ipl-logo

John Proctor's Conflict With Guilt In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

1245 Words5 Pages

Aidan Kane
Mrs. Phelps
English III ACC
9 January 2023
The Crucible analysis essay
Sometimes it takes the many deaths of people for some to realize what is truly right and wrong. From the years of 1692-1693, there were a series of trials in which people were accused of witchcraft, and if without confession, were sentenced to hang. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller develops John Proctor's conflict with guilt through metaphors and hyperboles, demonstrating how although guilt can destroy a person, taking action to face one’s guilt through sacrifice can help one change for the better by offering a chance at redemption. Through the use of metaphors and hyperboles, Miller develops Proctor’s conflicts with guilt to show how guilt can destroy a person. …show more content…

Proctor's desire for redemption is fueled by his guilt and may be exemplified throughout several instances of him sacrificing his name, and in the end, his life, when going against the court. Miller writes, “Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang” (Miller 143). Through Proctor's comparison of his worth to dust, he means to show how guilty he feels that innocent people have been killed as a result of lies and he would be able to save himself with a lie in return, which would then be used to encourage more people to engage in the hysteria. Instead, Proctor stays strong to his name and redeems himself through this sacrifice. Around the same discussion in the novel Miller also states, “I have three children---how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?” (Miller 143). Although in reality, Proctor did not sell his friends, he makes this exaggeration to demonstrate to Danforth the guilt he feels and the reasons he needs this redemption. Proctor highlights how his current worth is not as valuable as the man he wants to be as he has let innocent people die and is about to tell a lie which would save his life. He feels incapable of living his life with that guilt and wants to take the opportunity to do the right thing and absolve it through this sacrifice. Subsequently, Miller develops Proctor’s conflicts with guilt to reveal how one can change for the better through their chances at redemption through hyperboles and

Show More
Related

John Proctor's Final Act In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

400 Words | 2 Pages

He gave his life for his family name making sure that the people who are going to kill know not to say anything bad about his name. Proctors option of getting hung over telling everyone, which was a act of honor. It was a act of honor because he decided to get hung over letting the whole town know, and see what he had to do to keep his name good and not bad. Proctor did do some bad things, and did try and blame things on people which they did not do because

Read More

John Proctor Selfishness In The Crucible

1797 Words | 8 Pages

Throughout the novel, Proctor demonstrates positive qualities in regards to himself, his wife, and his community. In Act 1, Miller introduces Proctor as a man who is strong, emotionally stable, and steadfast. These qualities show the reader that Proctor is a man who behaves in a noble manner and that he is a character who the audience can admire. Even though he possesses noble like qualities, he also has character flaws that allow the audience to more easily relate to him as a character and, more importantly, a human. Those character flaws include: excessive pride, or hubris, selfishness, and being deceitful.

Read More

John Proctor's Reputation In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

1269 Words | 6 Pages

There has come a time in everyone’s life when their character was called into question, or someone accused them wrongly of something they did not do. This puts a person’s morality on the line and tests whether they will do what’s best for them or the masses. The Crucible by Arthur Miller shows the characters John Proctor, Deputy Governor Danforth, and Abigail Williams going through this same test. The play provides a narrative on how people choose to value their own reputation and honor over protecting the lives of themselves and others.

Read More

How Is John Proctor Corrupt In The Crucible

1245 Words | 5 Pages

Proctor’s past sins of adultery are another reason it is so hard for him to give up his name; since he already views himself as a fraud, he does not deserve the glory he will get by signing away his name. Not only does Proctor care about his name, but he also cares about the other respectable citizens, such as Rebecca Nurse, who are willing to die for what they believe is right. If he signed his name for a false confession, it would have caused him to “blacken all of them… the very day they hang for silence” (Miler 207). The people who were accused and did not confess to false witchery were hanged in public as a result of their choices. By Proctor following through with giving the church his name, the impact made by the people who gave their lives would have been diminished and forgotten.

Read More

Examples Of John Proctor's Struggles In The Crucible

915 Words | 4 Pages

Miller shows Procter trying to be honest and telling the truth. He displays this by Proctor confessing to the sin he has committed and casting his good name. Proctor does this to show people that he is telling the truth and try to save the life of his love one. Miller demonstrates Proctor doing this in page 110 “Oh, Francis, I wish you had some evil in you that you might know me! To Danforth:

Read More

Examples Of Mccarthyism In The Crucible

1063 Words | 5 Pages

Miller is wise to balance out the negative lust present in his portrayal of Salem with a positive one: the lust for purity and sanctity. Perhaps best realised in the final act of the play, the sole character that expresses this lust is, surprisingly, John Proctor. Upon agreeing to stand before the judiciaries and confess, Proctor is soon hassled by Danforth and Parris to sign his “honest confession in… hand,” lest he is hung. Proctor, however, is not so pliant. Long ago having made the realisation that “tears pleasure them!”

Read More

Who Is John Proctor A Persuasive Essay On The Crucible

695 Words | 3 Pages

Proctor is seen as an honorable man as he cherished his name and was willing to take the most extreme measures, even death, if it meant keeping his good name. After being accused of witchcraft, Proctor is brought into the courthouse. He verbally confessed to practicing witchcraft, but when asked by Deputy Danforth to sign a document confirming his confession, he refuses. When questioned about his refusal he says “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life!

Read More

John Proctor's Reputation In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

422 Words | 2 Pages

The Crucible In The Crucible by Arthur Miller the villagers of Salem find themselves amidst a witch hunt where people will go to great and dark lengths to defend their reputation. John Proctor for example shows how much he cherishes his reputation when he was going to confess to witchcraft but stopped when he learned that his confession would be nailed to the door of the church, he then preached how he would not accept that being that his name would be all that is left of him in the world. “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! I lie and sign my life to lies!

Read More

How Does Proctor Use Lies In The Crucible

1356 Words | 6 Pages

Proctor: I did not” ( Miller 129-130). John Proctor shows self-sacrifice by not giving up names of the others and sentencing them to death by hanging based on the accusations he could make about the practicing of witchcraft. John Proctor also shows mental strength by refusing to give Danforth names when pressured and threatened by the court and the judge. This also shows the reader how much he values his name and reputation and that he doesn’t take giving up his name lightly. He values his name because his name holds power and that it is his and his

Read More

John Proctor's Integrity In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

1402 Words | 6 Pages

In Arthur Miller's 1953 play The Crucible, John Proctor, a character who worked toward strengthening his once-poor integrity, invites readers to reflect upon themselves, recognise and uphold their individualistic principles of moral conduct. Through the elaborate and effective use of his creative licence,

Read More

Ghost The Musical

752 Words | 4 Pages

Bruce Joel Rubin’s “Ghost the Musical” was performed at American High School, by the American High School Performing Arts department, directed by Troy River. The cast presented an incredible performance that made the audience instantly fall in love with Molly and Sam. Richard Wong whom conducted the orchestra uplifted the music of each scene. The remarkable acting of the cast along with the many special effects was an incredible way to bring the script to life. “Ghost the Musical” takes place in modern day New York City and is a story of the strength of love between the main characters Molly (Natalie Dunn) and Sam (Marcus Bautista).

Read More

Examples Of Lying In The Crucible

563 Words | 3 Pages

You will forever be associated with the words such as “witch”, “evil” and even “the devil” which is what Proctor realized in Act 4, hence, refusing to sign a confession paper and pleading “How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name” (Miller 143)! Proctor realized that if he confessed to witchery, then he and his family’s name would be tainted and plummet. Additionally, his kids would have to live with the fact that their father is vile. He did not want to curse his children with this life and decided to make the selfless sacrifice for the sake of his family’s reputation and futures.

Read More

Dignity In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

1779 Words | 8 Pages

I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Miller 143). Proctor is giving significant credit and recognition to those who did not give into lying to protect their lives but rather died truthful. He is saying he is not worth even the dust on the feet of those that were hung simply because he even for a little gave into the confession. Miller’s element of tragedy that emphasizes a man laying his life down for his integrity is clearly evident in this scene.

Read More

The Crucible John Proctor Guilt Analysis

872 Words | 4 Pages

Guilt is emotional torture that transforms one's psychological operation. In the play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, before the Salem witch trials emerge, John Proctor cheats on his wife Elizabeth Proctor, with young Abigail. Causing him to live with an eternal shame that generates dispute. Proctor’s endeavour is to elude from his wrongdoing, but he cannot because of the disgrace he feels himself to be when around Elizabeth. Miller shows that John Proctor's emotional and behavioral conflict rises from his guilt.

Read More

John Proctor Redemption Quotes

612 Words | 3 Pages

This is demonstrated in this excerpt, “Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang!” (Miller 143). This quote shows the audience he thinks he is worth nothing. Proctor undergoes a transformation where he retrieves his dignity and respect for himself.

Read More

More about John Proctor's Conflict With Guilt In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Related Topics

Open Document