John Proctor As A Tragic Hero Essay

A tragic heros is someone who faces adversity and has courage and they have similar characteristics throughout different literature. A hero often times experience a downfall, but confronts the situation in a way that causes them to be given the title of a tragic hero. Aristotle once stated about tragic heroes and recited “A man doesn’t become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall.” Aristotle also came up with six characteristics that all tragic heroes have. Romeo is a prime example of a tragic hero by the quick judgements he makes due to his love for Juliet. He decides to attempt suicide when he sees Juliet faking her death, this shows his character falls in love too fast and too hard. The way he loves Juliet is Romeo’s downfall

John is a protagonist of the play and portrayed as an ordinary man while he actually has many tragic flaws that lead to his death. Adultery is a crime committed by John with Abigail Williams which creates a strain in his relationship with his wife Elizabeth. His wife brings up the affair often and tells John she thinks he is ashamed of what he has done, she says to him “John, have you ever shown her somewhat of contempt? She cannot pass you in the church but you will blush...I think you be somewhat ashamed, for I am there, and she so close,” obviously Elizabeth is jealous of what has happened and brings it up to John (Miller 493). He is unable to put this act behind him which causes him to confess to his crime. Hubris is a trait seen during this time because he committed the crime and is extremely guilty of the situation. Anagnorisis is also seen within John when he confesses of the crime he tells Danforth that “I have known her...I have known her,” meaning that he has perpetrated the crime of adultery and feels the need to admit to it (Miller 519). John realizes he needs to confess to show everyone Abigail is not as innocent as she makes herself look. His guilt also leads him to confess and he realizes that he needs to tell Danforth. He puts his reputation behind him and admits his

Most heroes do not die by the end of the story but Proctor undergoes a reversal of fate which is another characteristic called Peripeteia. Nemesis is also shown since his reputation was too valuable that he had to face the punishment of being hanged. Proctor is the protagonist of the story, therefore, the readers feel a sense of sorrow for John because he was forced to die which represents catharsis, especially since this was not expected. Miller creates John Proctor to represent a tragic hero through his flaws of not signing his name on the paper and by confessing to adultery and this led to his