preview

The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Decent Essays
Open Document
Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is a play based on the real events of the Salem, Massachusetts witch trials of 1692. The wild “witch hunt” was based on false testimony and personal vendettas but, it also brought forth a need for a hero and n this story a tragic hero will arise. A tragic is a character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his own demise. In The Crucible the character of John Procter being a tragic hero has been a big debate for many years. Based on the definition of a tragic hero as well as information directly from The Crucible, it can be concluded that John Proctor is in fact a tragic hero. John Proctor plays a major role in the play and can easily be identified as a tragic hero. In the definition of a…show more content…
This can be interpreted as him saying that although internally and in his own soul he knows he is flawed, he prefers to keep his name respected and untarnished for his flaw and would rather die for witchcraft. This is a great example that proves John as the tragic hero because he is well respected in Salem but falls from grace due to a flaw that rides on his name and soul both before and after death. Another reason John Procter is seen as a tragic hero is that the hero’s flaw is an “error will physically and spiritually wound the tragic hero, eventually causing his death” (Handout). John’s flaw prevents him from testifying against Abigail in court for making up all her claims of witchcraft in Salem. This same inability of testifying against Abigail plays as one of the factors for John’s eventual death for witchcraft. If John did not carry this one tragic flaw he could have easily proven that Abigail was just “sporting” which in turn would have saved many lives including his own. This same idea that John’s tragic flaw is what spiritually hurts him can be seen when he is under suspicion for witchcraft and is asked to recite the Ten Commandments. John recites, “Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods, nor make unto thee any graven image. Thou shalt not take the name of the lord in vain; thou shalt have no other gods before me. (With some hesitation) Thou shalt remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy. (Pause. Then.) Thou shalt honor thy
Get Access
Related
Get Access