Lauren Barash
Mrs. Dachille
ELA: Hour 4
25 November 2014
John Proctor Tragic Hero
A tragic hero is one who holds a high status in a community. The protagonist habitually faces a supernatural force of misfortune in which they conquer and gain admiration from the audience. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, John Proctor was not the ordinary resident living in the small town of Salem, Massachusetts. Salem during this time period embodies pure unintelligence. The community faced ruthless weather, deceased crops, and sickness. They didn’t know how these dreadful happenings arose. The only knowledge they had came from books, which did not contain the solutions for their troubles. The idea of witchcraft was proposed, and with this being the only possible …show more content…
John Proctor was married to Elizabeth and together they had two children with one on the way. The audience comes to realize that Proctor partook in an affair with Abigail Williams, while she was employed in his home. Proctor thought that his affair with Abigail irreparably crushed everything he had in the perspective of God, his wife Elizabeth, and himself. Though he did surrender to sin and commit adultery, Proctor lacked the capability to forgive himself. This enlarged his reactions to Elizabeth’s lack of forgiveness and he often lashed out. “You will not judge me more, Elizabeth. I have good reason to think before I charge fraud on Abigail, and I will think on it. Let you look to your own improvement before you go to judge your husband any more. I have forgot Abigail, and- “ (1233). Out of embarrassment, Proctor acted like what he did was not a big deal and this frustrated Elizabeth. Deep down, he knew the extent of the tragic flaw. "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!” (2233). Proctor’s prize possession was his good name and the respect and integrity associated with it, and he didn’t want it to disappear. This is why he chose not to testify against Abigail throughout the trials. Proctor knew …show more content…
However, one could argue that he does not fit the requirements of one. Some believe that the affair was not Proctors fault, which would eliminate his tragic flaw. “Our Honor, I-in that time I were sick. And I- My husband is a good and righteous man. But in my sickness-you see, sir, I were a long time sick after my last baby, and I thought I saw my husband somewhat turning from me. And this girl- She turns to Abigail”(2128). Elizabeth was sick after his baby and one can infer that she was not able to give Proctor the attention he desired. He used Abigail to give him devotion that Elizabeth couldn’t, giving Elizabeth the blame for the affair. Proctor should have been there for his wife rather than being selfish and concerned about filling his insignificant needs. Committing adultery is not okay no matter what circumstances are present. All blame for Proctors decision to cheat on his wife should be placed on Proctor only. For these reasons, this incident is Proctor’s tragic flaw and not