Character Analysis Of John Proctor In The Crucible '
Overall, John Proctor is a good man. Even though he went against his beliefs and cheated on his wife, he knows that it was wrong and decides to end the affair. He overtly tells Abigail that it is over. He admits that he still thinks about her now and again, but he states that he will “cut his hand off before he reaches out for her again” (Miller, 1953/p. 1246). This was his first step to make the situation right. He truly regrets his affair with her. Abigail gets angry that he will not be with her and decides to accuse his wife, Elizabeth, of witchcraft. John goes to all extent to protect his wife from being hanged. He fights with the court to no end, explaining how Abigail is insane and is only doing this out of anger and jealousy. He keeps
fighting for Elizabeth even after he finds out that she is pregnant (knowing she won’t be hanged until the baby is born). Since he tries so hard to prove her innocence, the magistrates now believe that he too, is a witch. In order to save his life, he has chosen to lie and confess to witchcraft. After his confession, Danforth pushes Proctor to list names of any others he has seen with the devil. John refuses to name anybody else. He only wishes to perorate of his own sins. If John were not a good man, he would have told on the many others who were being accused. Out of pure anticipation for Proctors confession, Hathorne and Danforth jump up to grab a piece of paper and a pen to have a written version of his confession. They demand to hang it on the church door for everyone to see. Proctor hesitates because he thinks that it is already enough, that the men have witnessed him admitting his ostensible crimes. Finally, Proctor breaks down and signs the paper at Danforth’s request. His only exception is that the paper shall not be hung on the door. After a vast controversy with the two men, he realizes that he is not going to win, so he ripped the paper in half and crumpled it. He surrenders his confession for his name. He does not want to ruin the name for his family. All his life he has been looked up to and respected in the community and he wants it to stay that way. John Proctor is an honest man, despite his sin.
fighting for Elizabeth even after he finds out that she is pregnant (knowing she won’t be hanged until the baby is born). Since he tries so hard to prove her innocence, the magistrates now believe that he too, is a witch. In order to save his life, he has chosen to lie and confess to witchcraft. After his confession, Danforth pushes Proctor to list names of any others he has seen with the devil. John refuses to name anybody else. He only wishes to perorate of his own sins. If John were not a good man, he would have told on the many others who were being accused. Out of pure anticipation for Proctors confession, Hathorne and Danforth jump up to grab a piece of paper and a pen to have a written version of his confession. They demand to hang it on the church door for everyone to see. Proctor hesitates because he thinks that it is already enough, that the men have witnessed him admitting his ostensible crimes. Finally, Proctor breaks down and signs the paper at Danforth’s request. His only exception is that the paper shall not be hung on the door. After a vast controversy with the two men, he realizes that he is not going to win, so he ripped the paper in half and crumpled it. He surrenders his confession for his name. He does not want to ruin the name for his family. All his life he has been looked up to and respected in the community and he wants it to stay that way. John Proctor is an honest man, despite his sin.