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The Heroic John Proctor In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

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Arthur Millers, The Crucible is a story recounting the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. John Proctor, is one of the main characters accused of witchcraft. John was a respected farmer who had a love affair with Abigail, his servant. Abigail began to accuse the people of Salem of witchcraft and most were subsequently hanged, including Proctor. Although the story of John Proctor is tragic, can his actions and motives throughout the Crucible be seen as “heroic”? A hero is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. John proctor is a genuinely good man whose selflessness and moral values sadly lead to his death. Although John Proctors story is tragic, he is not necessarily portrayed as a hero. This …show more content…

It is a fraud for i am not that man. My honesty is broke Elizabeth; I am no good an. Nothing’s spoiled by giving them this lie that were not rotten log before.”

ELIZABETH: And yet you've not confessed till now. That speak, goodness in you.

PROCTOR: Spite only keeps me silent. It is hard to give a lie to dogs. I would have your forgiveness, Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH: It is not for me to give, John, I am —

Proctor in this quote reveals that his moral is somewhat broken, and that forgiveness is the remedy for his internal suffrage. Proctor is hurting because he does not think he is capable or deserves forgiveness. In line 14 of pg. 126 Elizabeth says “It is not for me to give, John, I am —“. While this quote contains a cut-off , I am able to inference that the line Elizabeth would complete it with is “not God.” It is almost irrefutable that although Proctor was not a considered a heavily religious man, he worried whether or not he would be forgiven by God. Because the setting is ,1692 Salem Massachusetts, religion obviously played a huge role in society> Proctor did indeed worry about his destination if he were to pass. This is tragic, because it presents a strong man brought to his knees by the loss of faith in himself. Another significant way Proctors story is tragic in that, he has 2 young boys and a baby on the way, all the while he is sentenced to be hung. “I have three children—how may I teach them to walk like me in the …show more content…

64 describes the Reverend Hale asking John Proctor to recite the ten commandments in order to determine whether he had the light of God. Instead of completing the tenth commandment, he repeated one, leaving out adultery. This scene illustrates how Proctor avoids the truth. The reason why this deems Proctor as un-heroic is because, instead of telling the court immediately of his relations with Abigail, he waited. Although admitting the truth was a hard decision, a hero in his place would have confessed. By confessing earlier Abigail would have been exposed for the fraud she was, as well a lot of the people executed would have still been alive. As well, in Salem breaking a Proctor’s demise was ultimately a byproduct of his own doing. Abigail wasn't fully at fault with her obsession with John. Proctor cowardly led Abigail on and then regretfully tried cease their relationship. “Abby, I may think of you from time to time.” Although this quote continues with Proctor rejecting her, this shows an example of how he victimizes her. Proctor plays with her emotions a very immoral thing to

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“God damns all liars.” Particularly John Proctor’s name sings boldly in the town of Salem in such a Holy way. It would be a shocking act to see such a symbolic figure to confess to such a false crime. But, his pride linger’s from his shoulders. John signs the confession with a sickening face of himself.

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In 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.

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The Crucible - Conflict Analysis John Proctor Internal: John Proctor’s most eminent internal conflict is over the sin he has committed, adultery. Proctor cheated on his wife with Abigail Williams, and this makes Proctor feel incredibly guilty because in the town, he is “respected and even feared” (19). He tried very hard, and succeeded, with keeping this moral crime to himself. He still walked about Salem as if he was “an untroubled soul,” (21) however, avoiding the sin again would be a difficult task. Abigail flirts with him, in attempt to have him for one last night, and it’s obvious Proctor has an arduous time pushing her away.

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Gerald Weales notes that Proctor was not able to gain the strength to accept death over lying about his name until Elizabeth, “absolves him of the sin of adultery.” Once she had done this, he realizes that his name, his own perception of self, is more important than anyone else’s view of

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Proctor was always seen as a holy guy in the public’s eyes, but he wasn’t a holy guy deep down inside. Since the affair with Abigail occurred, Proctor’s standered in the church just started to go downhill. Both Proctor and Parris have different eyes in the church, Proctor’s eyes are good and Parris’s are deficient in the eyes of the church. This leads to why Proctor has resentment toward Parris as to why he states, “ I like it not that Mr.Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light in that man.

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But you 're not, you 're not, and let you remember it! Let you look sometimes for the goodness in me, and judge me not. (Act 1 page 55).” I chose this quote as my first quote to represent John Proctor because like he said in this quote, he just wants to be seen as a good man. He does not want to be judged because of his actions.

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914 Words | 4 Pages

Proctor doubts his goodness and constantly seeks forgiveness. This is evident when he says "I cannot mount the giblet like a saint, my honesty is broke elizebeth, I am no good man. When Proctor finally has the bravery to go to court, despite the risk of exposure, he breaks down under the pressure of Abigails power and denounces god in frustration. As a result of this he is arrested. In act four, Proctor's integrity outweighs his will to live.

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Likewise, when Elizabeth is brought before Danforth to verify Proctor’s confession, she lies to protect her husband, whom she refers to as a “goodly man,” from suspicion (Miller, 113). The affair may have caused Elizabeth to doubt Proctor but both parties still care deeply for each other and try to protect each other from harm. Even in his last moments, Proctor’s last words- “Show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with it!”- were directed toward Elizabeth and were full of love and care (Miller, 144). Proctor may have sinned but his regret over his affair with Abigail and the trouble he had brought upon his wife justifies his

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