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Arthur Miller was an American playwright, essayist and he was a prominent figure in American theatre. One of his most famous pieces was The Crucible, a play portraying the Salem witch trials of the 17th century. In the play Miller presents many different conflicts based off of several different themes. Respect and reputation is a common and important theme in the play and contributes to the death of many including one of the main characters, John Proctor. John values the reputation of his name so much that he refuses to sign a false confession and would instead rather die, literally. John is about to be hung on suspicion of witchcraft and working with Satan, on this day he decides he wants to live so he falsely confesses to Judge Danforth. …show more content…
This shows the weight that John Proctor’s name has weight in his village, his reputation can heavily influence others because the look at him with such esteem. The judges get the means together to complete the full confession and make it official that Proctor has committed the crime of being a witch. John must sign his name on a paper stating that he has officially confessed to evil doings but he is reluctant to signing the paper do to Judge Danforth's intentions. After hearing of John’s confession Danforth ask for Cheever to go get the papers to be signed, John questions this and Danforth tells him it is for “the good instruction of the village,” John is to be the example (Miller 209). This causes John to hesitate in completing his confession has he does not wish for the town to know of him doing such things as he has great pride in his name. John does not want to lose the respect of his peers and wishes to keep his reputation spotless. Danforth will not give in however and lets Proctor know that if he does not give his signature over that his hanging will commence. The argument between the two escalate and John continues to refuse to taint his name
He uses the emotional fallacy of the slippery slope which is when during an argument progresses it then leads to devastating consequences results. This happens to Procter when he attempts to get his wife out of prison. He tells the court about his sinful ways. “Gold help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s venge-ance, and you must see it; I set myself entirely in your hands, I know you must see it now” (Miller 111). He put all of name on the line during his case with the court. He admits to breaking the seventh commandment which is a very big deal to people in the village; one must not commit adultery. However, he does not care about the repercussions as long as his wife is out of jail. To make sure his claim was true Danforth brings in his wife to validate his claim. If she told the court he cheated on her then she would be taken out of jail, but if she did not it would prove Abigail to be truthful. Being the good wife she is though, she attempts to save her husband’s name by lying in front of the court. Procter trying to prove his wife was a good woman evidently led her to more time in prison, tarnishing his name, and giving Abigail more
John. You can not define who I am. May God be the judge of this trial, and may all of you have fair judgement like the ones who have been hanged. I confess to witchcraft, and may my name be forever corrupted with the lies your [sarcastically] fair accusers have been honest of saying.
Even if Danforth were to believe Proctor when he said the girls were lying, he couldn’t do what was morally right because it was expected of him by the people to tend to the accusations. Danforth knew how to maintain an equilibrium and not interfere with the break between authority and power. The responsibility of an authoritative role model is to be the voice for everyone who speaks to resolve a
Proctor’s prideful personality does not let him baptize his third son because he dislikes Reverend Parris (168, l. 516-520). Proctor withholds his affair with Abigail because of his pride, he was unable to confess it until his wife was accused. Before he confessed he stated that “a man will not cast away his good name,” this statement suggest that a man has a lot of pride in his name and therefore his confession must be true (189, l. 845-847). In addition, after confessing to witchcraft Proctor takes pride in his name and refuses to have his name nailed in the door of the church showing everyone that he confessed to witchcraft (207, l. 894-897). “You will not use me! I am no Sarah Good or Tituba, I am John Proctor! You will not use me!,” Proctor beliefs he is better than Sarah good and Tituba hence he would not sign his name (207, l. 899-701). Towards the end, Proctor thinks better of his action and rips the signed paper after declaring, “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!” (207, l. 725-730). Proctor compares himself with the brave people that are about to hang and takes pride in his name by refusing to keep on lying and ripping the paper with his signature; he bravely accepted death with the thought that his name is not tainted by
from John words that he is trying to please her, and make up to her
Danforth tells Proctor “Courage man, courage-let not her witness your good example that she may come to God herself. Now hear it, Goody Nurse! Say on, Mr. Proctor. Did you bind yourself to the Devil’s service?” (Miller 128).
“Looking at Giles,” he states, “who is this man?” One can evidently sense an outrage here as he cannot believe that someone is challenging his authority. On another occasion in Act 3, Danforth asks, "You deny every scrap and tittle of this?" Abigial responds by “hissing”, "If I must answer that, I will leave and I will not come back again." Momentarily, Miller then states in the stage directions that Danforth "seems unsteady."
If he lived, he felt he would be alive but with no purpose. To survive, and falsely confess to witchcraft, John knew he would lose his name in the town. When asked why he refused to sign a declaration binding himself to the devil Proctor responded, “ 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! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name” (MIller, 1163)!
“Danforth:... You will sign your name or it is no confession, Mister! His breast heaving with agonized breathing, Proctor now lays down the paper and signs his name… Proctor has just finished signing when Danforth reaches for the paper. But Proctor snatches it up...His breast heaving, his eyes staring, Proctor tears the paper and crumbles it, and he is weeping in fury, but erect.” Not once in his time from that moment in the court, or jail, or at Gallows Hill did he confess to witchcraft, despite Reverend Hale’s attempts to persuade him otherwise. Proctor stood against the court, the girls, and some of the townsfolk, and although he was in the right, and his claims were accurate,...
John Proctor faces many decisions in response to his moral dilemma to try to save his life. One of the difficult decisions John makes is to reveal that he had an affair with Abigail Williams and thereby has committed adultery. If the local court convicts him of this crime, he faces being jailed. Also by admitting this crime, John reveals a weakness in his character. This flaw in his personality will make it harder for him to stand up in the community as an honorable and believable person. In trying to convince others that witchcraft does not exist John’s dishonesty with his wife will make him less convincing to the community.
...nnot 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! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!" (p. 143) By the end of the play, John has grown enough to realize that though he was wrong to have an affair, he did not lose all honor. By learning this lesson and keeping his honor right up until his death, John passes his test.
Danforth’s has too much confidence on his ability to distinguish the truth. His strong puritan beliefs blinds him from reality and considers people who goes against him as suspects. This demonstrated when he says, “But you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between.” (94). This quotation proves that his decisions on court is mostly bias and he is against anything that violates his puritan beliefs. In addition, he also uses his authority as a Deputy Governor to maintain his reputation. He does not want to accept his mistakes and try to correct it because he does not want his reputation to be tainted. He displays this character by saying, “you misunderstand, sir; I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. It is not just.” (129). Danforth is too concerned about his reputation and he is afraid to that he will lose it if he admits that he has made wrong judgements. His bias opinion on what is right plays a vital on the mass hysteria that happened in
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.
John Proctor preserved his dignity as he refused to write down his name admitting he is a witch and not telling Danforth their were other witches. Danforth demanded John Proctor to admit he’s working with the devil in order to free Elizabeth and himself. In the end John states, “I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another” (...