Who Is John Proctor's Reputation In The Crucible

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In the play The Crucible written by Arthur Miller, the small town of Salem, Massachusetts is plagued with hysteria due to fear over witchcraft. John Proctor begins out as being a character that acts in wrong and deceiving ways. As the play comes to an end in Act IV, he is placed in a situation where he himself is accused of witchcraft. As his character was full of lies throughout the play, now he shows pride and honor for his name and the innocent people hanged through his noble actions when questioned about consorting with the devil. John Proctor himself did not only see his actions as noble and honorable, but also by some of the people that were closest to him such as his wife Elizabeth Proctor. John starts out in the beginning of the play …show more content…

As Judge Danforth was trying to get a confession out of John Proctor for witchcraft Proctor said, “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 my name!” (Miller 1333). John knew that he had committed numerous sins and knew that his soul had committed them, but his name had nothing to do with it. The accusation of witchcraft—a crime that John Proctor did not want connected to his name—would surely destroy what his name had grown to become. All of his achievements and the people who thought fondly of him would now be twisted in the complete opposite direction if he were to confess to consorting with the devil. He decided that he is willing to sacrifice his soul for his name because he only has one name and his name should not deal with the consequences of his lies and wrongdoings but only his soul shall. His refusal to sign the confession shows how he does not want to dishonor those who were innocently hanged while he could escape with nothing. Through his words and actions, John Proctor shows his true respect and character that was sure to be destroyed if he were to sign the confession.

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