Tragic Hero In The Crucible

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a tragedy about the Salem Witch Trials and the hysteria surrounding the town of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. It is a work of literature based on the true story of how the Salem Witch Trials began, and how they affected those living in Salem. However, no tragedy is complete without a tragic hero. A tragic hero is a character in a literary work who possesses a tragic flaw that ultimately leads to their destruction or downfall. In this case, the tragic hero of The Crucible is John Proctor, a farmer in Salem and the protagonist of the play. Because of the eventual appearance of his moral character, his superiority in the town, his possession of a tragic flaw, and his realization of his mistakes, John Proctor is a tragic hero in The Crucible. The first

However, throughout the play, he is able to prove the audience wrong. Firstly, when Proctor is arrested, he decides to confess to practicing witchcraft. He does this because he believes it could end the trials in Salem, which could save many innocent lives of others who have been accused. Proctor tells this to his wife, saying, “I have been thinking I will confess to them, Elizabeth.” (Miller, 135). This decision is then backed up by Reverend Parris, who says that Proctor’s name on the list of confessions could convince the town to stop accusing one another. While discussing Proctor’s confession, Parris says to Judge Danforth, “It is a weighty name; it will strike the village that Proctor confess.” (Miller, 141). Another way that Proctor shows his moral character in The Crucible is when he is being questioned by Judge Danforth. When Danforth asks Proctor who he has seen with the Devil, Proctor denies seeing any other women practicing witchcraft or doing work for the Devil. He says to Danforth, “They think to go like saints. I like not to spoil their names.” (Miller, 141). He could have chosen to drag other women down