John's Pride In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Separation between groups of people, one considered to be superior, creates a motivation of wanting to be on top. Egos’ within the superior group cause them to lie and do what they have to do to maintain status. The isolated group that is put on a pedestal feels that even though their actions are wrong they cannot risk losing their elevated position. In Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, men are seen as elite, in the puritan society, above women in the social hierarchy. John Proctor as an exemplary puritan man lives his life as a superior, is unwilling to admit his obvious guilt and struggles in leaving his ignorance and pride behind him with far reaching consequences. Puritan men are elevated in Salem and hold pride in their name, anything they might do that can harm the purity of their name is not quickly admitted. John Proctor once the hysteria of witches had just begun still claimed to

John tries to take action by saying “vengeance is walking Salem” and questioning if the accusers are “as clean as god’s fingers”(77). Nobody has a reason to believe that the girls are acting out of vengeance all John has to do is give them the reason, but he is still caught up in his ignorance that he cannot let go of. His prideful obsession over his name does not allow him to do what he knows to be the right thing, John refers to Reverend Hale as “Pontius Pilate” and that “God will not let” him “wash” his “hands of this”(77). John accuses Reverend Hale of sitting there and not doing anything when he knows something's not right in these trials. John is doing the same thing he is accusing Hale of doing, but as a Puritan man he is more concerned with the preservation of his good name and he would rather point fingers. Action is finally being taken by John, however he is still more concerned about his name than doing what is