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The Crucible John Proctor Tragic Hero Essay

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“The Crucible” is a play written by Arthur Miller that takes place in the town of Salem in between 1692 and 1693 where the delusion of witches was rampant in what was known as the Salem witch trials. In Miller’s dramatization of the events, characters go through changes, they evolve as individuals, but one of them, that of John Proctor changes the most. John Proctor is a tragic hero because as the play continues the audience sees a goodness in him, but as it ends his own overwhelming pride replaces reason, which leads to his demise. In the beginning of the play John proctor can be seen talking to Abigail alone; in a conversation of what to do about their relationship, John tells Abigail of his feelings for her by saying “Abby I may think of …show more content…

In this argument, John can be heard saying “Spare me! You forget nothing, learn charity woman.” John was, of course talking about Abigail and her messy entanglement in his life, her affect on the marriage is great. John exemplifies his anger toward Elizabeth for his own mistakes because he is ashamed. The person that he is in the play cannot express shame at the current time so he blames other people for his own. Too proud to ask for forgiveness for his sins because he doesn't want to. John says “Spare me!” not in a wholehearted way, but one created out of spite because of Elizabeth's coldness toward him in the months after the …show more content…

John, furious of the actions taking place in front of him says this “My wife will never die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth, but that goodness will not die for me.” This quote is pivotal in the evolution of John's character because in the wake of the false allegation of witchcraft against his wife that he knows he caused, something in him is struck, a moral code to say that can never be bent or broken, it has come out in response to the events unfolding even though he had been treated with a cold shoulder for months. What is surprising here is that his pride is brushed off in order to make way for the truth, finally after some time feeling substantially more guilty of the choices he made with Abigail than ever

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The Evolution of Elizabeth Proctor Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible is a compelling look at the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Elizabeth Proctor began as doubtful of her husband, John Proctor, but ends up having faith in him in the end. She still believed her husband was still in love with Abigail but Proctor soon proved his love for Elizabeth throughout the play. Elizabeth evolves from a woman who doubts her husband, but then evolves into a woman who risks her life to save her husband. Elizabeth continues to question her husband's faith causing an argument between the two.

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“She thinks to dance with me on my wife's grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore's vengeance, and you must see it now” In this quote, John tells the governor the truth about the affair and that Abigail’s actions are because she is jealous.

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In many works of literature, a character’s past has a positive or negative effect on the actions, attitude, and values of the character. The Salem Witch Trials, are a product of John Proctor’s mistake with Abigail. The story illustrates how over time, Proctor’s life was slowly altered, but consequently the lives of the people around him were never the same again either. His past mistake is able to tell a story of how pride, deceit, and hate can ruin lives. Firstly, John Proctor has to contend with the fact that he has violated Christian, marital, and societal values.

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The decision results in an inevitable death sentence from the court. When Elizabeth has the chance to go after John, she refuses. This is when she utters her most memorable quote in the play: “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” (p. 145).

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The Crucible is a book written in 1953 by Arthur Miller. In The Crucible John Proctor is the tragic hero. John is a highly respected farmer in the town of Salem. But unfortunately, he had a downfall because he committed adultery.

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870 Words | 4 Pages

When John and Elizabeth are arguing over how John was in Salem and how he should tell the court what Abigail told him, John snaps at Elizabeth. He says “I say I will think on it!”. He is a little aggressive and very cold towards her when he says this. This shows the reader that he does not respect her because if he did, he would not be so rude to her. Next, John is saying how he was alone in a room with Abigail when she told him that there was really no witchcraft in the town.

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In the pristine 17th century Christian community, it became standardized in accordance to the Bible that, “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct” (English Standard Version, 1 Peter 3:1). Most wives in Salem during this time period closely follow their role outlined in the holy scripture, but Elizabeth Proctor undergoes a journey that alters her perception on this religious fixation. However, in his 1953 play, The Crucible, Arthur Miller traces Elizabeth Proctor’s search for her dignity as she discovers the true role of a proper wife to illustrate that given a world that defines a

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Canon 1 Shayleen Canon Courtney Serwa English 3 09/29/2015 The Crucibles tragic hero John Proctor a "tragic hero? " John Proctor is a tragic hero in the play "The Crucible". John Proctor is an astounding citizen of Salem, but he has a secret and tragic flaw of lust for Abigail Williams. After the catastrophic affair, he had with Abigail it caused the whole town to be dragged in.

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JOHN PROCTOR: TRAGIC HERO Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is a greatly revered work, and it reflected the times of America in the days of McCarthyism. Perhaps the character that connected to the audience most was John Proctor, the protagonist of the play. He reflects the mistakes that we have made in our lives, and the struggle that some of have while trying to take the blindfold off of other people. He should be considered a hero because he feels guilt, and therefore tries to make up for the fact that he once had an affair.

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1218 Words | 5 Pages

This quote reveals, Elizabeth’s genuine understanding and faithfulness in her husband. She believes that John carries the burden of his own guilt, which is a lucid indication that he has a sense of morality. John feels this guilt, as he recognizes and takes responsibility for the sin he commits, against his wife. Additionally, due to John’s guilty conscience, he also realizes the value and tenderness that his wife brings him. He accepts his misdoings, and never utters a blame against his wife, for his actions.

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761 Words | 4 Pages

However, this is inaccurate because he avoids Abigail and risks everything for his wife. Elizabeth was taken by the court because she was accused for being a witch, but John knows she is a good women and fights for her. Elizabeth is worth the trouble of going to the court and defying the government. It is honorable for a husband to protect his wife after all they are family. John is talking to the court and tell the court a secret that no one knows about, John’s reputation is on the line.

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1009 Words | 5 Pages

He believed in doing the right thing and he was willing to fight for it. During the witch-hunts that affected us all, John tried with every ounce of strength he had to stop the court from going along with Abigail’s manipulations and lies, and in the process confessed to the court the truth of his lechery to make it known that Abigail was just pretending. He knew that his reputation would be ruined, but he knew that it had to be done to save the innocent people accused of trafficking with the devil. I don’t know how many other people would do the same and be able to risk their own reputations knowing that they would no longer be looked at as a respectable person. Some people doubt whether or not John is in heaven.

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705 Words | 3 Pages

He was given the choice to either confess to being apart of witchcraft and be spared or not confess and get hanged. He is allowed to talk this over with his wife and at first they decide it would be better to confess even though they know he didn’t do anything! At this point in the play John realizes that it is not the right thing to do. He says “ How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul now give me your name.”

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612 Words | 3 Pages

John could have used this opportunity to get revenge on Abigail. Instead he makes the honorable decision to personally redeem himself from his previous mistakes. Earlier in the play he claimed that Mary and the girls were “God damn all liars” (Miller 117). This quote demonstrates John judging people for their sins, which is exactly what he claimed he does not do. It shows a dramatic change in his character, a change in personal

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483 Words | 2 Pages

Her lie then backfires; she tells the court that John never had any relations with Abigail after John had already confessed to his sin. She takes blame for the affair when she tells the court “... But in my sickness... I were a long time sick... I thought I saw my husband somewhat turning from me...”

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