Preview

John Proctor

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
491 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
John Proctor
John Proctor

In The Crucible, Arthur Miller portrayed John Proctor as a dynamic character in the story. John was a rural farmer in his thirties. John was an honest man who could not stand for hypocrisy. He isolated himself from the issues of Salem, Massachusetts by staying on his farm. Despite his hatred for hypocrites, John held a deep secret that would ruin his reputation if it was uncovered. This secret was his affair with Abigail Williams, who was once a servant to the Proctors and was the niece of Reverend Parris. John Proctor transforms from being minding his own business to becoming the center of the witchcraft trials in Salem. This dilemma started when Reverend Parris stumbled upon Abigail Williams, Betty Parris, his daughter, and his slave Tituba in the forest. Reverend Parris believed that they were practicing witchcraft. Witchcraft was not tolerated under any circumstances in Puritan religion and the consequences would be severe if convicted. In the forest, Abigail drinks a potion that would kill John Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth “Goody” Proctor. Goody fired Abigail when she discovered that John was having an affair with her. John’s termination of the affair was the catalyst for Abigail’s jealousy towards Elizabeth. The Proctor’s lived a couple of miles outside of Salem and they were kept out of many of the towns issues. Reverend Hale questioned John Proctor about his faith. Hale noticed that the Proctor’s did not go to Church very often and that their youngest son was not baptized. John says that he does not care for Parris’s theology. Hale then asks Proctor to repeat the Ten Commandments. He remembers all of them except for one, adultery. Elizabeth is accused of witchcraft by Abigail because a rag doll was found in the Proctor home. Abigail rationalizes that she had found a needle in her abdomen and that there was a similar needle in the abdomen of the doll. This accusation infuriates John and leads him to ripping apart the warrant

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Elizabeth Proctor is a kind, caring woman who loves God and has never strayed from the path of the lord. Abigail Williams is a girl who has disobeyed at least three of the Ten Commandments of the lord most notably thou shan’t lie and thou shan’t covet thy neighbor’s wife or husband. Goody Proctor is falsely accused of witchcraft whereas Abigail is the one going left and right accusing people of being a witch. What most people don’t realize is that Abigail wanted John Proctor for herself and would do anything to do so. Elizabeth has done nothing wrong in the town of Salem yet everyone believes the voice of a 12 year old girl. To summarize the story, John Proctor is a man of god.…

    • 235 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    John Proctor is one of major characters in the Crucible. At the beginning of the play, he was introduced as a husband of Elizabeth and consider to have somekind of secret relation with Abigal, Reverend Parris's neice. He is a farmer. His family is not too wealthy, but it's consider to some kind of needed. He is a patriarchal man. He was regreting of cheating on his wife cause it again God, however he just woulden't admit that he cheat on her. and a man that is full of…

    • 90 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    When the play sets into action, John has had a past affair with his servant Abigail Williams. His wife, Elizabeth Proctor, is very forgiving of his sin, but John has his mind set that he will not confess to anyone else, in fear of ruining his good name, and reputation.The affair between John and Abigail caused the start of chaotic witchery and accusation. After the affair, Abigail became horribly jealous of Elizabeth Proctor. Proctor realizes there is only one way to stop all the witch hysteria in Salem, and that would be to confess his sin of adultery. Although he knows he should, he continues to be determined not to confess. Reverend Parris is new to town, and John insist continually that he is only speaking of hell, and hardly ever of God, as Proctor goes on to say to Parris, "Can you speak one minute without we land in Hell again? I am sick of Hell!" In the drama, Mary Warren places a needle in a poppet she gave to Elizabeth; John firmly demands that Mary Warren tell the courts that she really put the needle in the poppet that day. Proctor says to her, "You're coming to the court with me, Mary. You will tell it in the court." Furthermore, at the end of the play Proctor is persistent by saying that no matter what anyone says to convince him differently, he would rather die an honest man and save his name. John Proctor took pride in his thoughts, feelings, values, and his name. It took persistency to make his intent clear to others.…

    • 763 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    John Proctor is one character in The Crucible that is a dynamic which change a bit throughout the story; for he has changed from a quiet “farm boy” to a man with huge couragement. At the beginning of the play, Proctor kept things inside of his mind, and tries to get Abagail to keep the main secret that John had since he knew that he wife, Elizabeth, would not tell what happen seven months. When John and Abagail had an affair. As the story progresses, Elizabeth was thrown into jail because she is being accused of being…

    • 279 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    He becomes selfless and sacrifices his reputation and his life to save everyone else in the court by the end of the Crucible. John Proctor said "You will not judge me more, Elizabeth. I have good reason to think before I charge fraud on Abigail. And I will think on it. Let you look to your own improvement before you go to judge your own husband anymore. I have forget Abigail" (pg. 918.) In the beginning of the book, he knew he was going to hurt his neighbors from hiding what he did with Abigail, but he was so afraid about the citizens of Salem find out about his affair. John was afraid to tell the judges about his affair with Abigail because Abigail is going to ruin his reputation by charge lechery. John proctor said " I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another." (Pg. 968.) John Proctor tried to speak his own sins, confess he saw the witches to survive, and ask forgiveness for Elizabeth because it will save the others. John Proctor signed a written confession that will be hung on the courthouse door. He knew that will ruin his name and reputation in the society, but he sacrificed himself to save people who are in the prison.…

    • 830 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Proctor, one of the main characters in The Crucible, is remorseful, candid, and industrious. Arthur Miller created John Proctor to be a likeable character. He is a flawed character who tries to make what he did wrong, right. Even though John and Elizabeth Proctor are still having a hard time dealing with his mistake, the reader can still recognize that he is a personable man.…

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Proctor's Death

    • 1298 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In the play, John Proctor is an ordinary farmer, who has proven himself a hardworking man, with a good name around the village of Salem. John is the type of man who often says what he believes and he does what his heart tells him to. In his past he has done a lot of good and bad deeds, but he is a human and humans do make mistakes for example, he had committed the crime of lechery with Abigail Williams. Abigail used to work at his house as a servant for him and his wife Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail is a two-faced 18 year old who causes a lot of mischief and she is in love with John and will do anything to separate him and his wife, just to take her place. John clearly regrets the mistake he had made in his life, and does his best to pick himself up and attempts to change things in his life. He is a smart man who is somewhat foolish, because from what I have observed, John puts more importance on the present than he does on the future. He is a kind man who is loyal to his wife and friends; he even blackens his own name for the sake of their lives. He is devoted to stop the hangings, and save the people who are accused.…

    • 1298 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    John Proctor Sacrifice

    • 1868 Words
    • 8 Pages

    She was then taken in by Reverend Parris, her uncle, and was able to find employment in the Proctor household, which led to the development of the conflict in The Crucible. Abigail was sent away from the Proctor household after Elizabeth found out about the lecherous acts between Abigail and John Proctor. The build up of experiences, from the murder of her parents up until the first act probably led her to the current disposition she is in during the play. She easily prioritizes her own desires at the expense of others, even going to the extent of cursing Elizabeth Proctor during prior to the first act and, later on, blaming Elizabeth Proctor for practicing witchcraft. Abigail Williams does not seem to be bound by moral standards, as seen in her continuing active participation in the witch hunt and conviction of a number of Salem's citizens. Her knack for mischief develops further towards the third act, when Mary Warren came forward with the claim that she had lied about being afflicted by supernatural forces. This statement could have displaced the previous accusations that Abigail and her friends had given in the past. Abigail, recognizing the possibility of being imprisoned for deceiving the court, started acting as if Mary Warren had cast her spirit on Abigail and her friends. Mischief turned into vengeance at this point, when the girls were too deep into their lie that self-preservation and hatred towards those endangering that self-preservation fueled their…

    • 1868 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, there is a dirty secret in the town of Salem, a strong and kind farmer named John Proctor had a secret affair with a young servant named Abigail Williams. They have been hiding this relationship from the whole town since Abigail was working in the Proctor’s household. Abigail was a very manipulative, jealous and a magnificent liar in the play. John was a honest,prideful and devoted character in the play.…

    • 548 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He carries around the burden of the sins he has committed and does not seem to have the ability to forgive himself. So in addition to the looming accusations of witchcraft in the city of Salem, John Proctor is also dealing with the weight of the sins he’s committed. Proctor’s own guilt over the situation leads him to blame his wife, Elizabeth, for the affair. In the play, Proctor tells Elizabeth “You forget nothin’ and forgive nothin’” and that there is “an everlasting funeral” that marches around her heart. (Act II, pg. 852) He blames Elizabeth for not forgiving him even though he has done everything to make up for it. His guilt is still there and he tries to push it down, but when Reverend Hale comes to their home to question them it is obvious he feels guilty when he cannot name all the Ten Commandments. The one he leaves out is the one that states, “Thou shalt not commit…

    • 455 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the 1953 play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the main protagonist, John Proctor allows the audience to create an emotion of sympathy towards him. In the play John Proctor is the husband of Elizabeth Proctor, he is a farmer, and a father of three boys. He was also accused of witchcraft like many individuals who lived in the town of Salem. Proctor did not attend church, because of Reverend Parris. Parris is the minister of Salem, who preaches about wealth, “…and for twenty week he preach nothin’ but golden candlesticks until he had them”. (Act Two, pg. 69) John had no importance for wealth, but rather of God, it was one of the reasons he stopped attending church. The other was to avoid Abigail Williams. John committed adultery with Abigail,…

    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Proctor

    • 506 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Everybody has come across someone who at first seemed like a nice, genuine person, but as secrets from the past come out, opinions change about that person. In the play written by Arthur Miller, The Crucible, John Proctor is a well respected farmer. John is hiding his secrets from his past to protect his reputation throughout the town. John Proctor’s main traits are that he is brave, extreme and dignified.…

    • 506 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hidsofh

    • 316 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In Act I, John Proctor and Abigail Williams had a conversation that state both engaged in sexual relations, making Abigail a harlot and Proctor an adulterer. Abigail, throughout the encounter, talks of Elizabeth Proctor as if she is the only one keeping John Proctor and herself from being together. As the intensity of the witch trails reach its climax, Elizabeth Proctor is accused of being a witch. When Cheever arrives to take Elizabeth to jail, Proctor inquires about the accuser, who happens to be Abigail Williams. John then tells Mary Warren, Abigail’s abettor, to testify against her. When this fails in court, Proctor sacrifices everything he owns, his name, his family’s reputation, and his life, by saying, “It is a whore!” (Act III, scene i). John Proctor admitted lechery in a prevailing attempt to call out Abigail on her pretense in seeing spirits and witches. Soon after this, John is arrested and Abigail is allowed freedom. Also, Reverend Hale denounces the proceedings of the court. The sacrifice made by Proctor made the puritan society of Salem, Massachusetts question the claims made by Abigail and her friends.…

    • 316 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Proctor

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages

    My name is John Proctor, I am the husband of Elizabeth Proctor and he father of my three boys. I am Christian yet feel dissatisfied with the way Rev. Parris runs our church. I feel I am a kind man but do admit to having a temper when provoked. In my opinion I think I have a self-esteem that picks me apart from anyone else in this community, especially compared to the Putnams which obey beyond belief. No, I speak when I should, as when injustice is taking place. Despite my prideful ways, I would call myself a sinner. It wouldn’t be right for me to say I didn’t notice you while working in my household. Yes, I have been accused of being the devil himself.…

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    They could not avoid the belief of witches as witches are written in the bible as the devil's people. And anyone that denies that witches are real are tried with blasphemy and are accused of witches themselves. During Act Two, Hale visits the Proctors to discuss about court matters. Then, Hale questions Proctor why he has been missing church, why only two of their three children are baptized, and if Proctor knows the Ten Commandments. This exemplifies the strict measures that Puritans have to take and know. The accusations has caused the arrests of some of the most innocent people such as Rebecca Nurse. Proctor states that the “world has gone mad.” (Act Two) And indeed the world has gone mad after Abigail and the girls have immorally abuse their power and accuse dozens of people. The constable and the marshal enters and arrests Elizabeth with no real evidence of witchcraft other then the fact that she holds a poppet with a needle in it which signifies a desired murder of Abigail. These strong beliefs of witchcraft have caused society to view them fearfully, that in order to extinguish it they must take extreme actions to take care of the issue such as execution. However, either way if you do or do not confess to witchcraft, you will still be executed as what have happened with Giles…

    • 897 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays