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John Proctor's Transformation In The Crucible

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John Proctor’s act of tearing up his confession, in “The Crucible”, was in fact believable. His dynamic character is shown throughout the play as he transitions from that of an adulterous spouse to a caring husband and friend. His final act of defiance shows how virtuous and righteous his character is. He proves not only to his friends and family, but God too, that he is a principled puritan.
Proctor appears to be a giving man in the beginning of the play. His wife, Elizabeth Proctor, seems cold as he returns home and offers his affections. As they continue their conversation, he says, “If the crop is good, I’ll buy you George Jacobs heifer. How would that please you… I mean to please you, Elizabeth.” (Act II.28-29) His character gives the impression that he is caring and sweet to Elizabeth but she knows of his lechery. He has sinned and feels the guilt for it. His shame is depicted by his reciting of the ten commandments, “Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors goods, nor make unto thee any graven image. Thou shalt not take the name of Lord in vain; thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt …show more content…

He has engaged with another, her name is Abigail Williams. Though Proctor only saw this as a moment of lust, Abigail saw it as more. Elizabeth brings this to Proctor’s attention, by replying to his statement that he blushes for his sin, with “I think she sees another meaning in that blush.” (Act. II.389) His actions have created more than meets the eye. He continues to argue that he has no feelings for the Williams girl yet Elizabeth stumps him with the statement, “There is a promise made in an bed.” (Act II.372) In the beginning of the conversation, Proctor moves to kiss Elizabeth yet she is described to only receive it. His actions show of his shame yet do not prove his character of a good man. These are just some of the many actions of John Proctor that describe his

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967 Words | 4 Pages

Likewise, when Elizabeth is brought before Danforth to verify Proctor’s confession, she lies to protect her husband, whom she refers to as a “goodly man,” from suspicion (Miller, 113). The affair may have caused Elizabeth to doubt Proctor but both parties still care deeply for each other and try to protect each other from harm. Even in his last moments, Proctor’s last words- “Show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with it!”- were directed toward Elizabeth and were full of love and care (Miller, 144). Proctor may have sinned but his regret over his affair with Abigail and the trouble he had brought upon his wife justifies his

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John Proctor's main flaw was his excessive pride which sealed his fate. I myself felt his death transformed Salem’s ways of thinking and increased their own knowledge. Proctor's life completely started going downhill when Abigail accused John’s loved ones who then were sent to jail, or executed. John Proctor was a man of goodness and pride which cleansed his soul after he suffered a tragic death, and became a symbol of purity and greatness for others to

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730 Words | 3 Pages

Since Proctor did not confess, this allowed for his children to inherit his land which is an important resource in the village. His death leaves his children with a father that they can look up to, and his wife’s relationship with him ‘good.’ Elizabeth : “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” (Miller, 116) Before his wife is thrown into custody, there is tension between them because he was alone with Abigail for an instance and this reminds Elizabeth of the affair, but most importantly instills regret in Proctor’s heart, “still an everlasting funeral marches round your heart.”

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In a crisis of indecision she cannot speak. Answer my question! Is your husband a lecher! Elizabeth, faintly: No, sir” (Pg.108-109). This scene demonstrates that even if Proctor did commit his mistake with lechery, she still loves him and therefore decided to protect him from death.

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987 Words | 4 Pages

When people think of the play, “The Crucible”, they usually picture the witch trials and women being hanged, but Arthur Miller depicts the witch trials in a completely new light. He shows through a story that the witch trials were much more than just people calling others witches. There was deceit, pain, greed, and more. Through the play, we follow the character, Abigail, observe her actions and their consequences. We witness the lives of people she impacts, what happens to them, and how many times she lies to get her way.

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731 Words | 3 Pages

John Proctor’s words towards Elizabeth signal irritation and annoyance. John Proctor, the main character of The Crucible, has an affair with a much younger girl, Abigail Williams, breaking his wife, Elizabeth’s trust in him. Her suspicion of him rises when he tells her he was in a room alone with Abigail. Elizabeth’s growing mistrust begins to aggravate John, which is revealed when he says, “I’ll not have your suspicion any more” (489). Elizabeth is doubtful after learning about John’s affair with Abigail and her lack of trust in her husband begins to anger him.

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He also underlines that people have personal motives to accuse other because of their biases. Another example of this is in act III, when Proctor confesses to his act of adultery in order to save his wife from death, “God help me, I lusted and there is a promise in such sweat... My wife is innocent” (102). Proctor is attempting to accuse Abigail of faking all the accusations and affiliations with the devil because he knows that Abigail longs to remove Elizabeth from his life. His admission of adultery conveys his feelings of guilt and extreme love towards his wife Elizabeth.

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715 Words | 3 Pages

Another reason why John Proctor is such a Flawed man is because he is so quick to anger. He get mad very easily and he goes off on people to make them feel like a bad person when they didnt do anything wrong. Like Elizabeth every night he tries to talk to him and he yells at her because she ask to many questions or she doesn 't do it the right

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1055 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout the play, Elizabeth seems to be struggling to forgive her husband and let go of her anger. But towards the end, she learns to forgive Proctor for his mistakes. At the beginning of the play Elizabeth is unforgiving of Proctors mistakes. “You’ll tear it free--when you come to know that I will be your only wife or no wife at all! She has an arrow in you yet, John Proctor, and you know it well!”

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Proctor’s guilt is present when he, attempts to pay for his sins by giving his wife materialistic objects, hesitates to obey his wife's suggestion to accuse Abigail of false bewitchment, and breaks out in anger for not wanting to be judged any longer. The romantic relationship between the Proctor’s is undoubtedly extinguished, but even casual engagement cannot exist without tension since everything John Proctor says to Elizabeth is a symbol of repentance. He offers Elizabeth the possession of a cow and expresses “with a grin” that all he

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835 Words | 4 Pages

The first impressive characteristic of John Proctor is his bravery. Speaking out against the “afflicted” girls in the way he did could cause serious question of him as a person. From the court’s standpoint John could be seen as directly opposing the court, which would have him jailed, or could even have him be accused of witchcraft. Also, he would have had to have known that Abigail Williams would have immediately accused him of being a witch once he spoke out against them. However, that did not stop him from delivering the truth to the court.

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1159 Words | 5 Pages

In The Crucible, a drama by Arthur Miller, John Proctor demonstrates courage by speaking out for what he believes in while knowing his consequences, admitting his wrong doings with Abigail to save Elizabeth’s life, and choosing to be hanged over having his name posted on the church door because the second his signed confession is posted, his and his loved ones reputations will be ruined. In the beginning of the play all John Proctor cared about was his reputation. However, ultimately he sacrificed his reputation by telling the court he committed adultery. John telling the court he was guilty ruined his reputation, which made all hell break loose.

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822 Words | 4 Pages

In Act 2, we see a trait of John Proctor which is not being loyal to his own wife, Elizabeth Proctor. He doesn't like the food that Elizabeth made and we see that their relationship stays faded through a conversation that demonstrates that Elizabeth doesn't trust John anymore. Also, how he

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705 Words | 3 Pages

John Proctor was a man of honor and had a well respected name in the town of Salem. Sadly he died tragically but as a hero. He was hanged because he was accused of doing the devil’s work. He was given the chance to save his life if he admitted on a piece of paper that he was working with the devil but he refused to tell that lie. He wanted his sons to be able to walk the streets without being shunned from the world because they deserved better.

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John Proctor is a farmer that lives on the outermost part of Salem, MA. John had an affair with Abigail Williams and his wife found out and now does not fully trust him but John still loves his wife. John is stubborn and loving with his wife but is also very aggressive with others that make him mad. John shows stubbornness and love when he

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