John Proctor As A Tragic Hero In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

A tragic hero is a great and noble character in a tragedy that has a tragic flaw which leads him to his downfall. In the play, The Crucible, Arthur Miller portrays John Proctor as a tragic hero. John Proctor’s tragic flaw was that he had an affair with Abigail, a 16 year old girl. Eventually, Proctor realized what he had done was wrong and decided to end his relationship with Abigail but soon this caused many other problems for him. Abigail started the accusation of witchcraft and many were arrested including Elizabeth Proctor. John Proctor was heartbroken knowing that his wife had been falsely accused because of his mistake so he tried many things to prove her innocent but he his final attempt was confessing his affair with Abigail. John

The court officials found a puppet that had a needle on it which they claim was used to kill Abigail, but it was given to her by Mary Warren, a servant in Proctor's house. Proctor tries to tell them that Mary Warren gave it to her, but they assumed that he was lying to save his wife. Proctor tells them that “If she is innocent! Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now?...This warrant’s vengeance...’’ (77)! Proctor tells them that his wife is innocent and that Abigail accused her to take revenge. He asks them why they don’t ever investigate on the Accusers because they could be just framing a person. This shows that Proctor cares for his wife and wants to save

He tells the court that ‘’ in the proper place- where my beasts are bedded. On the last night of my joy, some eight months past. She used to serve me at my house, sir, I beg you- see her what she is. My wife, my dear good wife, took this girl soon after, sir, and put her out on the highroad. And being what she is a lump of vanity, sir. Excellency, forgive me. She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might, for I thought her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it; I set myself in your hands, I know you must see it now’’ (110). Proctor tells the court that Elizabeth is innocent and that Abigail is trying to take revenge so she can get rid of Elizabeth to marry