John Proctor as a Tragic Hero in "The Crucible"
McAlister 1
Kyle McAlister
Ms. Holder
Comp Eng Honors 11
11/1/13
The Tragedy of John Proctor
In the play by Arthur Miller The Crucible, the town of Salem is in pandemonium under the non-existent threat of witchcraft. Every character is either lying to save their lives or to end others, or dying for not admitting to a lie. One character who stands out among the chaotic conflagration is the tragic hero John Proctor. In Greek drama, a tragic hero is defined as “a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy that is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat.” No character in The Crucible fits this description better than John Proctor. John Proctor is the tragic hero in The Crucible because of his strengths and notable traits, such as reason and personal sacrifice. He also fits the description because of his tragic flaws such as unfaithfulness and pride that led to his fall from grace. During the chaos of the trials, the supposedly moral and just citizens of Salem loses a moral compass. What sets John Proctor apart is the fact that he is willing to do what is good, despite the personal cost. As he is trying to save the life of his wife, as well as himself, he addresses Judge Danforth. “She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it; I set myself entirely in your hands. I know
McAlister 2
you must see it now” (Miller 49.) Here, John Proctor reveals Abigail’s true motivations, and at a great personal cost. In the Puritan culture, one’s image was one’s livelihood, and Proctor gives his up to maintain truth and stability. Another trait that adds to the nobility of John Proctor is his voice of reason in a reasonless situation. The first person he voices this to is Reverend Hale. “And why not, if they must hang for denyin’ it? There are them that will swear to anything before they’ll hang; have
Kyle McAlister
Ms. Holder
Comp Eng Honors 11
11/1/13
The Tragedy of John Proctor
In the play by Arthur Miller The Crucible, the town of Salem is in pandemonium under the non-existent threat of witchcraft. Every character is either lying to save their lives or to end others, or dying for not admitting to a lie. One character who stands out among the chaotic conflagration is the tragic hero John Proctor. In Greek drama, a tragic hero is defined as “a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy that is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat.” No character in The Crucible fits this description better than John Proctor. John Proctor is the tragic hero in The Crucible because of his strengths and notable traits, such as reason and personal sacrifice. He also fits the description because of his tragic flaws such as unfaithfulness and pride that led to his fall from grace. During the chaos of the trials, the supposedly moral and just citizens of Salem loses a moral compass. What sets John Proctor apart is the fact that he is willing to do what is good, despite the personal cost. As he is trying to save the life of his wife, as well as himself, he addresses Judge Danforth. “She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it; I set myself entirely in your hands. I know
McAlister 2
you must see it now” (Miller 49.) Here, John Proctor reveals Abigail’s true motivations, and at a great personal cost. In the Puritan culture, one’s image was one’s livelihood, and Proctor gives his up to maintain truth and stability. Another trait that adds to the nobility of John Proctor is his voice of reason in a reasonless situation. The first person he voices this to is Reverend Hale. “And why not, if they must hang for denyin’ it? There are them that will swear to anything before they’ll hang; have
Cited: Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. Austin, Texas: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2005 "Tragic Hero." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2013.