How Does John Proctor Use Evil In The Crucible

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

Purist Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 suffered from a rapidly increasing phenomenon: witchcraft accusations and trials. The Crucible is a play that recounts the times of this incident. For the most part, it follows a man known as John Proctor. He is a sensible, honest, and hardworking man who made the mistake of succumbing to lust which sets off a chain of events that leads to the witch trials, and to his own demise. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible’s protagonist John Proctor proves to be a flawed human being who struggles to make sense of his past relationship with Abigail, his love for his wife, and his pride.

Despite his being an insignificant and non-status-holding member of society, John Proctor is a much-respected man in Salem. However, in determining his fate, he continues to make several critical and irreversible mistakes that harm his reputation. For fear of being exiled in a town where reputation plays such a large role in their daily lives, Proctor initially tries to hide his crime of adultery, but his affair with Abigail triggers a major series of events in Salem, where simple, unproven accusations escalate to a far larger issue: “Abby—you mean to cry out still others?” “If I live, if I am not murdered, I surely will, until the last hypocrite is dead” (Miller 150). In the end, Proctor decides that for the sake of his desperate circumstances, it would be better to admit to his affair, but by the time he decides to reveal his crime, it is too late to reverse all past actions. He is convicted of witchcraft and doomed to be hanged, later, when given a chance to live, he caves in and confesses to seeing the Devil, only to go back even on this last lie, because he does not have the heart to be freed and saved by a lie.

John Proctor longs to protect his name. After being falsely accused of witchcraft, out of spite by Abigail Williams, Proctor could easily save himself at the mere price of his reputation by lying and admitting to committing the crime of witchcraft. John battles with himself between doing the honorable thing and hanging alongside his friends for a lie or saving himself from the gallows and living with the burden of knowing that he dishonored his fellow prisoners.Although Proctor does admit to witchcraft, he refuses to sign over his precious name on it. John explains,

Fast forward to the courtroom, when John is trying to save his wife. Elizabeth Proctor has been accused by Abigail of witchcraft. The Proctor’s new servant, Mary Warren, is supposed to testify against the rest of the girls. The judge, unfortunately, isn’t believing Mary. Ultimately, John is forced to confess his affair with Abigail to the judge and everyone else in the room as a last resort to save his wife. He hopes that this will be enough to convince the judge that Abigail is only trying to get Elizabeth out of the way so that she can have John to herself. It doesn’t work. Mary accuses John of being with the Devil and forcing her to lie in court. In the end, John has one choice. He can lie and sign a paper telling the town that he has broken his ties with the Devil, or he will be hanged if he truthfully denies it. Again, John Proctor must struggle with his soul. It is heart wrenching to

In the novel The Crucible, author Arthur Miller uses varying degrees of goodness and evil to control the flow of the story while showcasing a Puritan town's superstitions and fear of the devil to justify the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. The central character in Salem is John Proctor, an outspoken, successful, and well-respected farmer who chooses to maintain a certain distance from the church. Religious at heart, this man who has sinned openly condemns the witch trials while hiding a secret that could discredit the main accuser, Abigail Williams. John Proctor is a man consumed by guilt, which draws on his contempt for Reverend Parris, his love for his wife, and his need to take responsibility for his actions to gain the

Proctor argues with Danforth about his confession of being a witch, and yells, "I lie and sign myself to lies... I am not worth the dust on the feet of them hang!" (143). Proctor's point here is that if he confesses to lying, he is less of a man than those who were hung before him. Proctor knows if he lies and sign the paper, his reputation will be ruined. Reverend Hale attempts to make Elizabeth agree with him that "life is. God's most precious gift" (132), but Elizabeth ignores Ha's message. Elizabeth could have saved her husband from the decision he is making, but she then realizes, "[Proctor] has his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!" (145). Elizabeth supports Proctor's decision by letting him decide what he will do with his

He says this knowing Abigail was the one accusing his wife so that she may have him. In order for this to happen, Elizabeth must die, but Proctor persuades Mary Warren to tell the truth. Proctor told Mary Warren to confess that all of the accusations are a lie so that Elizabeth Proctor may be freed. Elizabeth Proctor is accused because she “stabbed” Abigail with a voodoo doll.

In amidst of the hysteria of witchcraft, John Proctor, husband to Elizabeth Proctor, is guilty of adultery and compliance to witchcraft. Just a few moments ago, Abigail Williams admitted that John Proctor and she had intercourse behind Elizabeth Proctor’s back. She described that Mr. Proctor “sweated like a stallion whenever [she] comes near” (Miller 21). Mr. Proctor also confessed to his wife of having an affair with the young child of seventeen years old, Ms. Williams. He tells Mrs. Proctor, that “like a Christian, [he] confessed” (Miller 52). Mr. Proctor, still keeping his loyalty to his religion, feels the guilt of committing such a betrayal towards Elizabeth Proctor that he does not forgive himself even after his confession.

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

He uses his authority over Mary Warren to have her confess how the witch trials are a complete scam in front of the court. Proctor also assures the court that the many arrested are innocent. The court’s power continues to overshadows his own. Every word he says is taken as a threat against the court, and Proctor is even accused of working with the devil. However, Proctor begins to get the full attention of the court, but Abigail shows up and claims both Mary Warren and Proctor are wrong.

John Proctor was an honored Puritan settler in the town of Salem. Abigail, whom is the antagonist of the story, pleads witchcraft against John Proctor’s wife as well as states her love for John Proctor. Throughout the story, the Proctor has major conflicts inflicted upon him, yet he still retreats back to his values. Arthur Miller demonstrates his self-respect, honesty, lack of forgiveness, and integrity in The Crucible to portray the corruptness of the Salem Witch Trials.

The court decides that those who confess shall be spared their lives and those who do not will be hanged. This reversed mentality irritates Proctor and he refuses for his wife to confess to witchery only to save herself. Instead, he asserts (in court) that Elizabeth has never told a lie in her life, “In her life, sir, she have never lied. There are them that cannot sing, and them that cannot weep- my wife cannot lie. I have paid much to learn it, sir” (Miller 103). Only when Judge Danforth questions her about John and Abigail’s affair, she lies to protect her husband’s reputation putting both her and her husband behind bars. Not only does Proctor’s physical being deteriorate while in prison, but so does his will to live. When he is brought out of jail and given the opportunity to confess one more time, he struggles with truth and deceit. Proctor and his wife are well aware that if he does not confess, he will be hanged. Yet, if he does confess, he will continue to raise his growing family through confession of a lie. The fatherly persona inside of Proctor justifies his will to live, but it pains him to even consider the idea of confessing to a lie. Once he brings himself to confess, John Proctor struggles to allow the court to document the evidence. Proctor questions “with a cold, cold horror at their efficiency: Why must it [his

John Proctor was a “farmer in his middle thirties… strong, even-tempered, and not easily led” (20). Proctor’s reputation was good and he was a well respected man around Salem. The play shows that Proctor’s past involved him having an affair with Abigail. Now in the present, Proctor is conflicted with the fear of being labeled as an adulterer for his past. Proctor’s fear weakens his morality in the court when he has to explain the situation to Judge Danforth. Proctor tells Danforth that he “has known her” (110) and that Abigail wishes to “dance with me (Proctor) on my wife's grave” (110). Although the fear of being labeled as an adulterer and being charged of lechery, Proctor believes that telling the truth is the right thing to do. Proctor realizes that the Salem witch trials have gone to far and are merely just attempts from Abigail to get Proctor all to herself. Proctor’s fear initially holds him back from telling the court the reason why Abigail is accusing everyone and acting strange. Later on the unveiling of his affair with Abigail results in the trials being questioned but it also fuels the deadly fate of

As a result of his foolish actions, Proctor’s affair drove Abigail to plot to get Proctor’s wife Elizabeth out of the picture so that she could take her place. She was intelligent enough to realize that if she accused the wife of a well-respected man of the village of conspiring with the devil, no one would believe and she would be thrown in jail for lying to the court. It was as if Abigail decided that if she filled the jails with people who were not as respected, no one would notice one more person passing through the courts. Abigail was driven by the hope that she and Proctor had this affair, that he made a sort of a promise to her. She thought that if Proctor did not have Elizabeth he would then love her instead, but John Proctor was intent on protecting his wife’s name no matter what the cost. He finally decides to speak the truth to the court of his affair in order to save Elizabeth.” I have known her, sir. I have known her. In the proper place where my beast are bedded. On the last night of my joy, some eight months past”. She used to serve me in my house, sir. I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name. You believe me, Mr. Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she