John Proctor And Hester Prynne: A Comparison

John Proctor and Hester Prynne: A Comparison Life has a way of making us stare ourselves down and evaluate who we are morally. Most of the time we look for flaws and try to improve them. What usually eludes us is noticing how far we have come in respect to our character. In the case of John Proctor from the play The Crucible and Hester Prynne from the book The Scarlet Letter, both of these characters accomplish the changing of themselves. They make decisions that benefit their conscience. Although those decisions cause different outcomes in their lives, John and Hester live in similar ways. Through the works of the play and the novel, John Proctor and Hester Prynne overpower their past and break through the wall of crisis that surrounded them

It is in these times that crucial decisions are made by the pair of characters that permanently affect their lives. In John’s case, he approaches the court and confesses his affair with Abigail, so that her charge of witchcraft on his wife may be dropped. “I have known her, sir. I have known her” (220). Although this tactic initially seems effective, the court questions Elizabeth about the confession, “Your husband, did he indeed turn from you?” (223). She denies it, but only because of the phrasing that the magistrate used in his questioning, where he used present tense instead of past tense. Once that is handled, John is soon accused to witchcraft and is soon to hang. However, he decides to confess to the art, and signs his confession. When told his notice will be hung on the church door, he states “I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church!” (239). At this point John knows that he has done plenty to please God and making sure that his identity is spared. “I have given you my soul, leave me my name!” (240). John now understands that he is a changed human being that has come full circle from what he was to the replenished man he is now. He accomplished his biggest goal, and that was to save his dignity. Sadly, in the eyes of his peers, that is not enough to repent his sins. Eventually, John is hanged. On Hester's side, she reconnects with Dimmesdale in the forest, “She undid the clasp that fastened the scarlet letter, and taking it from her bosom, threw it to a distance among the withered leaves” (192). Her faith and spirit is reinvigorated after she disposes of it. “The stigma was gone, Hester heaved a long, deep sigh, in which the burden of shame and anguish departed from her spirit” (192). She decides to take her chance and escape to Europe, leaving behind her past. Also, Hester