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Character study of the crucible
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The Crucible character analysis of John Proctor
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In The Crucible, Miller suggests that often times, taking moral responsibility for the general public is easier, and more beneficial than it is to take moral responsibility for one’s own self, or family. In the stage directions, Miller states that “he [John] swings a pot out of the fire and smells it. Then he lifts out the ladle and tastes. He is not quite pleased” (Miller 384). Through this simple stage direction, Miller is able to relate how Proctor is unsatisfied with his family, as well as the man he has become within his own home. This stew, or staple of the home life, is an assortment of all his failings. This collection of faults, coupled with the integrity in which Proctor presents to those outside his family, is a compilation that can also be found in a reflection upon the common man. In the private of his home, Proctor is forced to acknowledge his poor judgement, as well as the consequences that follow. Elizabeth is representative of a constant reminder for his failing moral duty as the man of the house, and the father of their children. This stew, which he is unpleased with, is an embodiment of his discontent with his own home …show more content…
He refuses to “blacken all of them [his friends],” by allowing his confession to be hung in the town. By doing so, this act would incriminate the townspeople he chooses to deeply care for (Miller 452). He has already indirectly put his family in danger through his decision to engage in an affair with the young Abigail. However, he harshly refuses to allow his misjudgement to spread to the whole of Salem. This relates how Proctor holds the view of the town in a higher regard than his own home, or family. Although he is unable to fully reconcile with his wife, or himself, he views this justice he is bringing to Salem as an atonement for his
After Elizabeth, his wife, finds out about his affair with Abigail he tries his hardest to prevent anyone from finding out because he doesn’t want to go to prison and doesn’t want his good name ruined. Again, that isn’t the best thing to do but it proves that Proctor has immense pride in himself and what he has accomplished in his lifetime that he doesn’t want to be looked down on after years of being a role model to all the civilians of Salem. At the end of the play, the only way to save himself from hanging is by confessing to the act of witchcraft. He almost does it, but he says, “I am John Proctor! You will not use me! It is no part of salvation that you should use me!”(pg.538, lines 879-82) He doesn’t confess because can’t handle ruining his name anymore than it has been and because he is a man of truth.
...people his confession. If the rest of the town knew he had confessed, his image and his name would be destroyed. He wants his private life to remain private at least within the court. He begs for his privacy because it is so important to him. However, he changes his mind because his name is too important, and he is hung because of it. Proctor believes so strongly about the separation of public and private life, that he is willing to die for it.
Miller presents the character of John Proctor in an important way to show two sides to his character. These qualities make him have the most important role in ‘The Crucible.’ The key events that show him in this way is when the audience find out about the affair, how he tries to defend his wife, his confession in court and his hanging for the sake of others. Through the events in The Crucible, Miller then portrays John Proctor’s character with tension and suspense. This then makes the audience question whether or not he is a good man.
Proctor exemplifies an ordinary second class Puritan of Miller’s adaptation of the bloodthirsty town of Salem, Massachusetts. Miller fabricates the character of Proctor to appear wholesome and scrupulous, however, acts of sacrilege in the form of adultery tarnish the character’s reputation, thus bringing to light the scepticism of an exclusively Puritan society. Proctor embodies the qualities revered by the Puritans; diligence, integrity, and frugality. Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth Proctor, is an advocate of John’s morality, describing her husband as “a good and righteous man. He is never as drunk as some are, nor wastin’ his time at the shovelboard but always at his work” pg. 100. Miller skilfully constructs a well-rounded character epitomising the ideal Puritanical figure, however, man’s tendency to be fallible resulted in a fatal flaw in the character of John Proctor. This flaw, also being a sin, is his lust and infidelity. Miller demonstrates the influence of cultural relativism through Proctor’s incapacity to absolve his own sins, despite his wife’s forgiveness, “I do not judge you. The magistrate that lives in your heart judges you.” pg. 55. This ‘magistrate’ is denoted by Miller to symbolise Proctor’s conscious, which was moulded and cultivated by the Puritans of Salem. The
In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, various characters, whether it is from physical trials or unseen personal struggles, experience some kind of major conflict. There are those who spend every day in fear, wondering whether or not they will be falsely accused of witchcraft. There are others who struggle with more internal trials, such as forgiving those who have hurt them. The protagonist, John Proctor, was a man of strong moral constitution, and held himself to a high standard for the sake of his good name and family. As a result of this, he struggled with a major internal conflict throughout the play.
Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is a play that discusses many issues and spurs contemplation within the reader. While reading this play, because of the controversy of many issues detailed within, it is difficult for one not to take a look at one’s own morals and determine what one would do if placed in a similar situation. The key issues discussed within this play, the effects of hysteria, marital betrayal, and the murderous powers of lies, are portrayed intriguingly and effectively. The lessons that can be learned from The Crucible are still quite applicable today.
Parris and Danforth prioritize their reputations over John Proctor’s actual life. Hale does not care about his good name, but about the lives of the people in Salem and his guilt for partaking in the trials. Like Proctor, Parris, Hale, and Danforth are extremely flawed men. They all make unrighteous decisions that can be selfish. Unlike Proctor, though, these men place their own needs above the needs of the community. John Proctor has lived in Salem all his life and cares for the town and its citizens, whereas Reverend Hale, Reverend Parris, and Danforth are all outsiders to the town. They place themselves above the well-beings of the townspeople for the reason that they do not care if Salem is to be destroyed. Reverend Parris, Reverend Hale, and Deputy Governor Danforth’s yearn of John Proctor’s confession represents they only care for their own self-interests and not about what his confession could do for the town of
In Act I, Proctor attempts to retire to the private world of his farm and remain completely oblivious to the events arising in Salem. This refusal to become involved is brought to an end when his servant, Mary Warren, announces that she is an official of the court and that Elizabeth Proctor has been "somewhat mentioned"(1119) by the woman who with whom he had copulated. Proctor still wishes to dismiss the hearings, but his wife uses his guilt about infidelity to extract a covenant that he will expose Abigail as being an impostor. Proctor is being coerced by his wife to become involved, it is not his free and open decision. Indirect characterization can be surmised in the aforesaid situation that Elizabeth is very influential upon Proctors character. This demonstrates that "Proctor's sense of guilt is central to any understanding of him as a dramatic character" (Bloom; 26).
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:
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.
In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, John Proctor proved himself decent because he is proud, hard working, and a man full of integrity. Proctor was faced with many different conflicts throughout the play. The conflicts with his wife, himself, the church, his individuality, and his decision to die are all very important to the character of John Proctor. Proctor was the protagonist of this dramatic piece of literature. Proctor expresses in the play that he was a very proud man and would choose his pride over pretty much anything besides his wife and family.
Miller uses John Proctor’s prideful nature to explain how it can ruin even a morally upright man’s life, as Proctor is portrayed as a good man throughout the play. Hale’s visit to the Proctors
He is a man who is inherently in a position of authority. As a farmer, he is a prominent member of the community due to his important position as a local provider. In addition, he is a well respected member of the Salem community, despite his infrequent appearances at church. Being the patriarch of the Proctor family, John Proctor establishes himself even further as a man of authority. These factors all contribute to making Proctor the societal superior to several characters in the book, particularly the women, such as his wife Elizabeth Proctor, as well as Abigail Williams. Proctor, in a certain manner, has influence over the other characters through this, which cements his position as a figure of relative
Proctor knows he is not going to Heaven because of his past sins. Proctor believes nothing can change by telling one more lie: “Nothing’s spoiled by giving them this lie that were not rotten long before” (126). Proctors fate is sealed when he had the affair. There is no chance at being saved because once someone tells a lie, they are going to go to Hell according to Puritan belief. Knowing that he can never go to Heaven, Proctor would rather live his life with the town believing he is a witch than say he isn't a witch and die now. Even though Proctor has no hope for his future, he does not want to hurt the future for others. All the others condemned are good people and do not deserve to have their goodness taken away from them: “They think to go like saints. I like not to spoil their names” (130). Proctor does not have the power to seal others fate. He can only speak about himself and whether he is a witch or not. He cannot tell a lie for himself which also tells a lie about others. By lying about the others, he will change how the town views them. If the town believes the others are witches, then their families cannot live peacefully. Proctor wants them to be able to go out with their names intact. He feels hopeless about his own fate but can only decide his fate, not
He was also viewed as a superior leader along with his goodness of moral character. These are two of the traits that represent Proctor as a tragic hero in The Crucible. In act two John Proctor shows his goodness of a character by protecting his wife and fighting against her accusation of witchcraft. He even goes as far as ruining his reputation and admitting to the court of his affair with Abigail Williams. By doing this Proctor is risking the possibility to hang. Throughout act one of the play the readers are given the initiative that John Proctor still has lust feelings towards Abigail Williams every time they encounter each other. He shows goodness and loyalty to his wife by confronting Abigail Williams and proclaims that he no longer feels the way he had for her. In act two John Proctor asks Abigail Williams to admit to the court that she and the other girls are faking. John is expressing his goodness to prevent his wife from hanging. John Proctor is a well respected farmer in Salem, and attends church almost regularly. He holds a superior name in Salem, and with if the affair with Abigail Williams were to be known he would lose his reputation and possibly his life. The town would have never have accused John or Goody Proctor of witchery. The Proctors were considered privileged in Salem, they owned and farmed many acres of land. Also the Proctor’s crops were well which gave him superiority