The Trials and Testimonies of John Proctor The Crucible by Arthur Miller is set in the spring and fall of 1692 in a small, Puritan town in Salem, Massachusetts. The times are often desperate with people wondering if they can trust their neighbors that they have known all of their life, people who have been settled in the town since it first cropped into existence. Fear races through the villages like the whispers of the wind that stir the hanging bodies on the village greens. The Salem Witch Trials are occurring and no man, woman, or child is safe lest they follow the rules of the theocracy set about by the church and government. In hard times sacrifices must be made in order to determine the moral characters of an individual in their society …show more content…
The Crucible by Arthur Miller showcases John Proctor’s sacrifice of both his title and his life which demonstrates his ethical moralities, conveying the theme that one must put aside their ego and pride in …show more content…
John Proctor further demonstrates that he values his characteristics of honesty and justice by ultimately sacrificing his life. In addition, Proctor is dedicated to the cause of delivering the truth unlike many other characters presented in Miller’s work. In the fall of 1692, John Proctor is brought from his cell in front of Governor Danforth and given a boon, say that he has fallen under the spell of the devil and his pregnant wife shalt be allowed to live until the end of her pregnancy comfortably. At first, Proctor agrees verbally to this suggestion even though it appears to greatly pain him. However, when Danforth states that a statement must be made and presented to the people John Proctor loses his calm demeanor and becomes shifty and clearly agitated. His values are wavering and he signs the ill-fated papers, but refuses to hand them over to the Governor. In the end, John Proctor destroys the crisp piece of paper and walks resolutely to the gallows knowing that he may have stumbled, but that he stuck to his beloved values of dedication, honesty, and justice. John Proctor was offered to save his wife, but was unable to do so because he believes that it was not justice because other men’s wives had been sacrificed due to their unwillingness to