Examples Of John Proctor's Weakness In The Crucible

In act 1, John’s main conflict is dealing with his lust for Abigail, even though their affair has ended, he still every so often does think of her. “Proctor: Abby, I may think of you softly from time

People’s true character is revealed through their actions. Their morals and ethics can be told from how they choose to act in a situation. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible; the character of John Proctor is an honorable man despite having committed wrongful acts. He was able to redeem himself through acts that is considered courageous, such as when he refuses to contribute to the lie of witchcraft in Salem, when he fights for the people who were convicted of witchcraft and when he regrets being a dishonest man.

The primary dramatic focus in the play The Crucible is the moral struggle of its protagonist, John Proctor. Certain characteristics of John Proctor's character and also the environment of the Puritanical Salem alleviated this problem for him. The main issues running through out the play are a series of dilemmas that John Proctor faces. The first and foremost of these is his guilt over his adulterous affair with Abigail Williams, the second his hesitation to testify against Abigail to bring out the truth and the third, his final decision to make the ultimate sacrifice.

The key aspect discussed in the crucible would have to be John’s weakness which is that John acknowledges that what he has done with Abigail is wrong, he is sorry for what he

“That John Proctor the sinner might overturn his paralyzing personal guilt and become the most forthright voice against the madness around him was a reassurance to me, and, I suppose, an inspiration: it demonstrated that a clear moral outcry could still spring even from an ambiguously unblemished soul,” Miller says this about Proctor. Procter the “sinner” was unfaithful to his wife Elizabeth; during the beginning of the play we see Proctor as a cheater and hot-headed adulterer. Throughout the play he truly tried to seek redemption for his wrongdoing towards Elizabeth. He later on changes from this cheater, hot-headed adulterer to a saint who tries to save the lives of the falsely accused by admitting to his sins and fighting for the truth until his very last breath.

Elizabeth, I have confessed it!" (Miller 113). He confesses his sin, and speaks those words, only because he is looking out for the good of the community, and others around him. He hates that his name is tarnished, but feels that God will forgive him for it. Proctor's decision to tell the court about his affair ironically demonstrates his goodness. Saying ”I want my life” (137) shows that he is willing to sacrifice his good name in order to protect his wife. Only through his public acknowledgment of the affair does Proctor regain his wife's trust. Proctor refuses to slander himself by allowing the court to nail his false confession to the church door. This action further exemplifies Proctor's integrity. John declined to give the names of innocent community members. He is taking a hit for the team. Proctor realizes that if he gives the names of innocent citizens they will be hanged. So instead he feels he has no choice but to do the right thing, and die for the good cause. Proctor respects and stands up for his fellow neighbors Rebecca Nurse by proclaiming the difficulty “so pious a woman be secretly a Devil's bitch after seventy years of such good prayer" (64). Proctor's decision is not an easy one to make. John is saving others lives, saving his name, keeping his pride, and his integrity.

This particular quote deals with Elizabeth speaking of her frustration, anger, and disappointment as a result of the violation of trust and marital oaths. Proctor only becomes angered when this topic comes up because he feels that he has repeatedly expressed his sorrow for the mistakes of the past and finds Elizabeth constantly second-guessing him, showing the lack of trust.

In the beginning of the play, John and Elizabeth’s relationship was awkward and strange. A quote from the story “Spare me! You forget within and forgive nothin” (Miller 54) which means, John Proctor to Elizabeth is explaining how she doesn’t forgive him, but in reality he doesn’t forgive himself. This quote shows his true guilt and how he hasn’t forgiven himself. Another quote that he says “You were alone with her” (Miller 53) means the lack of trust in the Proctor marriage after John’s affair with Abigail. John is upset that Elizabeth won’t forgive him and move on past the affair and Elizabeth is upset and suspicious of the fact that John was alone with Abigail. The suspicions between John and Elizabeth’s relationship, weaken and drives them apart.

Proctor’s marriage was ruined the day he decided to step out in his marriage. Proctor was too focused on why Elizabeth could not trust him or forgive him, he forgot to stop and switch the focus of blaming others to understanding himself first. He held a grudge on Elizabeth because she cannot forgive the sins he committed and trust, but proctor is equivalently guilty of doing the same thing. Proctor shifts his mistakes to other people which makes it nearly impossible for him to reconcile with his wife: “Spare me! You forget nothin' and forgive nothin '. Learn charity, woman. I have gone tiptoe in this house all seven month since she is gone. I have not moved from there to there without I think to please you, and still an everlasting funeral marches round your heart” (Miller 36). Elizabeth’s lack of forgiveness escalates proctor’s frustration and guilt: “But it is a whore’s vengeance,

Many men don't think things through before acting, so it is believed John Proctor was an impulsive character throughout the story. "You can play brand new to all the other chicks out here- but I know what you are". John Proctor did what he felt was right by having an affair with Abigail but he wasn't thinkingof the concequences. Elizabeth knew all along and acted different around her husband. The outcome of John Proctors choices turned out to be a horrible mistake since his reputation and life were put on

In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, despite the fact that John Proctor has various respectable assets, he is considered a tragic hero and destined to tragedy as a result of his own imperfections. The way that John puts his companions above everything else proves his noble characteristic, his aspiration to correct his previous errors, and his need of justice. However, his imperfections are his temper, him hardly ever going to church, and his affair with Abigail Williams. Although he is a virtuous man, his flaws lead to his ruin.

In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, hysteria breaks out in Salem when young girls begin pronouncing accusations of witchcraft. One of the accused, Elizabeth Proctor and her husband, John Proctor, live on a farm where he provides and cares for their family. When Elizabeth becomes sick John is unfaithful and has an affair with one of the accusers, Abigail Williams. Through the course of the story, John Proctor moves from denial and deflection of his actions and their consequences in order to maintain his public dignity, to public confession and condemnation for his actions in order to soothe his conscience and maintain his internal sense of integrity. This progression is illustrated by his interactions with his wife, their accusers and the court, who ultimately condemns them.

One cannot be a tragic hero with a tragic flaw. This flaw will lead to the downfall of the protagonist. Proctor’s tragic flaw is his inability to avoid temptation. Specifically, Proctor gave into temptation of Abigail. In Act 1, Abigail confronts Proctor about his nightly visits to Abigail’s window. Proctor agrees that he has been visiting Abigail, owing to that he can not avoid the temptation of Abigail. Although Abigail and him are no longer seeing each other, Proctor cannot stay away from Abigail and gives into temptation to visit Abigail. Another example that demonstrates Proctor’s inability to avoid temptation is when Proctor confesses to the court about his relationship with Abigail (Act 2). In court, Proctor could have kept the court oblivious to the fact that he and Abigail had a relationship, instead as a last resort, Proctor gave into the temptation and informed the court. In the process Proctor also ruined his name in the community. By giving into temptation, Proctor caused his own demise.

This human weakness proves to be John Proctor's tragic character flaw. It not only leads to his demise, but to the loss of many innocent lives as well.

Even if he knew what was true and what was false keeping his reputation in tact was more important. Contrasting from both of the first characters Reverend Hale was more of a guy who wanted to do right. He knew that his job was on the line but instead of worrying he tried to find justice for the people who were being hanged. His name wasn’t as important to him as getting justice was. In act four Hale finally starts to realize all what he's been doing wrong, and so was watching those innocent people getting blamed for something that wasn’t even real. When trying to give Elisabeth advice Hale says, “Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook my own. I came into this village like a bridegroom to his beloved, earring gifts of high religion; the very crowns of holy law I brought, and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died; and where I turned the eye of my great faith, blood flowed up. Beware, Goody Proctor- cleave to no faith when faith brings blood. It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. LIfe, woman, life is God’s most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it. I beg you, woman, prevail upon your husband to confess. Let him give his lie. Quail not before God’s judgement in this, for it may well be God damns a liar less than he that