ACT 4:
“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 153).
This quote truly demonstrates Proctors character as a whole, as he is willing to be hung for the sake of proving his worth to the court. Specifically, Proctor knows he is truly innocent, and wants to make the courts aware of his innocence. His unwillingness to confess to witchcraft, is because of his personal beliefs regarding reputation. From this I can infer that John Proctors reputation in society was important to him than being hung for a crime he did not commit. The theme
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He argues that his conviction of witchcraft, will serve as a model, for then others to openly declare of their involvement in witchcraft. Throughout the town of Salem, John Proctor almost has a sense of authority over the other townspeople. His lack of religious background allowed him to be easily convicted, as witchcraft could be associated with religion. The phrase, “good instruction of the village,” is almost saying that because of his conviction, it will give the accused a reason to convict to witchcraft too. John Proctor is upset that his name must be posted for all the village to see, because it will tarnish his name. John Proctor’s character is one based on reputation, and guilt. The guilt comes from his affair with Abigail Williams. The reputation aspect comes from when he is accused by Mary Warren of trying to turn her to the Devil. I believe that John Proctor grows tired of the accusations, as to why he speaks of his false involvement with Satan in front of the town. Specifically, Deputy Danforth uses John Proctor as an example for conviction as he is certain he will be able to turn others
John Proctor was a man of honor and had a well respected name in the town of Salem. Sadly he died tragically but as a hero. He was hanged because he was accused of doing the devil’s work. He was given the chance to save his life if he admitted on a piece of paper that he was working with the devil but he refused to tell that lie. He wanted his sons to be able to walk the streets without being shunned from the world because they deserved better.
Proctor is a well respected upperclassman and him sacrificing his life led to his family living a greater life. To the court with great emotion proctor states “ 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!” (143).
Proctor says “ You are the high court, your word is good enough! tell them i confessed myself; say proctor broke his knees and wept like a woman, but my name cannot!”. In the quote John Proctor does not want written proof that he was a witch because he wants to protect his friends and not throw them under the bus. This means he cares for his friends and is truly a good man. Proctor says; “ let them that near dead now take their souls, it is pretence to me.”
Proctor even told them he is not something to be used to help them, “you will not use me” (4, 699). Proctor will not allow the town to use his name to save themselves for killing all the innocent people before him. Proctor even pleads with them, “I have given you my soul; leave me my name” (4, 730). Proctor is saying how the integrity he has is only left in his name since his soul has been sinned.
John Proctor in the eyes of the towns people is a sinner and now he has to try and prove to them that he is a good person. “If you’ll notice, sir-they’ve known the women many years and never
John Proctor faces many different forms of conflict, whether it be self to self or self to society. Facing the court, Proctor gives his words and mind to try and free the ones accused. His personality and internal conflicts are arguably more intense. To be damned or forgiven by his society. The only way out of persecution is to smear his name.
Proctors final act was honor. Proctors actions were noble, he was a very honorable man. His actions really helped him and his family name. In the passage of the book ¨The Crucible” John Proctor says ¨i have given you my soul, let me keep my family name.¨ This statement is very noble.
In The Crucible, the protagonist John Proctor was. In the town of Salem, in 1692, a group of young ladies by the names of Betty Williams, Abigail Williams and Tituba were found dancing in the forest naked by Reverend Parris, Abigail’s’ uncle. Reverend Parris assumed that they were participating in witchcraft. This idea of witchcraft spread through the city of Salem and the citizens began accusing each other of being witches. This started a series of court cases known as the Salem Witch Trials.
This is where the reader really gets a glimpse of who John Proctor really is, he is a man who has cheated on his wife with a teenage girl. This a problem now, but in the 1600s this was unheard of. It says a lot about Proctor’s personality, it gives the reader look into Proctor’s scandalous lifestyle. It also sets up the story’s theme of love being more enduring than lust. In act three of The Crucible Proctor Says, "I have known her, sir.
Another reason why John Proctor is such a Flawed man is because he is so quick to anger. He get mad very easily and he goes off on people to make them feel like a bad person when they didnt do anything wrong. Like Elizabeth every night he tries to talk to him and he yells at her because she ask to many questions or she doesn 't do it the right
“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?
John Proctor is being accused of doing witchcraft and is being meant to sign a document saying he is guilty and concurs with the ruling of the court. This said
The first impressive characteristic of John Proctor is his bravery. Speaking out against the “afflicted” girls in the way he did could cause serious question of him as a person. From the court’s standpoint John could be seen as directly opposing the court, which would have him jailed, or could even have him be accused of witchcraft. Also, he would have had to have known that Abigail Williams would have immediately accused him of being a witch once he spoke out against them. However, that did not stop him from delivering the truth to the court.
Proctor refused to let the paper he signed be hung on the wall, shouting, “I have confessed myself!... God does not need my name nailed upon the church!... God knows how black my sins are! It is enough!" He implied that by falsely confessing to witchcraft he would be dishonorable to his friends and family, and it would encumber him for the rest of his life.
John Proctor is well liked and respected in the Puritan community and is trusted by everyone. In Act I, on page 1269, It says “Proctor, respected and even feared in Salem, has come to regard himself as a kind of fraud.” This quote shows that John has a lot to lose if his secret gets out because everyone looks up to him. Although John is a great man, his tragic flaw is his pride.