English 11 26 November 2012 Cause of Death When we were growing up, we would do something to a sibling or another kid at school knowing that the person would react to what you did. We would bug our siblings or kids at school knowing it would annoy them, but we did it anyway. Or we would not eat all our food on our plate and our parents would tell us we couldn't have dessert. All these things we would do are causes of cause and effect, when someone or something has acted to result into a situation. An example of cause and effect is from the book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein; when the little boy ask the tree for some branches to build a house, and the tree gives him branches to make his house. Every story has some sort of cause …show more content…
Like in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, John Proctor dies in result of the affair between him and Abigail, Elizabeth lying in court, and Proctor tearing his confession of witchcraft. All in all, he died to keep his good name and not bring shame to his whole
In order to try and correct this, he attempts to expose Abigail during the testimony with Mary Warren, but when this fails he comes out with the truth of his sin. However, it is too late and he is convicted of participating in witchcraft as well. At the end of the play, Procter is asked to confess in order to be pardoned, and he does so, but he refuses to sign the confession and says, "I have three children--how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?"(Act IV). By signing the confession, John is signing his legacy away, so his children 's names will also be ruined. Again, John is choosing to die instead of devastating someone else 's life. John Proctor becomes a man who can dishonor his name in order to save another 's life, but not his own. This also proves his role as a tragic hero, because of his death at the end of the play.
Proctor 's decision to tell the court about his affair ironically demonstrates his goodness. He also spoke up for the innocent girls that had their names branded. He willingly sacrifices his good name in order to protect his wife and others who are wrongly accused. Only through his public acknowledgment of the affair does Proctor regain his wife 's trust. At the end of the play, Proctor refuses to slander himself by allowing the court to make him make a false confession. The court told him to lie, and that if he lies that he would not be sent to the gallows. He did the right decision by telling the truth about his affair with Abigail. He honestly told the truth about the affair, and that he was not part of the witchcraft. His response further exemplifies Proctor 's integrity. But John was not guilty. He had nothing to do with witchcraft, he admitted to his own mistakes. Proctor knows that if he confesses that he will be damned himself, yet again, if he agrees to confess, he will also be free from the torment from the demon inside him and set others free too. This realization, along with Elizabeth 's forgiveness, enables Proctor to forgive himself and finally regain his good name and self-respect. As the court
First of all, reputation is a huge issue for John Proctor, both internally and externally. From the very beginning, John is extremely concerned about word escaping about his adulterous acts with Abigail. If anyone were to find out, his good reputation as a respectable farmer in Salem would have been cast away by nasty looks. A lack of willingness to give up his good name also stopped John from admitting anything he knew about Abigail to possibly save lives. He cared more about having a clean name than completely halting the trials to begin with. In the end of the play, John Proctor is put to death
John Proctor expresses his honesty and blunt personality throughout the story, however when time did come to the end of the tragedy, he exposed another trait until his last breath of air. There is such thing of honor and it can be argued that John Proctor died without it. Or that he wasted his breath fighting for his and Elizabeth’s life. But, John Proctor expressed himself as an upright man. He proved many things with the case and even was awarded a second chance to live before he be hanged. Such a thing would not come of any honor but come of disgrace and embarrassment. He chose to die a man of his name with honor and pride because he knew what was right and knew he would not win” I say- I say- God is Dead!” (Page: 198: John Proctor). This quote means John has changed and come to conclusion of things in the story. Although he is portraying things as if Abigail was not lying, he knew he could not fight a losing war. As to him, it was better to die the man he knew himself for and a man of his own name. Even to the moment of impact, John felt peace and change with himself before he was hanged because he died and honest, upright, and blunt-spoken
Another inner quality that defines John Proctor is the value he holds to his good name. Proctor is a firm believer in the fact that one’s name is the only thing that remains after death, and what is done with it while living can affect one’s posterity for generations. This is the driving force behind his actions in the final act of the play. At first, he felt no shame in lying to the court about his accusation of witchcraft because he felt there was no more damage he could do to his reputation and that one more sin would not make any difference. His attitude changed when he realized his confession would mean blackening the name of those who already had died, and his sons would have to live with that mark on their names. He knew he could not teach his sons “. . . to walk like
John Proctor’s last characteristic that makes him a tragic hero is that his struggles eventually end in his downfall. His courage to stand strong in his beliefs leads him to death at the gallows. His personal struggle with Elizabeth is resolved as he makes his decision to refuse to confess to
As John Proctor is facing death, he realizes what he has done is wrong. John Proctor decides to confess to the court of his affair with Abigail, after confessing to
The second moral dilemma John Proctor faces is to tell the truth and die as an honest man. He has the choice to either lie in order to live or die with his friends in an honourable way. Proctor realizes that if he choses to tell the truth he will no longer be the sinful man he thought he is, but would keep his name in good standing and be a good role model for his sons. “‘I have three children---how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?’” (IV.I). If John chooses to live he will be looked upon by his friends and family as a liar and an unmoral man. He will not be able to function in the Puritan society, so he comes to the conclusion to tell the truth and be put to death. He believes God will save him because he is doing the right thing by choosing to die and he will be remembered for his dignity. His wife Elizabeth watches the hanging and says, “‘He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!’” (IV.I). As Proctor is about to be hanged, sunlight shines throughout the town representing John made the right decision and he will be going to God. After all, John Proctor does give up his life, but he knows he saves his sons from walking around with a tainted name and keeps the names of his friends clean, not betraying them.
Proctor says to her, "You're coming to the court with me, Mary. You will tell it in the court." (Miller 80). This is to prove that he is not in volved in witchcraft. He does not want his name to even be associated with the thought. He there fore makes Mary testify to the court about her doll and therefore clears the accusation that he was doing what we consider voo-doo. Furthermore, at the end of the play Proctor is persistent by saying that no matter what anyone says to convince him differently, he would rather die an honest man and save his name. John Proctor took pride in his name. It took persistency to make his intent clear to others.He eventually dies for his cause. Therefore making him a martyr.
In the play, Arthur Miller wrote called, The Crucible John Proctor says "Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Miller 143). He had a very strong belief that if his name was blackened there is no reason to live. John Proctor also chose to die because he could not double cross his friends, the fact that he has three children, John could not raise his children to walk like men in the world if he himself was not a true man. Therefore, for the sake of his name, reputation, and his kids John's decision to die was a heroic one.
After John Proctor had courageously confessed to his adultery, everyone turned against him and he was deemed as a liar. In his cell, he was conflicted between lying so that he could live but also wanted to tell the truth because he, for once, wanted to stop lying. He did not want to leave Elizabeth again so in order to stay alive, he lied again. John Proctor was asked to gives names but he defended, “They think to go like saints. I like not to spoil their names”(Miller, 1230). But after truly wanting to find peace, he finally could not stand any longer to lie and voluntarily gives his life. When Reverend Hale pleaded Elizabeth to go change Proctor mind, Elizabeth replied, “He has his goodness. God forbid I take it from him!” (Miller, 1233). When Elizabeth said this, she’s saying that Proctor has redeem himself but in order to forgive himself, he needs to do this. His death, for him, meant he righted his wrongs and finally regain his respect and his dignity by dying for the
John Proctor is mainly responsible for his own death. He had an affair with Abigail Williams, which led to her becoming obsessed with him. Abigail was so determined to be with Proctor that she accused Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft in order to take her place as Proctor’s spouse. In
John Proctor uses his honesty and good moral values to withstand the chaos of the trial, however a tragic mistake he made a couple of months ago lead to his death.
John Proctor’s decision to die for his name was the wrong one because despite his attempt to die an honest man, his name would remain tainted by his sinful affair regardless of whether he decided to live or die. The reality of Proctor’s decision is that he abandoned his wife, their three sons, and their unborn child for an ultimately futile act of self-sacrifice made for the approval of the townspeople. Throughout the course of the book, Proctor’s guilt from his affair with Abigail continuously guides his decisions and the moment it came time to decide whether to confess and live or maintain his innocence and hang was no different. Proctor decided that he would rather die than taint his name, but this decision stems from the guilt which constantly
Throughout The Crucible, John Proctor showed immense courage when he stuck to his beliefs. In Act 3, John Proctor confesses to the court his affair with Abigail Williams because he doesn’t want his wife being accused of witchcraft. He further explains Abigail’s plan to kill his wife, Elizabeth Proctor, and dance with him on her grave. (Miller 873). When Proctor calls Abigail a whore, he gives the court an opportunity to end the trials. Additionally, John faces the ultimate test when he has to sign the document that would keep him alive. Proctor is unable to lie, so he shouts, “ Because it is my name!..Because I lie and sign myself to lies” (Miller 886). His action of ripping up the document further represents Proctor’s integrity and courage. Proctor knows he will never forgive himself if he agrees to confess. He chooses to be hanged over living the remaining of his life on a lie. Proctor refuses to name others and tears up the document. Overall in The Crucible, John Proctor is a firm believer in the fact that one’s name is the only thing that stays after death.