Larrinaga 1 Luis Larrinaga Mrs. Tyree English III, Per.

4 15 December 2013 John Proctor as a Tragic Hero John Proctor became a tragic hero in The Crucible by Arthur Miller; a big conflict has been brought to the Village of Salem, after Proctor had an affair with Abigail Williams. She began to look for revenge and she started accusing people of witchcraft. John Proctor, a well-respected man in Salem, who is a hard worker always working for his family, love his children and his wife, is found in a critical situation after committing lechery with a girl in the village. John Proctor, the protagonist of the play The Crucible, a well-respected man, a noble man who has done a lot for his family, possesses a major flaw he has had an affair with Abigail Williams, and eventually he realizes what he has done in Salem and to Elizabeth; his wife, at the end of the play he redeems himself and he refuses to give up his name and sign a public confession, and therefore making John Proctor an ideal example of a tragic hero. John Proctor is a good man, a hard worker who cares for his family and a wellrespected man in the Village of Salem. He shows that he tries to be a better man after what he has done with Abigail, and that he regrets of breaking his marriage vows, when he says, No, no, Abby. Thats done with (Act I, line 408). John Proctor is known as a good man in the community, for he is always working on his farm, and he is an honorable man. John Proctor cares about his wife and shows respect for her. He shows this when he says to Abigail, Youll speak nothin of Elizabeth! (Act I, lines 458-459). John Proctor

Larrinaga 2 shows respect and he regrets of committing lechery against Elizabeth. Proctor by telling this to Abigail, he is neglecting her and showing her that he cares more about his wife than he does for her. This flaw along with many other attributes contributed to him being a tragic hero. Proctor is a good man, because he is always working and tries to be as close as possible to his family, and eventually he becomes an ideal example of a tragic hero. John Proctor has a dark secret, he possesses a major flaw he has had an affair with Abigail Williams. Due to the fact that Proctor has committed lust against Elizabeth, and because of the direction that his life has taken he is able to become a tragic hero. Abigail Williams shows what they have done when she says, I know how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I come near (Act I, lines 423425). Its too late to regret he has sinned, and he has ruined his marriage with Elizabeth and now she is not pleased with him. Due to the fact that he has cheated on Elizabeth, he has been trying to please her, when he tells her I have not moved from there to there without I think to please you (Act II, lines 159-161). The affair also caused Elizabeth to distrust John, who for seven months was trying to get into her good graces and is tired of her suspicion. John's inability to control his desire and resist temptation, his life is being turned upside down. As a result, the need for revenge of Abigail marks the beginning of Johns downfall. John Proctor regrets of breaking his marriage vows, and now his wife Elizabeth is being accused of witchcraft by Abigail Williams. Proctor shows that he is sorry for all that he has done, when he says, My wife will not die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth that goodness will not die for me! (Act II, lines 990-2). He determined not to lose Elizabeth and especially because of something that he has done, his affair with

Larrinaga 3 Abigail. He is sorry and regrets about everything that has happened. Based on the statement by John Proctor, when he says, 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! (Act IV, lines 725-730). John gives his reasons why he cannot have his name written down and highlights the importance of a name. John decides to die as an honorable man, but not as a coward, he confesses all his sins and he dies as a good man. John Proctor shows the way a good man should die. Proctor was afraid of losing his name; therefore he decides not to make a public confession and dies as a good man. John Proctor redeems himself and he refuses to give up his name and sign a public confession, therefore making John Proctor an ideal example of a tragic hero. John Proctor has committed lechery. Abigail becomes jealous of his wife, and Proctor regrets of breaking his marriage vows, consequently he becomes a tragic hero. John Proctor dies as a tragic hero. He committed a mortal sin, and now he is known as a sinner and Elizabeth has lost faith on him, and she does not trust him anymore. Abigail is jealous of Elizabeth and looks for revenge, for this reason she accuses Elizabeth of witchcraft, in consequence Elizabeth has been condemned to be hanged, but John will not let that to happen so he confesses what he has done. Proctor is hanged as an honorable man because he did not make a public confession and did not give up his name, he explains why his name was so important, and therefore he dies as an honorable man, making him an ideal example of a tragic hero.