John Proctor, a wealthy farmer and tavern owner, was among the first men accused of witchcraft in 1692. He was convicted as a witch, but he is aware of his role in allowing this fervor to grow unchecked. Proctor redeems himself and provides a final denunciation of the witch trials in his final act.
John Proctor is a tormented individual who believes his affair with Abigail Williams irreparably damaged him in the eyes of God, his wife Elizabeth, and others. Elizabeth assures him that Abigail leads the other girls in identifying witches, and she urges Proctor to go to the court and tell the judges. Proctor is a powerful man in both build and character, refusing to follow people he considers hypocrites, including Reverend Parris.
When the witchcraft hysteria first began in Salem village in the winter of 1692, Proctor became an outspoken opponent of the trials and stated that the afflicted were not witches. He would mention his disbelief in the witchcraft accusations to anyone who would listen. Mary Warren, the twenty-year-old maid servant in the Proctor house, later became named a witch. Abigail will not accept that their romantic relationship is over, and she tries to have Elizabeth hanged by naming her as a witch during the witchcraft trials.
The Witchcraft Trials were trials that mostly girls, but some men got accused of seeing the devil and doing work for him. If someone was accused of being a witch, they would not admit to it.
📹 Tragic Hero : A look at John Proctor from The Crucible
A definition and example of a tragic hero in literature through studying John Proctor from the Crucible by Arthur Miller.
How is John Proctor innocent of witchcraft?
The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller, is a horror story set in Salem, Massachusetts, where numerous illicit murders occurred. John Proctor, a farmer involved in witchcraft trials, was falsely accused of witchcraft and his wife Elizabeth. Instead of admitting to the accusations and receiving life, Proctor chose to die as a noble man. However, he should have corroborated the charges, as he had already committed sins that defied his nobility and morals.
In The Crucible, Proctor is portrayed as a fallen hero, struggling to support his family and make ends meet. He is tempted by Abigail Williams, a 17-year-old girl who is infamous and cruel to those who know the truth. Abigail accuses innocent people of practicing witchcraft for selfish reasons, and Proctor is tempted into having relations with her. Although Proctor committed lechery, he was not a bad person and was killed for unjust purposes.
What are proctors feelings regarding the existence of witches?
John acknowledges his belief in the existence of witches, despite not aligning with the biblical teachings that are prevalent in Salem.
Was John Proctor accused of witchcraft?
Elizabeth Proctor was arrested on April 10 and examined in the Salem Town meetinghouse on April 11. Several afflicted, including Abigail Williams, Mary Walcott, Mercy Lewis, and John Indian, accused her of witchcraft. Despite her claims of innocence, the afflicted writhed and screamed in her presence. John Proctor was also accused of witchcraft, and both were held for trial in Boston jail.
The authorities confiscated the possessions of the convicted person, presumably to pay for jail costs and support their family. Robert Calef’s account described the events at the Proctors’ home, where the sheriff seized goods, provisions, and cattle, sold some at half price, killed others, and put them up for the West Indies. Mary Warren, who vacillated between accuser and accused, was arrested and jailed on April 18. John Proctor’s son Benjamin was accused on May 23, and his son William and daughter Sarah on May 29.
What emotions does John Proctor feel?
John Proctor, a devout individual, struggles with feelings of guilt and self-reproach following an extramarital affair with Abigail. He experiences a sense of hypocrisy and a loss of self-respect as a result. Nevertheless, by the conclusion of the play, he discovers a means of pardoning himself and embarking on a path of recovery and growth.
What is John Proctor’s beliefs?
Proctor is a member of the Puritan religious community, which is centered on Christian values such as hard work, self-denial, and simple living. Any actions that deviate from these norms are met with significant scrutiny and often regarded as scandalous.
What is John Proctor’s opinion on witchcraft?
John Proctor, a prominent figure in the witch hunt, publicly opposed the accusations and demanded the accusers be hanged for their deceit. His servant, Mary Warren, began experiencing fits of ‘demonic possession’, but Proctor believed it was a result of lack of discipline. He beat her to correct her behavior, leading to a miraculous recovery. However, while Proctor was away, Mary’s symptoms returned and she joined the trials, prompting other young girls in the village to follow suit. Proctor’s public disbelief in the witch hunt and his belief in the deceit of the accusers led to the trials.
Why does John Proctor feel guilt?
The Crucible is a play that centers around the moral struggle of its protagonist, John Proctor. The play revolves around three main dilemmas: his guilt over his adulterous affair with Abigail Williams, his hesitation to testify against Abigail to expose the truth, and his final decision to make the ultimate sacrifice.
John Proctor aims to expose Abigail’s spiteful character and her desire to replace his wife. He begs for Abigail’s forgiveness, knowing it would dishonor his name but deems it the only solution as people fell into Abigail’s manipulation. He fights for everyone, not just his wife, and defends others because he knows their innocence.
John Proctor’s internal conflict lies in his affair with Abigail, which he confesses to. He does not want to confess but must do so to expose Abigail’s real desires and why she accuses Elizabeth of witchcraft. This adultery is punishable, so he takes a big risk.
In summary, The Crucible is a play that explores the moral struggles of John Proctor, his guilt over his affair with Abigail Williams, his hesitation to testify against her, and his decision to make the ultimate sacrifice. The play highlights the complex relationships and challenges faced by individuals in the Puritanical Salem environment.
Why did John Proctor not confess to witchcraft?
In the play “The Crucible”, John Proctor, a man accused of witchcraft, is wrongfully advised by Hale to give a false confession to save his life. He signed the confession, proving his involvement with witchcraft, but later discovered that it would be nailed to the church door. Proctor felt that the publicity was unnecessary and wanted his friends not to be condemned for his actions. He chose to tear up the confession and maintain his reputation as an honest man, stating that he cannot judge another and will not join her ranks by hurting others.
John Proctor’s final stand is to protect his name and reputation in Salem, which would be blackened if he admitted to witchcraft. His ambition to secure his good name prevents him from testifying against Abigail. He understands that to truly have a good name, he must tell the truth, not lie, to save himself. He says, “I have given you my soul; leave me my name”. By defending his name, he musters the courage to die heroically.
In a theocratic society like Salem, where public and private moralities are the same, reputation plays an important role. Hale’s advice to lie to save John’s life was looking out for his well-being, but Proctor’s strong principle of reputation guided him to tell the truth and die with his good name. At the end of the play, John expresses that he sees some shred of goodness in John Proctor, implying that being honest was the sole thing he had done well in his life after all his sins.
What does John Proctor fear?
The individual is reluctant to divulge the transgression to the community, primarily due to concerns about potential reputational damage.
What is the real reason John Proctor avoids going to Salem?
John Proctor is attempting to evade his obligation to appear in Salem due to concerns that Abigail may disclose their extramarital relationship.
Why does John Proctor avoid going to Salem?
John Proctor is attempting to evade his obligation to appear in Salem due to concerns that Abigail may disclose their extramarital relationship.
📹 John Proctor Character Quotes & Word-Level Analysis! | The Crucible Quotations: English GCSE Mocks!
Studying Arthur Miller’s play ‘The Crucible’? Not sure what quotes to memorise for John Proctor’s character? Check out our quotes …
Um, I’m not sure if you understand why he tore apart the confession. The judge was going to have his confession nailed on the church, which would destroy his and his family’s reputation, and it was a false confession. Everything was taken from him except his name. He’d rather die an honest, humble man, than live surrounded by lies, with a false confession to his name. It wouldn’t set a good example to his wife and children. Also, because Christianity was really important during that time, the thought of living while lying to God was worse than dying from the truth. He didn’t change his mind because he thought the women were brave, he changed his mind when he realized that the church was going to use his false confession to sully his name, and destroy his family’s life! So he was protecting his family and saving his soul when he ripped the confession.