The Crucible
Sebastian Jacques
English 11: Honors
Closing the Door on the Crucible
This is exactly what you as readers have been waiting for, the final and most exciting scene from the play the Crucible. When John Proctor is dealing with is mind boggling internal conflict, something happens to him, earlier in the play, all Proctor though about what was at stake that would affect him like his name, his soul and even his life, but now the tables have turned. Proctor is experiencing and epiphany, a sudden realization if you will. Proctor has finally discovered something about himself that will benefit others and not only himself. At first, Proctor had no idea what was more important to him whether it be his name or his life or his soul, but someone or something prevents him from thinking in the same manner as before. John Proctor‘s dilemma is truly a dramatic one. The reason for all this drama is because Proctor is so wrapped in his own little world that he becomes extremely confused and channels all his confusion into his very harsh decision which is to take his punishment like a man should, this is one of the reasons for Proctor’s epiphany. John finally realizes that this situation is not all about him and it never was, this has to do with the many other people in the prison whose lives are at stake here as well but all he can contemplate on is the one question about what will happen to his name. He knows deep down that it is wrong for the people who have not lied one day in their lives to die on account of a lie told by a whore. “I’d have you see some honesty in it. Let them that never lied die now to keep their souls. It is pretense for me, a vanity that will not blind God nor keep my children out of the wind” (136). “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given my soul leave me my name!”(143) This is
English 11: Honors
Closing the Door on the Crucible
This is exactly what you as readers have been waiting for, the final and most exciting scene from the play the Crucible. When John Proctor is dealing with is mind boggling internal conflict, something happens to him, earlier in the play, all Proctor though about what was at stake that would affect him like his name, his soul and even his life, but now the tables have turned. Proctor is experiencing and epiphany, a sudden realization if you will. Proctor has finally discovered something about himself that will benefit others and not only himself. At first, Proctor had no idea what was more important to him whether it be his name or his life or his soul, but someone or something prevents him from thinking in the same manner as before. John Proctor‘s dilemma is truly a dramatic one. The reason for all this drama is because Proctor is so wrapped in his own little world that he becomes extremely confused and channels all his confusion into his very harsh decision which is to take his punishment like a man should, this is one of the reasons for Proctor’s epiphany. John finally realizes that this situation is not all about him and it never was, this has to do with the many other people in the prison whose lives are at stake here as well but all he can contemplate on is the one question about what will happen to his name. He knows deep down that it is wrong for the people who have not lied one day in their lives to die on account of a lie told by a whore. “I’d have you see some honesty in it. Let them that never lied die now to keep their souls. It is pretense for me, a vanity that will not blind God nor keep my children out of the wind” (136). “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given my soul leave me my name!”(143) This is