John Procter a Trajic Hero
John Proctor a Tragic Hero
It is tricky whether you can claim someone from a novel to be a tragic hero. To be a tragic hero the character, usually the protagonist, has to commit an action or make a mistake that will eventually lead to his or her defeat. A tragic hero is a character in a work of fiction (often the protagonist) who commits an action or makes a mistake which eventually leads to his or her defeat. The tragic hero will usually go through anagnorisis, which results in an epiphany. There are five characteristics of a tragic hero. These include, having a noble or high stature, a hubris, a downfall, enlightenment, and death of the tragic hero.
John Procter is a tragic hero in The Crucible. He is noble, honorable, and righteous. Procter however has a side to him that was not of the same nature shown through his affair with Abigail Williams which leads to his fatal downfall and the downfall of others in Salem. Because of John Proctors righteous nature he always seeks the truth as he does when he exposes that the girls were faking being possessed. Proctor did not value the power of the Church’s authoritarianism. He tells Reverend Hale, “I like it not that Reverend Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of God in that man. I’ll not conceal it”. (Miller 1242) This shows that he is a smart man that will stand for his own judgment. He may not have been born into a noble family, however, he proved to have noble characteristics. Procter is highly respected and looked up upon by many people in Salem.
Proctors only major flaw is the affair he had with Abigail Williams. This mistake caused major destruction. Abigail thinks that with Elizabeth Proctor out of the picture John Procter will love her however Procter’s morality is stronger then that. When Elizabeth Proctor is taken to court, Procter stated, "My wife will never die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me!". (Miller 1248) This was said right
It is tricky whether you can claim someone from a novel to be a tragic hero. To be a tragic hero the character, usually the protagonist, has to commit an action or make a mistake that will eventually lead to his or her defeat. A tragic hero is a character in a work of fiction (often the protagonist) who commits an action or makes a mistake which eventually leads to his or her defeat. The tragic hero will usually go through anagnorisis, which results in an epiphany. There are five characteristics of a tragic hero. These include, having a noble or high stature, a hubris, a downfall, enlightenment, and death of the tragic hero.
John Procter is a tragic hero in The Crucible. He is noble, honorable, and righteous. Procter however has a side to him that was not of the same nature shown through his affair with Abigail Williams which leads to his fatal downfall and the downfall of others in Salem. Because of John Proctors righteous nature he always seeks the truth as he does when he exposes that the girls were faking being possessed. Proctor did not value the power of the Church’s authoritarianism. He tells Reverend Hale, “I like it not that Reverend Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of God in that man. I’ll not conceal it”. (Miller 1242) This shows that he is a smart man that will stand for his own judgment. He may not have been born into a noble family, however, he proved to have noble characteristics. Procter is highly respected and looked up upon by many people in Salem.
Proctors only major flaw is the affair he had with Abigail Williams. This mistake caused major destruction. Abigail thinks that with Elizabeth Proctor out of the picture John Procter will love her however Procter’s morality is stronger then that. When Elizabeth Proctor is taken to court, Procter stated, "My wife will never die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me!". (Miller 1248) This was said right