John Proctor: Tragic Hero
In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, John Proctor is seen as a tragic hero because he is able to overcome his tragic flaw of hubris, but still the circumstances led to his death.
A tragic hero is a person who has sacrificed their lives for a principle. It is shown in the play that ordinary people can be tragic heroes. They believed so passionately in an idea that they were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, their lives, for it. There are four main aspects that represent a tragic hero. They are hubris, hamartia, catharsis and lastly catastrophe. Hubris is the excess, usually of pride, or overwhelming self confidence. Hamartia is the weakness, usually an error in judgement. Also, known as a tragic flaw. Catharsis is the tragic representations of suffering and defeat. Generally leaves an audience feeling, not depressed but relieved or even exalted. Catastrophe is the occurrence of a sudden reversal of the hero's fortunes from happiness to disaster.
Hamartia John Proctor's tragic flaw or hamartia is his commitment to honesty. Honesty is defined as not given to lying, cheating, or stealing etc. It is not characterized to falsehood or intent to mislead. John Proctor has a high sense of integrity and does not abandon his friends even though his wife is safe from accusations of witchcraft. When Judge Danforth asks Proctor if he will drop his accusations against the court, he says, "I "" I think I cannot . . . These are my friends. Their wives are also accused."�(92) Although he is somewhat reluctant, he stands up for the truth even at the risk of exposing his affair with Abigail. This is shown in Act Three when John Proctor can no longer take the lying and denial of his affair with Abigail Williams and confesses to the court room of his sins. He tells Danforth, "I have known her, sir. I have known her."�(110) This meaning that John has had an affair with Abigail even though he is married to Elizabeth. John Proctor goes on to describe his error in judgement and
A tragic hero is a person who has sacrificed their lives for a principle. It is shown in the play that ordinary people can be tragic heroes. They believed so passionately in an idea that they were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, their lives, for it. There are four main aspects that represent a tragic hero. They are hubris, hamartia, catharsis and lastly catastrophe. Hubris is the excess, usually of pride, or overwhelming self confidence. Hamartia is the weakness, usually an error in judgement. Also, known as a tragic flaw. Catharsis is the tragic representations of suffering and defeat. Generally leaves an audience feeling, not depressed but relieved or even exalted. Catastrophe is the occurrence of a sudden reversal of the hero's fortunes from happiness to disaster.
Hamartia John Proctor's tragic flaw or hamartia is his commitment to honesty. Honesty is defined as not given to lying, cheating, or stealing etc. It is not characterized to falsehood or intent to mislead. John Proctor has a high sense of integrity and does not abandon his friends even though his wife is safe from accusations of witchcraft. When Judge Danforth asks Proctor if he will drop his accusations against the court, he says, "I "" I think I cannot . . . These are my friends. Their wives are also accused."�(92) Although he is somewhat reluctant, he stands up for the truth even at the risk of exposing his affair with Abigail. This is shown in Act Three when John Proctor can no longer take the lying and denial of his affair with Abigail Williams and confesses to the court room of his sins. He tells Danforth, "I have known her, sir. I have known her."�(110) This meaning that John has had an affair with Abigail even though he is married to Elizabeth. John Proctor goes on to describe his error in judgement and