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The Crucible John Proctor Character Development

532 Words3 Pages

Miamormara Camila Leader
Mr. Lynskey
American Literature Honors
1/17/2023
The Crucible Essay - Midterm Exam

The character development of John Proctor in Arthur Miller's play The Crucible is a testament to the complexity of a human being. Proctor is a flawed man, yet his ultimate redemption is one of the most powerful messages of the play. John Proctor is a farmer in seventeenth-century Salem, Massachusetts. At the start of the play, he is in an adulterous affair with Abigail Williams, a former servant in his household. His wife, Elizabeth, is aware of this affair and has not yet forgiven him for it. However as the play progresses, John Proctor's character undergoes a journey of self-discovery and growth.

In the beginning of the play, John Proctor is a proud, flawed man. He is proud of his accomplishments and his reputation in Salem, yet he is also aware of his own faults. He admits to his wife, Elizabeth, “I have known my own stupidity” (Act I, Scene I). This is an important moment in his character development because it marks the first time he takes responsibility for his actions. He is not perfect, and he is willing to admit it. …show more content…

He is forced to confront his own hypocrisy when he discovers that the girls accusing people of witchcraft are doing so out of spite and jealousy. He is appalled by their lies, but he must also acknowledge that his own lies and secrets are just as damaging to the community. It is a difficult lesson for him to learn, but it is an important one. He realizes that his own private sins can have public

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