What is a tragic hero? A tragic hero is someone of noble stature that is good but not perfect and has committed a fatal flaw. As a result of this flaw he is judged and has a downfall on his grand stature. He realizes his mistake, and learns from it. He then accepts his death with dignity. In the play The Crucible written in the early 1950’s by Arthur Miller, does John Proctor qualify as a tragic hero? During the playwright, John Proctor does have the elements to qualify as a tragic hero; he gives the reader a marvelous tragic hero for any time. He is a flawed figure who finds his moral center just as everything is falling to pieces around him.
John Proctor plays the role of a tragic hero by being a man of noble stature, and having a secret flaw. For example, he’s a stern, but honest well respected farmer. Giles Corey and Francis Nurse come to him for help following the arrest of Rebecca and Martha. It is apparent the he is respected by them. Moreover, Reverend Hale was sure the he was being honest in court when he confessed his secret because he has known him for so long that he knows Proctor was being honest. Another example of how he plays as a tragic hero is by having a secret flaw that is not perfect. His unfortunate flaw was that he had committed adultery with Abigail. He breaks one of the commandments that they needed follow. As a result, by him being of noble stature and having a secret flaw makes him qualify for the elements of a tragic hero. This secret tragic flaw within himself makes him fall from his grand stature. His sin of lechery with Abigail haunts him daily, this results dealing with his wife and others; it causes him great guilt and personal anguish. For example, he feels guilty about his relationship with Abigail when he is visited by Hale and asked about the commandments. Proctor inadvertently forgets one commandment “Thou shalt not commit adultery”. Additionally, proctor feels uneasy when he is around his wife, he asks