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Forgiveness In John Proctor In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

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The Witch Hunt Leading a life of regret is a challenging existence for any man for guilt weighs heavily on the soul. John Proctor, the protagonist in Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, is burdened by an immoral act, a torrid affair, which has cost him his name and integrity. Forgiveness comes at a great price, one that he must come to terms with. John Proctor undergoes a transformation from a man battling internal strife to a man who rediscovers his personal integrity. In the small town of Salem, Massachusetts rumors of witchcraft run rampant. During a time of great chaos, John Proctor engages in an affair with Abigail Williams, a household servant. Guilt-ridden over the betrayal, John confesses to his wife, “I'll plead no more! I see now the spirit twists around the single error of my life, and I will …show more content…

He honors himself even if it will cost him his life. Purging himself, seeking salvation, brings some semblance of forgiveness which is evident when he says, “I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs. Give them no tear! Tears pleasure them! Show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with it! (133) Preservation of integrity is John’s quest, he reaches for it, it is within his grasp. He will not allow himself to be taken to the gallows at the expense of more lies and deceit. John states that his name is everything and it is given just once in life. For example, he profoundly states, “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! (133) His utterance defends himself as a man of integrity turning away from the chaos called Salem. Integrity finds itself in John Proctor and not in the witchery that has gripped

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