John Proctor is one of the main characters in Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible. He is a husband and father who is accused of being a witch during the Salem witch trials. Proctor is a complex character who goes through a dramatic journey throughout the course of the play.
Initially, John Proctor is presented as a man who is struggling with his own personal demons. He has had an affair with Abigail Williams, which has caused him to feel guilty and ashamed.
Proctor is also shown to be a very honest man, which is evident when he confesses his affair to his wife Elizabeth even though it could cost him dearly.
As the play progresses, John Proctor becomes a more heroic figure. He is one of the few people who stands up to Judge Danforth and refuses to confess to being a witch, even though it means his own death.
Proctor’s courageous actions inspire others to also stand up against the false accusations, and ultimately help to bring an end to the Salem witch trials.
Arthur Miller presents John Proctor as a complex and dynamic character who undergoes a significant transformation over the course of the play.
The character John Proctor in “The Crucible” experiences a metamorphosis, going from good to great. When the play opens, he has a strong will and is an excellent leader. However, by the end of the story he has grown into an even better person who understands his own goodness.
Proctor starts off the play as a strong and powerful man. He is respected by others and has a high social standing. Proctor is a farm owner and is married to Elizabeth Proctor. He is also able to read and write, which was not common among people in that time period. Proctor is shown to be a brave man when he stands up to Reverend Parris and tries to stop the girls from dancing in the woods. He is also unafraid to speak his mind and he isn’t afraid of authority figures.
Proctor goes through a major change after he commits adultery with Abigail Williams. This act of infidelity causes him to question his own goodness. He is filled with guilt and he is no longer able to look at himself in the same way. Proctor is also worried about what others will think of him and he is afraid that his reputation will be ruined.
Despite all of his flaws, Proctor is still a good man. He is willing to confess to his crime and take responsibility for it. He is also willing to help save his wife from being convicted of witchcraft. In the end, Proctor dies as a martyr and he is able to redeem himself.
Overall, John Proctor is presented as a complex character who goes through a major transformation during the course of the play. He starts off as a strong and powerful man, but he slowly realizes his own flaws and weaknesses. In the end, Proctor is able to redeem himself and he dies as a martyr.
In the beginning, John Proctor only cares about himself which leads to an affair with Abigail Williams. All of the problems begin when Abigail believes that if she can accuse Elizabeth Proctor, John’s wife, of being a witch than he will love her back.
John Proctor only denies the affair because he does not want to damage his reputation. However, once John Proctor realizes that Abigail is accusing people of being witches just so she can get what she wants, he tries to stop her. He also confesses to the affair in order to prove that Elizabeth is not a witch. In the end, John Proctor sacrifices himself by admitting that he is a witch and hangs himself instead of living with the lie.
John Proctor starts off the play as a man who is only concerned with himself and his own desires. He has an affair with Abigail Williams, which eventually leads to all of the problems in the play. At first, John denies having the affair when it is brought up by Abigail. He is only concerned with his own reputation and doesn’t want to damage it by admitting to the affair.
In addition, he tells everyone that having his name be ruined is worse than death. Proctor nearly gives in and saves his life by signing a confession claiming he’s a witch, but at the end of the play, what’s important to him is more than just public reputation. Proctor believes that God will save him for being truthful and says he’ll go to heaven as a result.
When Hale is begging Elizabeth to convince Proctor to confess, she says “He have goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” (Miller, pg. 131). This is saying that even though he may have done some bad things in his life, he is a good person now and she does not want to see him lose that. Elizabeth also says “He have his goodness now. Why do you never wonder if Parris be touched of God?” (Miller, pg. 134). She is asking why everyone assumes that John is the one who is possessed by the devil when it could just as easily be Reverend Parris.
Proctor goes to great lengths to try and prove that Abigail is lying about being possessed by him. He tears up his deposition because he does not want his name to be associated with witchcraft. He also says that he will not confess because it is against his religion. When Judge Danforth asks him why he does not want to confess if he is innocent, Proctor replies “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!” (Miller, pg. 138). This shows that even though he may be accused of being a witch, he still values his name and reputation.
Proctor is a complex character who is torn between doing what is right and saving his own skin. On one hand, he wants to protect his name and reputation. On the other hand, he knows that it is more important to tell the truth and stand up for what he believes in. In the end, Proctor chooses to die rather than live a lie.