The Fatal Error of a Noble Man

573 Words2 Pages

In the tragic story The Crucible by Arthur Miller John Proctor is an independent and unselfish farmer who appears to be the perfect example of a good man. This would’ve been true if he only hadn’t committed one crucial mistake, his affair with Abigail Williams. This mistake is what causes his thoughts and emotions to turn into a sea of confusion; and this confusion is what causes his tragic death at the conclusion of the play. It can be firmly said that John Proctor is an unselfish and independent man but inopportunely deeply confused throughout the story. John Proctor’s possibly most admirable quality is his unselfishness. The moment in which he doubtlessly displays this positive trait is while he is trying to free his wife from the mishap of being hanged. He succeeds in his trial and his wife is given the opportunity to live for another year, and yet he risks himself to attempt to free his friends who have also been accused of witchcraft as seen here in after Danforth asks if he will drop the charge against the girls: “I—I think I cannot. These are my friends, their wives are als...

Open Document