John Proctor's Decisions In The Crucible

Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, written in 1953, portrays the Salem witch trials and conveys how the actions of a single person can hold a high impact on its surrounding community when faced with troublesome times. Throughout the play, drastic decisions are made by many that further the development of the plot. John Proctor, a highly respected citizen of Salem is one who is faced with an array of arduous decisions time and time again. Just because one has messed up in the past, can they not still be viewed as a hero? Does the way Proctor views himself impact the decisions he makes? Though Proctor views himself as a fraud as a result of his foregoing sins, the choices he is forced to make are justifiably heroic, as he does not only think of himself, but the other members of his judgemental and corrupt community. The outcome of John Proctor’s corrupt community falls heavily on his shoulders; for example, Proctor does what he never thought possible of him by confessing to the truth about him and
Again, while in court, Proctor reveals unknown information that has a huge impact on the fallout of the trials. The court believes that the Putnam child and Betty Parris fell ill as a result of witchery, when in result the “children's sickness had naught to do with witchcraft” (Miller 169). He enlightens the court with the truth, which is that they were pretending to be sick because they were afraid since “Mr. Parris discovered them sportin’ in the woods” (Miller 169). Dancing in the woods is frowned upon in the Puritan community; with this knowledge, the girls whole case, along with Reverend Parris’ pride begins to crumble right in front of the readers eyes. It would have been much easier for Proctor to remain silent, but instead he is the only one who stands up against the girls and