In Arthur Miller’s play, the Crucible, many characters are faced with a quandary that involves their honesty as well as their reputation. They have the choice to die nobly, or survive and be a stigma to the community and God. Reputation and good social status is a central concern in the town of Salem. Many characters found their actions based on their individual character, sometimes leading to negative choices. The protagonist, John Proctor, shows how truthfully confronting oneself requires bravery and sacrifice.
Although John Proctor has his weaknesses at the beginning of the play, in the end he faces himself honestly, and dies with a clear conscience and a good name. He is is a respected member of Salem, and people look up to him.. As Miller describes
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Elizabeth is aware of his affair and experiences serious difficulties pardoning him. Proctor tries to persuade her to forgive him, but it is relatively unfeasible. The other battle Proctor faces is the social battle that is going through the entire town. The hysteria has overwhelmed Salem, and Proctor battles to emerge as an opposer of the hangings despite the fact that it might prompt his own defeat. He is arrested as a witch eventually. The day of his hanging, Parris and Hale finally convince him to confess. He refuses to sign the confession, his reason, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name! He utters these lines toward the finish of the play, in Act IV, when he is grappling with his moral about whether to admit to witchcraft and in this way spare himself from a hanging. The last hindrance is his confession and survival,is his signature which he can't force himself to give. To some degree, this unwillingness mirrors his want not to disrespect the prisoners. He would not have the capacity to