What may be the best known definition of a tragic hero comes from the great philosopher Aristotle. According to Aristotle a tragic hero is ““the change of fortune presented must not be the spectacle of a virtuous man brought from prosperity to adversity.” (ohio.edu). If this statement does not bring the character of John Proctor to mind then what will? John proctor has all the characteristics that one would need to be characterized as a tragic hero. In the Crucible by Arthur Miller, this is a play about the salem witch trials. When girls are in their beds, unresponsive, fingers begin to be pointed. False accusations are made from left to right and the town of Salem is no longer safe. The character John Proctor is in the middle of all this. He has committed adultery, but, it can be proven that John is a tragic hero. This is proven by him being eminently good and just, how hes …show more content…
After John signed his confession he 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 you have hanged! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (133). Signing the confession would’ve saved Mr. Proctors life but Proctors name means too much to him. He will be remembered as the man who committed adultery if his confession is posted on the church door. Rather than sign away his name to lies and a mistake, he dies to keep the truth and good within his name. Another example is that John Proctor is a lecher. He lets sex with a Harlot, named Abigail, ruin the trust he has with Elizabeth and his marriage. John Proctor tells Elizabeth “I may blush for my sin.” (58). He says this because he was not blushing at Abagail because he liked her, but at the fact that he ever slept with her. If John Proctor didn’t do this, he wouldn’t be in the predicament he’s in