The Metamorphosis Of John Proctor In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a phenomenal play containing wide varieties of static and dynamic characters. A few main characters are very dynamic and change immensely throughout the play completely shifting former beliefs and ideas. John Proctor is one of these characters that go through this metamorphosis. In the beginning of The Crucible, John Proctor is a man burdened by his sins, but throughout the play his morals and true nature are tested and brought into light, and by the end he learns to accept forgiveness and truly finds the goodness he had been seeking in himself. John Proctor is introduced as a married farmer who had a scandalous affair with his servant Abigail Williams. This horrible act of adultery has left him damaged and confused on how to move forward with his life. Likewise, he is haunted by his sin, Abigail serving as a constant reminder to his flawed decision. John says to Abigail, “ I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you again”(Miller 1140), which shows his resolve and the loyalty he is trying to give his wife. However, Elizabeth still does not fully trust John

He has to decide whether to admit to a crime he did not commit or die a martyr to preserve his family’s name and dignity. John chooses to tell the truth and gives up his own life for the well being of his family and it is at this time he truly finds the goodness in himself to move forward with his decision, even though it would mean his death. Elizabeth says to Hale, “He have his goodness now, God forbid I take it from him!”(Miller 1233), which shows that even his wife Elizabeth knows that he has learned to forgive himself and that he is doing one last good act before he leaves this earth. In his moments before death, Proctor has his revelation, which enables him to forgive himself for his past mistakes and find the goodness he had been seeking from the beginning of the