The Crucible John Proctor Character Traits
Seham Mohammed
English 11 F
December 7th, 2010
Character analysis: John Proctor
John Proctor
John Proctor is the leading role, also known as the protagonist, in The crucible by Arthur Miller. John Proctor is the play’s tragic hero; a good man with one fatal flaw that eventually leads to his fall. John Proctor is honest, resolute, & upright. He is a man with pride. At the opening of the play, the narrator portrays the real direct characterization of John, "The steady manner he displays does not come from an untroubled soul. He is a sinner not only against the moral fashions of his time, but against his own vision of decent conduct". In the play he is described as, “the kind of man-powerful of body, even-tempered, and not easily led”. …show more content…
Though he is strong, it is obvious that his hidden weakness comes from his affair with Abigail, a 14-year old orphan girl.
The adulterous event is an essential issue in Proctor’s attitude towards himself as well as the reader’s attitude towards him, as mentioned earlier, “He is a sinner, a sinner not only against the moral fashion of the time, but against his own vision of decent conduct.” John feels guilty for his affair when Hale visits him and starts questioning him about the Ten Commandments and John abruptly misses one, ““Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
His true feelings are shown while he is in the farmhouse with his wife, telling her “I mean to please you, Elizabeth.”I t deeply depicts Proctor’s feelings towards Elizabeth; he is trying to please her, to heal her broken heart and to get rid of the guilt that is hunting him. His love & care to Elizabeth shows even more when she is unjustly charged as a witch. He promises her, "I will bring you home. I will bring you home soon", as she leaves.
Proctor’s relationship with other characters highlights aspects of his personality. In Act 2 Giles Corey and Francis Nurse come to him for help following the arrest of their wives, Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey. It clearly shows how much he is respected and trusted. Proctor respects and stands up for his neighbors; you can conclude that when he says “I- have no knowledge in that line. But it's hard to think so pious a woman be secretly a Devil's bitch after seventy year of such good prayer" about Rebecca Nurse when he hears about the news about her being accused of trafficking with the devil.
A wise man once said “What is uttered from the heart alone, Will win the hearts of others to your own.” For numerous motives, John Proctor is a truthful & a strong-willed man.
He doesn’t, by any means, fear revealing what’s on his mind. In the beginning, John frankly tells Parris, the minister of Salem’s church, the reason behind his absence from the church; "I have trouble enough without I come five mile to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation. Take it to heart, Mr. Parris. There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God anymore." Once again his honesty is proved when he reveals his true feelings to Abigail when she approaches him again by saying “Abigail, you’ll put it out of mind. I’ll not be coming for you anymore”. Knowing that confessing his adultery to the court is the only way to stop the frenzy in Salem and let go of the hypocrisy, John concedes his sin right away. He even encourages his wife, Elizabeth, to do the same by saying, "Elizabeth, tell the truth! Elizabeth, I have confessed it.!" Although such a confession tarnished his name as well as his reputation, he feels contended by doing well to the community and everyone around
him.
John would rather die knowing that he did not give in, and that he stood up for what he knew to be true. Wanting him to confess himself of witchcraft, the courts ask him to sign a legal statement of his actions so that all other citizens would feel it is alright to confess as well. He refuses, knowing that such an artificial declaration would not only hurt his reputation, but also his personal integrity; his pride is holding him back. John has high levels of integrity that he rejects giving it up. He declines accusing innocent citizens because he knows they will be executed as a result. That is what he says with a cry of his whole soul that proves my analysis, “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 you my soul; leave me my name!” So he is left with one choice, doing the right thing, standing firm and dying for the right cause.
John Proctor is not an ideal man, but his beliefs and values are in the right place. He has a sense of moral righteousness; Proctor listens to his soul, a lesson the whole world should learn to pursue. John Proctor is a “good” man.
English 11 F
December 7th, 2010
Character analysis: John Proctor
John Proctor
John Proctor is the leading role, also known as the protagonist, in The crucible by Arthur Miller. John Proctor is the play’s tragic hero; a good man with one fatal flaw that eventually leads to his fall. John Proctor is honest, resolute, & upright. He is a man with pride. At the opening of the play, the narrator portrays the real direct characterization of John, "The steady manner he displays does not come from an untroubled soul. He is a sinner not only against the moral fashions of his time, but against his own vision of decent conduct". In the play he is described as, “the kind of man-powerful of body, even-tempered, and not easily led”. …show more content…
Though he is strong, it is obvious that his hidden weakness comes from his affair with Abigail, a 14-year old orphan girl.
The adulterous event is an essential issue in Proctor’s attitude towards himself as well as the reader’s attitude towards him, as mentioned earlier, “He is a sinner, a sinner not only against the moral fashion of the time, but against his own vision of decent conduct.” John feels guilty for his affair when Hale visits him and starts questioning him about the Ten Commandments and John abruptly misses one, ““Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
His true feelings are shown while he is in the farmhouse with his wife, telling her “I mean to please you, Elizabeth.”I t deeply depicts Proctor’s feelings towards Elizabeth; he is trying to please her, to heal her broken heart and to get rid of the guilt that is hunting him. His love & care to Elizabeth shows even more when she is unjustly charged as a witch. He promises her, "I will bring you home. I will bring you home soon", as she leaves.
Proctor’s relationship with other characters highlights aspects of his personality. In Act 2 Giles Corey and Francis Nurse come to him for help following the arrest of their wives, Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey. It clearly shows how much he is respected and trusted. Proctor respects and stands up for his neighbors; you can conclude that when he says “I- have no knowledge in that line. But it's hard to think so pious a woman be secretly a Devil's bitch after seventy year of such good prayer" about Rebecca Nurse when he hears about the news about her being accused of trafficking with the devil.
A wise man once said “What is uttered from the heart alone, Will win the hearts of others to your own.” For numerous motives, John Proctor is a truthful & a strong-willed man.
He doesn’t, by any means, fear revealing what’s on his mind. In the beginning, John frankly tells Parris, the minister of Salem’s church, the reason behind his absence from the church; "I have trouble enough without I come five mile to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation. Take it to heart, Mr. Parris. There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God anymore." Once again his honesty is proved when he reveals his true feelings to Abigail when she approaches him again by saying “Abigail, you’ll put it out of mind. I’ll not be coming for you anymore”. Knowing that confessing his adultery to the court is the only way to stop the frenzy in Salem and let go of the hypocrisy, John concedes his sin right away. He even encourages his wife, Elizabeth, to do the same by saying, "Elizabeth, tell the truth! Elizabeth, I have confessed it.!" Although such a confession tarnished his name as well as his reputation, he feels contended by doing well to the community and everyone around
him.
John would rather die knowing that he did not give in, and that he stood up for what he knew to be true. Wanting him to confess himself of witchcraft, the courts ask him to sign a legal statement of his actions so that all other citizens would feel it is alright to confess as well. He refuses, knowing that such an artificial declaration would not only hurt his reputation, but also his personal integrity; his pride is holding him back. John has high levels of integrity that he rejects giving it up. He declines accusing innocent citizens because he knows they will be executed as a result. That is what he says with a cry of his whole soul that proves my analysis, “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 you my soul; leave me my name!” So he is left with one choice, doing the right thing, standing firm and dying for the right cause.
John Proctor is not an ideal man, but his beliefs and values are in the right place. He has a sense of moral righteousness; Proctor listens to his soul, a lesson the whole world should learn to pursue. John Proctor is a “good” man.