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John Proctor Tragic Hero Essay

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Comfort Blamah Ms. Shields American Literature Apr 4, 2024. The Tragic Hero of Salem In 1692, the Salem Witch trials were held. Nineteen people were hanged and one died by being pressed to death. These innocent people were executed due to mass hysteria, false accusations, and revenge against their neighbors. During the 1950s, Arthur Miller wrote the play, "The Crucible." This is a historical fiction play based on the Salem witch trials, but it's also an analogy to the Red Scare. In this play, several characters drive the plot. One of the main characters in this is John Proctor. Proctor in the story is portrayed as courageous, honest, and a man with integrity. Moreover, John Proctor exhibits the characteristics of a tragic hero because a tragic …show more content…

Proctor knows that they don't take sins lightly to set moral standards, however, the thought of revealing the truth about his affair with Abigail terrifies him. In addition, because of his pride, it ultimately leads to his downfall. In Act Three, Proctor states, "I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the door of my good name, you will believe me, Mr. Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw me" (Miller 1207). This quote illustrates Proctor's realization of the consequences of his actions on his reputation. Moreover, another quote that reveals Proctor's prideful behavior is in Act Three when he exclaims, "I say, I say God is Dead" (Miller 1212), challenging the authority of the court and refusing to compromise his beliefs. John Proctor's pride drove his wife into thinking she felt like the affair was her fault and that because she wasn't good enough, pretty enough, distant and she didn't think anyone could love someone like her. All his pride, and then suddenly he realizes all the damage it has caused. In Act 4 it states, “I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is a fraud, he said. I am not that man.. Nothing spoiled by giving them this lie that were not rotten long before” (Miller 1227).

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I wish you had some evil in you that you might know me! A man will not cast away his good name. You surely know that.” This shows that John Proctor has a good name around the town and the commoners would be foolish to say bad things about his name. The second part of being a tragic hero is that the person has an event or terrible decision that leads to their downfall.

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