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The Transformation Of John Proctor In Arthur Miller's Play

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John Proctor changed significantly from the beginning of the play to the end. At first, he is a farmer outside of Salem. He cuts wood, plows, and owns a great amount of property. John is married to Elizabeth Proctor. He had an affair with Abigail Williams, who was the Proctor’s former servant. John has a high status that he cares very much about. Proctor wants his wife to forgive him for what he did with Abigail. “Spare me! You forget nothin’ and forgive nothin’. Learn charity, woman. I have gone tiptoe in this house all seven month since she is gone. I have not moved from there to there without I think to please you, and still an everlasting funeral marches round your heart. I cannot speak but I am doubted, every moment judged for lies, as though I come into a court when I come into this house” (II. 157-164). He explains to Elizabeth how hard he is trying to get past the situation and move on. Also, Proctor brings Mary Warren to the court to tell the truth. He brings …show more content…

“My wife will never die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me” (II. 990-992). Finally, Proctor confesses to adultery to the court and both ministers in Act III. He sacrifices himself and his reputation all for his wife, Elizabeth. “Excellency, forgive me, forgive me. 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; I set myself entirely in your hands. I know you must see it now” (III. 860-868). Proctor speaks to Danforth in court and Abigail calls Proctor a liar. Abigail is deceiving and causes a lot of trouble. During the gallery walk, it was repeated many times how Abigail is a liar. She is the main reason why there are several accusations and arrests in the first

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953 Words | 4 Pages

As once he was a immature selfish man he’s able to transform into a decent and more morally sound one. In the beginning of the play, John seems to only look out for number one, himself; he gives into times of temptation with Abigail and does not pity his wife and mother of his children when the affair is brought to light. In contrast, when he hangs, he does so for the sake of Elizabeth and his children. When speaking of his family, Proctor says, “I blacken all of them when this is nailed to the church the very day they hang for silence” (143).

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Likewise, when Elizabeth is brought before Danforth to verify Proctor’s confession, she lies to protect her husband, whom she refers to as a “goodly man,” from suspicion (Miller, 113). The affair may have caused Elizabeth to doubt Proctor but both parties still care deeply for each other and try to protect each other from harm. Even in his last moments, Proctor’s last words- “Show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with it!”- were directed toward Elizabeth and were full of love and care (Miller, 144). Proctor may have sinned but his regret over his affair with Abigail and the trouble he had brought upon his wife justifies his

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1095 Words | 5 Pages

The Crucible - Conflict Analysis John Proctor Internal: John Proctor’s most eminent internal conflict is over the sin he has committed, adultery. Proctor cheated on his wife with Abigail Williams, and this makes Proctor feel incredibly guilty because in the town, he is “respected and even feared” (19). He tried very hard, and succeeded, with keeping this moral crime to himself. He still walked about Salem as if he was “an untroubled soul,” (21) however, avoiding the sin again would be a difficult task. Abigail flirts with him, in attempt to have him for one last night, and it’s obvious Proctor has an arduous time pushing her away.

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756 Words | 4 Pages

Proctor realized the truth behind everything and decided it was time to come forward and tell Danforth, “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” (Miller ). John tries to reveal who Abigail really is but it does not help the lives of those who are to be hanged.

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(I.465-472). Seeing Abigail cry, it suggests that Abigail’s affair with John Proctor has influenced her behavior in jealousy and lust as she strives for nothing more than her love for John Proctor. By only being heartbroken, Abigail is not to be fully blamed for the hysteria within the town as her actions are only based on desperate attempts to win John Proctor over, and no intentional harm whatsoever. However, on the other hand, Abigail cannot be excused with outside forces making her the way she is due to the fact that she has clearly had a choice in most of her decisions and actions throughout the witchcraft crisis. When Mary Warren, another girl involved in the forest incident, enters the court, she explains to Danforth, the judge, that the girls are lying and are only pretending to see spirits.

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My wife, my dear good wife, took this girl soon after, sir, and put her out on the highroad. And being what she is, a lump of vanity, sir - He is being overcome. Excellency, forgive me (p110)”Danforth,sharply to Parris: Bring her out! And tell her not one word of what’s been spoken here. And let you knock before you enter.

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When people think of the play, “The Crucible”, they usually picture the witch trials and women being hanged, but Arthur Miller depicts the witch trials in a completely new light. He shows through a story that the witch trials were much more than just people calling others witches. There was deceit, pain, greed, and more. Through the play, we follow the character, Abigail, observe her actions and their consequences. We witness the lives of people she impacts, what happens to them, and how many times she lies to get her way.

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Mr. Proctor was ready to lose his reputation for his wife in court, so he could save her from being prosecuted, “We will slide together into our pit; you will tell the court what you know.” (Miller, 64) “My wife will never die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth, but that goodness will not die for me!” (Miller, 66) John made sure that he wouldn’t let anyone die that was innocent or for his own foolishness. “I speak on my own sins; I cannot judge another.”

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John Proctor’s words towards Elizabeth signal irritation and annoyance. John Proctor, the main character of The Crucible, has an affair with a much younger girl, Abigail Williams, breaking his wife, Elizabeth’s trust in him. Her suspicion of him rises when he tells her he was in a room alone with Abigail. Elizabeth’s growing mistrust begins to aggravate John, which is revealed when he says, “I’ll not have your suspicion any more” (489). Elizabeth is doubtful after learning about John’s affair with Abigail and her lack of trust in her husband begins to anger him.

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747 Words | 3 Pages

In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the town of Salem is afflicted with hysteria, intolerance, and accusations that lead to death. According to philosopher Aristotle, a tragic hero possesses a tragic flaw, excessive pride, and an inevitable downfall. Protagonist John Proctor illustrates a tragic hero because he is presented as happy, powerful, and privileged, which later leads him to suffer because of his own actions. First of all, John Proctor possesses a fatal flaw, pride, which is a characteristic of a tragic hero. Proctor’s fatal flaws includes honesty and pride.

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514 Words | 3 Pages

This willingness to confess this action shows the loyalty that he has for his wife. It proves that Proctor will do anything to keep and protect his wife, even if he has to tarnish his

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914 Words | 4 Pages

Proctor is widely respected in the Salem community. However, he has a secret that threatens his reputation. He cheated on his wife Elizebeth Proctor with Abigail Williams. As a result, he has a strong internal conflict regarding his integrity. Proctor is a benevolent man at heart, however he has sinned according to puritan law.

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Proctor’s guilt is present when he, attempts to pay for his sins by giving his wife materialistic objects, hesitates to obey his wife's suggestion to accuse Abigail of false bewitchment, and breaks out in anger for not wanting to be judged any longer. The romantic relationship between the Proctor’s is undoubtedly extinguished, but even casual engagement cannot exist without tension since everything John Proctor says to Elizabeth is a symbol of repentance. He offers Elizabeth the possession of a cow and expresses “with a grin” that all he

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822 Words | 4 Pages

In Act 2, we see a trait of John Proctor which is not being loyal to his own wife, Elizabeth Proctor. He doesn't like the food that Elizabeth made and we see that their relationship stays faded through a conversation that demonstrates that Elizabeth doesn't trust John anymore. Also, how he

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705 Words | 3 Pages

He defends his wife and tells the court that his wife fired Abigail because of their affair. When the court brought Elizabeth Proctor into the court and asked her about the affair she denied it. Even though she knew the affair was true she denied it because she didn’t know Proctor had confessed and wanted to take her husband’s name

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