Identify a character in The Crucible that undergoes a major change. What is this change? Explain the importance of this change. While there are many characters in The Crucible that undergo a major change, none play as big a role in the final outcome of the story as that of John Proctor. John plays as much a role in the story as that of Abigail, struggling to show the court that the accusations of witchcraft made by the girls are fraudulent.
John Proctor is a unique character in that he is present in every act, and almost every scene throughout the play. This allows a reader to follow John throughout the story, seeing how he changes gradually as the story progresses. In the beginning of the story, it is not clear as to what John’s true desires are. In his initial interaction with Abigail, he seems to talk down to Abby, making it appear as if he simply was entertaining Abigail's yearning desires. This conversation also reveals that Proctor previously committed adultery with Abby, and while he now refuses her advances, he does not seem very devoted to his course of action.
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John learns that his wife has been accused of witchcraft, with Abigail being the one who made the accusation. On some level, Proctor knows that the accusation against his wife is his fault. He rebukes Abigail and vows to make things just. “My wife will never die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me!” (Miller 80). Proctor knows now that it is his responsibility to save his wife, and he must do anything it takes to do
Thesis: Every character in the crucible caused a negative consequence to take place, which leads him or her to endeavor to protect the virtue of their reputation. Three most significant characters, whose endeavors are majorly emphasized are Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Danforth.
He shares a deep love with his wife and is committed to her. Even though Proctor had an affair with Abigail and denied it for the longest time he wanted to protect his wife from the truth. He truly regrets what he did and wouldn't go back to Abigail. Abigail still wanted to pursue the affair, but John Proctor told her “Abby, I never give you hope to wait for me.” (1043). Proctor still loved his wife and wanted the best for her. In the trial Elizabeth was trying to protect Proctor in the beginning. He didn't want Elizabeth to go down for his wrongs in life so he told her “Elizabeth, tell the truth!”
“A situation of severe trial, or in which different elements interact, leading to the creation of something new,”(Google) that is the given definition of a crucible. A severe trial is an accurate term used to describe the town of Salem during the Salem Witch trials. Many characters had unmitigated personality changes throughout the play as morals soared out of the window to save lives or take them. One character who had not changed, however, just happened to be one of the strongest in the town, John Proctor. Many things dictate a change in character such as willingness to participate in wrongdoings and the ability to perceive and accept new information.
John Proctor has a large impact on the conflict and the characters in the play. Proctor's decision to cheat on his wife is what influences the main problem in the story and has a great effect on the mistress: Abigail. After their little romp Abby confuses Johns lust for love and being an emotionally crazy teenager she feels nothing but jealousy towards the other woman in Proctor's life. It is because of Proctors sin that Abby abuses her power and claims that woman such as Mary Warren and his wife are witches. 2.
John Proctor is the respectable and proud farmer in The Crucible. His relationship with his wife Elizabeth is strained when it revealed to her that John Proctor has cheated with Abigail Williams, the seventeen year old girl. Abigail knowingly tempts John Proctor to continue their relationship as she says “I have seen you looking up, turning in your loneliness. Do you tell me you’ve never looked up at my window” (Miller 29). Similar to Ethan, John Proctor aims to be good in his life but his faults ultimately lead to his downfall.. His affair with the young girl is what caused Elizabeth to be accused because Abigail wanted Elizabeth to leave John Proctors life. John realizes this and his reaction is “[Abigail] thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grace! And well she might, for I thought of her softly” (Miller 113). His refusal to listen to Abigail’s temptation shows his maturity as a man and his new commitment to Elizabeth. John Proctors honest character forces him to admit his mistakes to his wife to resolve the issue because the affair has ended. His stern mentality pushes him to try to reveal the truth about the girls accusing people of witchcraft. This leads him to threaten Mary Warren, who eventually uses her words to convince the court that he is responsible for attacking her. His wrongdoings in the beginning of the story is now resulting in a trial against his wife and the fear of execution. The archetype temptress is the large consequence for the negative outcome of The
John Proctor’s motivation throughout the play is to save his wife, Elizabeth from being hanged for being accused of witchcraft. When Proctor found out that his wife was accused of witchcraft by Abigail, he makes his duty to get her out of it. Proctor thinks that it is his fault that she is in this position because of his affair with Abigail. Proctor then goes to Danforth with a deposition from Mary Warren. Danforth then asks Proctor what his purpose is for coming in court with depositions. Proctor replies “Why, I-I would free my wife, sir. (Miller 83)” This quote said by John Proctor proves that he has come to court to save his wife from getting hanged.
He believed that the crime he committed with Abigail damaged him in the eyes of his wife and God. He is determined to end the sinful relationship he once had by stating, “Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you again”(Miller 470). By saying this, he emphasizes the strength and determination to never commit the act of lechery again. Through the middle of the play he expresses his misconduct to his wife Elizabeth. He shows his guilt within much admiration towards her when Proctor says, “My wife will never die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me”(Miller 503 ). Proctor’s threatening language shows the strength of his feelings for Elizabeth and his great amount of respect for her. By the end of the play, Proctor could not handle the idea of having to lie once again. He shows this once he refuses to sign his name to Salem's confessed witchcraft for Danforth to put on the church door. Since everyone in the town goes to church, they will see his name
In The Crucible by: Arthur Miller John Proctor one of the main character is dealing with the hard truth of his past sins. He decided to commit lechery when his wife was ill and now he has to deal with this till the day of his death. Once believed that there was no good to come from himself and it seemed to be true until an Impending doom dramatically changed his relationship with himself.
In Arthur Miller’s famous play, The Crucible, multiple characters grow and develop throughout the production. The people of Salem experience many hardships, as well as conflicts with the court and other villagers; however, John Proctor is the most interesting character to watch as he changes throughout this process. His character develops immensely as the play moves forward and the conflicts he comes in contact with are exciting to watch unfold.
In life, everyone goes through something that changes who they are. In The Crucible, by Aurthur Miller, the reader gets a chance to meet John Proctor. He was a man who was quite sure of himself and was emotionally strong. Although John seemed like a trustworthy man he was not faithful to his wife Elizabeth. As the story of the play develops and the truth about his secret relationship with Abigail comes out to his wife he begins to get lost within his guilt. He no longer is a man who is strong and respectful but is now a sinner. By the end of the play he is motivated to change and he does. John Proctor was eaten up by his guilt but soon found his old strong and trustworthy self.
Men had very distinct roles in the 1600's. They were the providers of their house and
In The crucible there are many static characters that seem to remain the same throughout the film. On the other hand, there are dynamic characters that evolve based on the action in the story. John Proctor had the greatest change from the beginning of the film to the end. He was the protagonist of the story. In the beginning, everybody saw John Proctor as a bad man and he engaged in adultery with Abigail in acts 1 and 2. Proctor is involved in a salem witch trial and his wife is accused of being a witch. John Proctor changed from a citizen and sinner to a person with high sense of morality. (114) He says “I have three children, how may i teach them to walk like men in the world, when I have sold my friends.” In the last 2 acts, Proctor
John proctor character traits come out from the very beginning.He knows that the girl liers but do to his affair with the oldest one Abigail Williams he choses to keep quiet.This makes him unsettled throughout the story knowing he can't call Abigail on her lies.Soon it becomes clear to see why he is tormented as he watches his friends and wife accused of witchcraft .As he tries other ways to free them Abigail has all the power in the courts,church and community.this makes him angry knowing lies has killed his community. It was not till his wife was charged that he infatuated and truly motivate.As he stayed in the book as his wife was
John Proctor was a well-known and respected hardworking farmer in Salem, married to his wife, Elizabeth. Abigail Williams was the Proctor’s household servant. When Elizabeth found out about the affair going on between Abigail and her husband, John fired her soon after it was exposed. During the affair, Abigail falls deeply in love with Proctor and she becomes determined to have a future with him. When she goes to John Proctor to declare her love for him, she says to John “John-I am waiting for you every night.”(act 1pg 1246). She is so obsessed with John and he unfortunately does not feel the same way Abigail feels about him. He refuses to ever lay a finger on her again in stating ”I will cut off my hand before i'll ever reach for you again.”(act 1) pg.1246. This infuriates Abigail and makes her even more determined to do
John Proctor is one of the primary people responsible for the massive witch hunt that took place. He had had an extramarital affair with Abigail Williams months before the trials. This left Abigail believing that they were meant for each other and that she needed to replace Elizabeth Proctor as John’s wife. Proctor did little to cut ties with Abigail until it was too late and she had already set her mind to replace Elizabeth. Abigail says that “[She is] waitin’ for [Proctor] every night,” shortly before she begins accusing Elizabeth and the others (Miller 39). This clearly shows her immoral attachment to proctor and her willingness to do whatever she must to take Elizabeth’s spot. Proctor’s