; even though Reverend Parris (minister of the Salem) could have saved all the people if he hadn’t cared about his rising reputation so much. Arthur Miller expresses people’s reactions to turmoil in The Crucible: the title effectively captures the struggles the character have to face.