John Proctor Essay Example
Brendan Murch
11/5/10
English II
John Proctor Tragic Hero Essay In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, John Proctor is a tragic hero. A tragic hero is defined as a person who is good and decent, yet he has a tragic flaw which leads to his downfall. In The Crucible, John Proctor is a highly respected farmer whose tragic flaw is pride. John Proctor plays a crucial role in Salem when the townspeople were being falsely accused and hanged as witches by a group of teenage girls. One of these girls is Abigail Williams, with whom John Proctor had an affair. John Proctor is a tragic hero because he is noble and honorable, he is very protective, yet his tragic flaw is that he had an affair with Abigail Williams. First off, John Proctor is an honorable and noble character. He always finds the truth. For instance, when he confronts Mary Warren about the poppet and she says that it was just for sport, then John says “You’re coming to the court with me, Mary. You will tell it in the court.” (80) This shows how nothing will stop him from getting the truth, and helping others with it. He will also do anything to save somebody else. In Act III, Proctor made a “petition” that 91 respectable people signed and was “... a sort of testament. The people signing it declare their good opinion of Rebecca, and my wife, and Martha Corey.” (93) Also in Act III John says “She (Abigail) 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…” (110) In this quote he is admitting to having an affair with Abigail, he admits to having the affair to explain why Abigail would want Elizabeth dead. As you can see, John Proctor is a very noble and honorable character because he will do anything to help somebody else, even if it means he has to sacrifice. Secondly, Proctor is a very protective character. This is a small factor that
11/5/10
English II
John Proctor Tragic Hero Essay In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, John Proctor is a tragic hero. A tragic hero is defined as a person who is good and decent, yet he has a tragic flaw which leads to his downfall. In The Crucible, John Proctor is a highly respected farmer whose tragic flaw is pride. John Proctor plays a crucial role in Salem when the townspeople were being falsely accused and hanged as witches by a group of teenage girls. One of these girls is Abigail Williams, with whom John Proctor had an affair. John Proctor is a tragic hero because he is noble and honorable, he is very protective, yet his tragic flaw is that he had an affair with Abigail Williams. First off, John Proctor is an honorable and noble character. He always finds the truth. For instance, when he confronts Mary Warren about the poppet and she says that it was just for sport, then John says “You’re coming to the court with me, Mary. You will tell it in the court.” (80) This shows how nothing will stop him from getting the truth, and helping others with it. He will also do anything to save somebody else. In Act III, Proctor made a “petition” that 91 respectable people signed and was “... a sort of testament. The people signing it declare their good opinion of Rebecca, and my wife, and Martha Corey.” (93) Also in Act III John says “She (Abigail) 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…” (110) In this quote he is admitting to having an affair with Abigail, he admits to having the affair to explain why Abigail would want Elizabeth dead. As you can see, John Proctor is a very noble and honorable character because he will do anything to help somebody else, even if it means he has to sacrifice. Secondly, Proctor is a very protective character. This is a small factor that