The Crucible John Proctor Tragic Hero

The Crucible by Arthur Miller, is known for its critique of our society through irony and literary techniques such as foils or tragic heroes. A tragic hero is considered to be an individual who is well respected, but makes a mistake that ruins their stature or personal well-being. Another characteristic of a tragic hero is a life ending with an untimely, yet still often brave death. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller utilizes John proctor as a tragic hero to show the hypocrisy of society through his fall into adultery, his fight to regain the trust of his wife and others around him, and his tragic yet heroic death.

John Proctors fall into adultery shows his human nature, and its tendency to make many mistakes in one’s lifetime. Sadly, adultery

When Elizabeth first approaches Proctor telling him that she “never knew such goodness in the world” (137), he plans on lying and saving his own life. This changes when Proctor sees Cheever approaching “the bench with pen, ink, and paper” (139). Once Proctor realizes he must put his name on a document, making it official, he changes his mind in order to salvage his pride. Proctor refuses to put the lives of others on the line, which contradicts the court itself which is ran by the girls who originally started this chaos. Proctor compares himself to the court with great emotion, exclaiming “You will not use me! I am no Sarah Good or Tituba, I am John Proctor” (143). He will not do as Abigail has done and trick the town with lies to gain respect. He defies the court once more, telling Elizabeth to “show a stony heart and sink them with it” (144). These last comforting words to his wife can some up the main moral conflict of the play; lies may save ones life but the truth will save ones soul and lives of many others. The hypocrisy of the town can most clearly be seen in Hales final attempts to save Proctor. Hale now sees his that his original good intentions have backfired, and that “damnations doubled on a minister who counsels men to lie” (132). Hale begs and pleads with Elizabeth, but she knows Proctors pride will be too great to attempt to sway him. Proctor dies with honor and a clean slate, whereas Abigail still lives on in a life of sin with no salvation. Proctors soul is saved, and that is most evidently stated when Elizabeth is weeping for Proctor but finds the strength to yell out “He have his goodness now! God forbid I take it from him” (145). Proctors pride brings death upon him but his fight against the hypocritical court serves as a beacon of goodness and an inspiration to all being wrongly