ipl-logo

John Proctor's Confession In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

715 Words3 Pages

Unicorns don’t exist, BUT apparently WITCHCRAFT does!!!! The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, is a well known play that tells the tale of a small town, Salem, Massachusetts, where witchcraft is frowned upon. John Proctor, an infamous man of the town, had decided to destroy his confession about witchcraft at the end of the story. The Crucible has a few main characters such as Abigail Williams, John Proctor, Reverend Hale, Reverend Parris, and Mary Warren. Abigail Williams is a young girl who strives to get what she wants, even if it means sending everyone on a huge witch hunt and having people killed in the process. This is said in Act 1 page 202-205 “She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me! She is a cold, …show more content…

“Would you give them such a lie?” said John Proctor to his wife. His plan was to confess to witchcraft in order to save his wife who everyone recently found out was pregnant. He tore up his confession in hopes of saving people. Between Abigail and his wife, Elizabeth, his decision to rid of his confession was half and half. “You will not use me! I am no Sarah Good or Tituba, I am John Proctor! You will not use me! It is no part of salvation that you should use me!”- said John Proctor as the court had wanted him to sign the confession. He signed the papers of confession in front of the court then ripped it up. All the court had truthfully asked him to do was to sign the confession sheet, which he did. Besides the obvious fact that he wanted to save his wife, he also wanted to save …show more content…

Which either way they were but John Proctor didn’t want it to happen under his arms. Him confessing made him feel empowered over the court and people of his town. He was notorious for running the town and being the leader but as he confesses, that was all brought down. “DANFORTH: Why? Do you mean to deny this confession when you are free? PROCTOR: I mean to deny nothing!” As Danforth continues questioning Proctor, the statement still stands. John Proctor firmly had torn up the confession papers not only to save Elizabeth, Sarah Good, and many others who were accused. He wanted to save himself as well. His actions had taken ahold of the paper before his mind had a chance to change itself so that him, his wife, and his soon to be child could all live a happy life. Which resulted in the reasoning for tearing up his confession. Along with the fact that he wanted to get his wife out of the court and the prison as soon as possible and this was the quickest and easiest way to do

Show More
Related
884 Words | 4 Pages

The court was threatened him to hang if he didn’t confess. Proctor was schedule already to be hang in the sunrice. Proctor says to Elizabeth, “I have being thinking i would confess to them, Elizabeth.” (535). “ I want my

Read More
340 Words | 2 Pages

In “The Crucible”, John Proctor does not confess to witchcraft. They told him if he confessed, he could live happily with his wife, Elizabeth. He refuses to confess, but after he speaks with Elizabeth, he decides to confess. The judges start writing his confession papers and he changes his mind to keep his “good” name.

Read More
908 Words | 4 Pages

It is enough!” (1332). By this statement John made, one may gather that he is a little aggravated at the court’s decision to make him sign his name. John Proctor didn’t want to sign his name on the paper that his confession was on because he also says in the book, “I have given you my soul; leave me my name”

Read More
532 Words | 3 Pages

After saying these things he admits to having an affair with Abagail Williams. He was wishing this would show that Abagail was just jealous and wanted to get rid of his wife to have him for herself. Now John Proctor was going to be put to death for being an adulterer and his wife fore practicing witch craft. John proctor had to confess to being an adulterer on paper and it was to be hung on the church doors in the middle of Salem. He didn’t like the way they were going to give him a bad name if he confessed.

Read More
598 Words | 3 Pages

The reason Proctor gives is that he wants to be remembered as a man who is honest and royal to his wife, and gets annoyed when the judge asks for a signature for confession. He insists what he has said is enough, and even so they would not let him off the hook (A. Miller). John Proctor, in fact, is strong willed enough to ignore herd mentality that pressures him to his last moments, but even his decision wavers between confess and not to confess, showing how powerful herd mentality is. That is from those who are accused, there are also the by-standers, like the judges, villagers, and etcetera. Nobody stands up for the accused directly in the entire play, even if they feel really guilty about all the people dying, they still did not step up and say something (Sundstrand).

Read More
571 Words | 3 Pages

John Proctor’s act of tearing up the confession is an act to regain his lost honor and integrity. Throughout the text John Proctor makes various statements about his name and how it shall not be tarnished. Proctor then tells about how he and Abigail had an affair, which tarnishes his name. That then brings forth his drive for initiative. John Proctor takes his opportunity when it comes upon him instantly and puts on a grade “A” act.

Read More
783 Words | 4 Pages

He had very strong beliefs about his reputation and what other people would think of him and also what god would have in his future if he didn't confess. He was afraid that his name was going to be blackened and what the consequences were coming on his way. Before he was accused of witchcraft, he was afraid that his sons would never respect him and think him as a coward for carving into the court. Then he was accused of doing witchcraft and by doing that judge danforth wants to posted on the church door but proctor wouldn't stand it, by stating he is a which, john proctor feels that giving them this lie, is in line with his view of himself as a sinner in the eyes of god and a fraud in the eyes of the ones he love. By posting his signed confession holds a deeper truth for john proctor, he's not willing to shame his god, his boys, his wife and friends.

Read More
845 Words | 4 Pages

John came face to face to a very hard decision, to live and dishonor his name and family, or to die a falsely accused man. John knew that confessing to witchcraft would be lying and that it would only make his afterlife worse. So he asked Elizabeth what she would do, but she only told him to follow his heart and that she supported whatever choice he decided to make. Proctor at first falsely confesses to witchcraft to save his life, which is what Hale, Danforth, and Parris wanted him to do.

Read More
486 Words | 2 Pages

I cannot speak but I am doubted, every moment judged for lies, as though I come into a court when I come into this house!”(Act II.157-164). He says this when Elizabeth doubts him and his feelings towards Abigail. All he wants is Elizabeth to trust him again. Throughout the play, Proctor does everything in his power to try and get Elizabeth to forgive him. He also tries to stop the madness that Abigail has created throughout Salem.

Read More
613 Words | 3 Pages

Nothing’s spoiled by giving them this lie that were not rotten long before” (Miller 1352). He is ultimately giving up his confession even though he knows it is not the right thing to do. A previous break to Proctor’s Christianity beliefs is when he commits adultery; however, instead of standing up for himself he gives into the court’s desire. When John Proctor confesses, his actions prove a huge weakness John Proctor has. However, his actions of confessing result in a strength.

Read More
1159 Words | 5 Pages

John Proctor never settles for keeping his opinion or what he thinks is right to himself. He knows telling Danforth that he is guilty for adultery won’t help his cause but it shows his desperation to win the case in order protect his wife, Elizabeth. John Proctor was sick and tired of watching Abigail win with a lie, in this case he spoke the truth knowing his consequences. John states, “Excellency, forgive me, forgive me. She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave!

Read More
302 Words | 2 Pages

If he did confess, he would ruin his and his family’s reputation. John Proctor was very conflicted. He came to his wife looking insight. Elizabeth was untrusting of John because of his affair with Abigail. She said, “John, you are not open with me.

Read More
483 Words | 2 Pages

Proctor talks good about the people who decided not to confess. He Doesn't want to say anything that will harm them. Proctor doesn't think he’s doing the right thing by confessing and wants to change his mind to do the right thing. John proctor

Read More
477 Words | 2 Pages

I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Miller 153). This quote truly demonstrates Proctors character as a whole, as he is willing to be hung for the sake of proving his worth to the court. Specifically, Proctor knows he is truly innocent, and wants to make the courts aware of his innocence. His unwillingness to confess to witchcraft, is because of his personal beliefs regarding reputation.

Read More
566 Words | 3 Pages

Then, John was accused of witchcraft. He was given the choice to tell the truth and be prosecuted or confess to a crime he didn’t commit and be set free. He chose to tell the truth and got sent to jail. During this time, he said “... what is John Proctor? I think it is honest” (page 138).

Read More

More about John Proctor's Confession In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Related Topics

Open Document