Being The Hero.
Being the hero is not always as glamorous as it seems. Some heroes may result in devastating ends to preserve what they believe is right, even if it costs them their lives. John Proctor was a man from the tale The Crucible by Arthur Miller who is notably considered the tragic hero of this story once it is understood in its entirety. Through all obstacles he was still able triumph through his meaningful role in the story, even with his dreadful end. What really made him such a hero was his different strengths within the story that were his knowing right from wrong, wanting to keep his name in good standing, and him growing throughout the story, yet his opposite, his weakness, were his cowardice, lack of controlling temptations, and his short temper, furthermore, when you combine the two they create what makes Proctor the anti-hero of this tale.
The man known as John Proctor possessed a few strengths which guided him well in the end. He possesses the innate ability to know right from wrong, and he uses it properly when the times call for it. This alone gives him the capability to end the story with the meaningful message that all are absurd with what is happening. Within his other strengths lies his desire to keep the name of his family in good standing. Readers are able to see Proctors desire to keep his name in good standing with the quote, “…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? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (240). Proctors pleading to Judge Danforth shows that this man cares greatly for his kin, and wishes not to harm his future name as well. Proctor also has his character development to strength...
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...mn you, man, you will not chain her!”(204) Proctor, through his rage, is nearly attacking the man to save his wife when he would be better off sitting back and thinking things through,.
In the end of it all, this tale of a Puritanical society gone mad shows how John Proctor is given the title of a tragic hero. The man who died for what he truly believed in had gone through quite a journey in a short time to arrive at his mindset at the end of this play. All that gave him strength had given the man what small amount their Puritan society may achieve which was having his ‘goodness’, as Proctor’s wife had said. His flaws, although detrimental at the start, eventually were superceded by his drive to do the right thing. All that John Proctor had done up to the point at the end of this play had bogged him down until he had finally achieved being the hero of said tale.
...fess to them Elizabeth” (238). He’s thinking about giving in to the corrupt church to save his own life like everyone else. But when the Judge Danforth asks him to sign his name on a document confessing of witch craft he won’t do it because he explains, “It is my name I cannot have another in my life because I lie and sign myself to lies. Proctor finally stands up for what’s right and he shows that he won’t taint his name in order to save his own life. So they send him to be hung but he dies with his honor and his integrity.
First, in The Crucible, John Proctor is very well known in the town of Salem. “John Proctor was not simply a farmer but a man of significant wealth derived from diverse sources: inheritance, farming, rents, tavern keeping, and commercial ventures” (McGill 5). The Proctors get their wealth from many sources which has caused them to be very high in the social class. “Miller does refer to Proctor as a farmer, notes that he has followed the family tradition of tinkering with inventions, and consistently implies that he and his friends represent a social element inferior to the Putnams” (McGill 5). During The Crucible John Proctor is constantly faced with the problem of preserving his good name. “Previously preferred over truth, his good name is now preferred to life itself” (Popkin 7). John Proctor’s reputation is very important to him and he consistently tries to maintain his status in Salem. When it comes to his trial he chooses to give up his own life rather than tarnish his ...
In 'The Crucible' by Arthur Miller, John Proctor is the hero of the play. He is a good man, described as being :
Proctor concentrates on his name, because it would be destroyed of he signs. He finally comes to a true understanding of what a good reputation means, and his defense of his name enables him to muster the courage to die heroically.
In conclusion, it cannot be denied that John Proctor made a major mistake and betrayed his wife and his own moral code. Despite that, he was a strong, level-headed individual that cared for his family and desired to leave them with a good name. He would not have felt such a high level of guilt if he had not expected so much from himself, which is the quality of a moral person. John Proctor was a good man who truly deserved the title of protagonist in The Crucible.
Life in Salem, Massachusetts back in 1692 could prove very difficult for its residents. John Proctor, a married man living in this setting has to combat his society for what he believes is just and right, and in doing so sacrifices his life for it. In the play The Crucible, Arthur Miller illuminates the conflict between the individual and society by using John Proctor as his protagonist. Despite the fact that Proctor does die in the end, Arthur Miller believes that the individual does triumph over society in the end.
John Proctor is portrayed throughout the play to be a man who has high moral values that he must abide by. He can spot hypocrisy in others easily and judges himself no less harshly. Elizabeth Proctor says to him in the second act:
...imself. Once Proctor commits adultery with Abigail, he loses his self-respect. Throughout the course of the play he attempts to find the best method for regaining this quality. In the end, he sacrifices his reputation to try and save his wife’s and to bring down Abigail in the process. He does not succeed, but dies an honorable man of strong character.
At the end of the play, John proctor is faced with the biggest calamity of his life. He was given the the choose to lie and say he is a witch or stand by his honesty and die as a marauder. john proctor name was everything to him. It made him who he is so he based his actions on it.. John wanted to live and keep his good name
And so there goes a silly little man, bent by pride, forth to the gallows and whatever fate may await him beyond. Indeed, what legacy did John Proctor leave to his wife, left homeless, without a husband? What legacy did John Proctor leave his children, abandoned by their father in a fit of selfish vanity? What message was left for his children who would forever live in the knowledge that their father cared more for his good name than for his own sons and their welfare? What memory would he leave to the world which could not save him, what legacy to the world? There goes the silly little man, bent by pride, striding away from the family that needs him, towards his fate.
John Proctor is a good man. He is a puritan, a husband, a citizen, and an all around valuable member of the community. All of this is represented by his name. The name of John Proctor could be considered his most prized possession. It is his most priceless asset. Proctor is very strong-willed and caring. He does not set out with any intentions of hurting anyone. He is a farmer and village commoner who is faced with incredible inner turmoil. He has committed adultery and had absolutely no intentions of joining in the witch trials. After his wife got involved and eventually was set free due to the fact that she was pregnant, he feels that he can't sit back and accept what is happening to the town. John Proctor is a good and noble man and because of this he believes that he can't be hanged and die a martyr when he has this sin blooming over him every waking moment.
This is one of the most dramatic scenes of the play. Proctor must sign a paper of confession and it will be hung on the church wall. Proctor looks at Rebecca Nurse a person who stands by the truth, and questions himself “What am I doing?”. Proctor has already committed one of the worst sins and by lying to save his neck he knows he’ll lack clarity. Proctor rips up the confession sheet and yells to Danforth: “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!” John Proctor wants redemption. He wants to do right with whatever dignity he has left. All of his actions were done to save many from the witch hunt, and with that, he pays it with his life. The worst situation taken place in John Proctor life has brought the truth to
Proctor's attempt to decide his fate is reinforced by stage directions within the script. When Proctor asks Elizabeth to help him decide his future, "He turns directly to her", creating intimacy between the characters. This is later revisited after Proctor's execution with the lighting directions describing "The new sun… pouring in on her face". Together the physical movement and lighting help to increase dramatic tension and create atmosphere.
...g! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” The notion that reputation is the most important thing, that having a clean name is what matters most, that it is more important than even life itself, is given to the reader. The idea that John Proctor has given up his soul, his moral principles, his honesty, just to keep his good name is one that is hard to understand in our time but, by this speech, the reader realises the importance accorded to reputation and status.
Most heroes do not die by the end of the story but Proctor undergoes a reversal of fate which is another characteristic called Peripeteia. Nemesis is also shown since his reputation was too valuable that he had to face the punishment of being hanged. Proctor is the protagonist of the story, therefore, the readers feel a sense of sorrow for John because he was forced to die which represents catharsis, especially since this was not expected. Miller creates John Proctor to represent a tragic hero through his flaws of not signing his name on the paper and by confessing to adultery and this led to his