Charlie Chaplin is a Communist (Biography.com staff; Andrew). Multiple other renowned actors, screenwriters, and directors were accused just like this during the Red Scare (Andrew). Miller created The Crucible during this time of paranoia (Hosey). In the 1950s and 1940s, after the Cold War, Russia became a direct representation of everything anti-American, thus Communism was anti-American (History.com staff). The House of Un-American Activities Committee was created to rid America of Communist (History.com staff). McCarthy lead this extirpation and exacerbated the situation to a point of utter chaos and paranoia called the Red Scare (History.com staff; Hosey). This campaign began with an attack at the liberal Hollywood, blacklisting of Hollywood …show more content…
Proctor meets the first criteria of a tragic hero, noble birth, by Miller himself stating, “Proctor, respected and even feared in Salem” (Miller 1). For Proctor to even begin his fall as a tragic hero, he must first be in a position of social and moral power, of noble birth. Having social and moral power in the village of Salem allows him the ability to later gather signatures from the villagers for a deposition that will release the accused (Miller 3).With the high position secured, the tragic hero, now, falls. Hamartia, the hero’s tragic flaw, causes this fall. In a Puritan society, flaws equate to sin (Hosey). Proctor commits the sin of adultery, therefore his flaw is lust. Proctor says himself, “God help me, I lusted…” (Miller 3). Despite having commit such a vile sin, John Proctor is able to escape the consequences due to his powerful position. Thus, he fulfills the third criteria of a tragic hero, hubris. He displays his ability when he warns Abigail Williams, the accomplice of his lustful sin, to not speak of it, “Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abigail” (Miller 1). By refusing to speak of it himself and preventing others to, Proctor is attempting to escape the consequences of his crime by denying the crime itself. Proctor continues his attempt by scolding his wife to get over his affair (Miller 2). …show more content…
John’s fall into his tragic end truly begins with the criteria of peripeteia. Proctor’s flaw brings him from a high position of power to one of an accused witch. During a trial, Proctor attempts to make Mary Warren confess that Abigail and the other girls are only pretending, to end the witch trials and save the innocents accused, but Abigail begins manipulating the situation and reducing the validity of Mary Warren’s words (Miller 3). Proctor sensing this, attempts to gain back power by reducing Abigail’s. He confesses and yells at Abigail, “How do you call Heaven! Whore! Whore!” (Miller 3). Cheever, the court clerk, brings Elizabeth in to validify the confession, but she rejects it (Miller 3). Abigail’s manipulation continues, taunting Mary Warren’s words (Miller 3). Mary Warren, eventually, succumbs to Abigail’s power (Miller 3). In turning to Abigail's’ side, she attacks Proctor, accusing him of being with the Devil (Miller 3). Thus the court arrests Proctor, and he has fallen (Miller 3). Before having fallen, Proctor remained in denial, but, due to this fall, he has an epiphany. He realizes his actions do have consequences that even delaying acceptance can exacerbate the consequences. Therefore, Proctor meets the fourth criteria of a tragic hero, realizing his downfall is his to blame, anagnorisis. Proctor shows recognition by telling Elizabeth he does not deserve to be hanged like the saint, Rebecca Nurse,