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John Proctor's Reputation In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

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The Crucible is an appropriate title for the play written by Arthur Miller because it refers to personal tests experienced by many characters in the play. A crucible has multiple meanings one of which is a test or trial. Obviously there were witch trials but there were also personal tests. People’s reputations were tested as well as their respect for themselves and others. Three of the characters whose respect and reputation were tested the most were Reverend Parris, Abigail Williams and John Proctor. Reverend Parris was the father of Betty Parris and the uncle of Abigail Williams. He was a very egotistical man, caring mostly about his reputation in the town and a little bit about his daughter and niece. One night, Parris encountered …show more content…

A year before the events of the witch trial, there was a love triangle between Abby, John and Elizabeth Proctor. Abby was the Proctor’s employee. Things got a little bit tricky when Abby started flirting with John and they eventually had an affair. The affair lead to Abigail thinking John was going to leave Elizabeth and they were going to run away together, but he was not, he told her he made a mistake and that he loved his wife. When Elizabeth found out about her husband’s infidelity, she kicked Abigail Williams to the curb. No one knew about John’s infidelity besides Elizabeth and Abigail. When Elizabeth was arrested, in attempts to save her John made a bold move. He confessed to adultery, “I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name--you will believe me, Mr. Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one!” (Miller 3.718-720). By admitting to this, Proctor was losing the respect of the people of the court and he will most likely be known as an adulterer. But, John realizes that there is good to be done by him confessing this because he can expose Abigail for the liar she is which would end the trials and save the lives of the innocent townspeople who have not yet been

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Elizabeth, who has never told a lie, is aware of the affair and believes her husband should “tell [Ezekiel] what [Abigail] said to [him] last week… She said it had naught to do with witchcraft, did she not?” (53) Proctor chooses to protect his honour instead and sacrifice all the innocent victims. Proctors reputation means more to him then stopping the trials. ultimately he has the power and proof to stop the trials and save all of the innocent casualties but not at the risk of his affair being exposed.

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When he finds himself alone with Abigail, he urges her to “Put [the affair] out of mind,” because he is aware that if anyone found out he would be ruined (22). Proctor is considered a powerful person in the community and he will do anything to keep it that way. Although he is not aware of the consequences of his actions, or rather lack of actions, Proctor’s silence prevents a black mark on Abigail’s reputation and allows her crying out to be taken seriously. Even later, after he sees the witch hunt get out of hand, Elizabeth presses John to tell the courts that Abigail is dishonest he responds with “I’ll think on it,” (53). The reason John does not want to come forward is because he is apprehensive of the town’s reaction and knows that by attempting to out Abigail he is putting himself at risk.

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