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How Did John Proctor Change Throughout The Crucible

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Throughout the play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the main protagonist, John Proctor, changed from a normal citizen and sinner to a tragic hero, then a person with a high sense of mortality. The play takes place during the salem Witch Trials in 1692, where spectral evidence was evident in the courts. John Proctor stopped attending church on Sundays, due to his belief that it was becoming less and less about God, along with his present feeling of guilt and his sinful actions. Rumors and accusations run ramped in Salem threatening to taint the good reputations of the townspeople. Proctor’s own morals, honesty, and religious beliefs were challenged on behalf of spectral evidence in the court and his sinful actions. Proctor harboured guilt for …show more content…

Furthermore, in act three Proctor begins to put his words into actions. He has developed an urge to fight for his wife, due to Proctor finally believing in what he is fighting for. During the play Proctor, “Looks at Elizabeth, but she cannot speak. “She never saw no spirits,” (88), Proctor says defending Elizabeth. He wants to protect her from false evidence and from his past mistakes. Proctor is no longer only worried about himself and what will happen if he confesses. Proctor tries to reason with court, he asks for, ”God [to] help [him], [he] lusted and there is a promise in such sweat. But it's a whore’s vengeance, and [they] must see it,” (110). Proctor exhibits empathy towards his previous actions of adultery throughout act three of, The Crucible, where as in the beginning he had no empathy towards others or his actions. Proctor is quick to protect Elizabeth when she is accused of things that the court has no proof on. “There might also be a dragon with five legs in [his] house, but no one has ever seen it,” (104), Proctor told the court with vengeance. “[His] wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one!” (111), she has no reason to lie or cover for Proctor, for great sins by Proctor were inflicted upon Elizabeth. Proctor harbors great guilt for, ”She only thought to save [his] name!” (113). Proctor went from a sinner to a tragic hero and is starting to …show more content…

Proctor has gone from a hot-headed adulterer into a person who truly seeks redemption and to make things right with his wife, Elizabeth. Proctor was not truthful in the beginning of the play, however towards the end of the play he relinquished his pride in order to maintain the truth. Proctor died for what he believes in, he went from a sinner to an empathic hero and finally he became a person with high morals and honesty. Miller is trying to convey through the character, John Proctor, that a person should always stand up for what you believe in, no matter the circumstances. Proctor ____ that outside forces can influence a person’s morals, however those influences do not control the person, you can change the affect influences have. John Proctor’s morals, honesty, and beliefs were questioned throughout the play, only to be strong as ever at the

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