The Crucible essay

October 1, 2008 Jessica Finne
Tags: The Crucible

Jessica Finne

Ms. Bazinet

Honors English III

30 September 2008

 

 

                Human weakness and strength figure largely in who John Proctor is as a man, a husband, a citizen, and as a friend. John Proctor is a very strong, major character in The Crucible by Arthur Miller. The reader sees many different aspects of John’s personality as he or she progresses through the story. Throughout the story, the reader learns how much John Proctor struggles internally and externally. He tries to be an honest and sincere man but certain occurrences make him weak.

                John Procter loves his wife, Elizabeth Proctor, dearly. His sexual desires, however, conquer his strong morals and he has an affair with the Proctor’s servant, Abigail Williams. When Elizabeth finds out of this affair, she immediately fires Abigail but find it in her heart to forgive John. John struggles to “keep his good name” and deal with this “sinful act.”

                He knows that Abigail and the other children are pretending that they are being possessed by the devil. He wants to stop it but he cannot. Proctor does not receive the motivation he needs until Elizabeth is accused of having interaction with the devil. After his wife is accused, he convinces, and somewhat manipulates, Mary Warren, one of the children, to tell the court that the children are pretending. This goes wrong, however, and he is accused of contempt of the court. In order to live, he must confess that he has seen the devil. He cannot do this. His “good name” is already gone after confessing to lechery. The emotions inside him, however, of anger, sadness, jealous, and confusion, overtake him and he cannot finish his confession. He cannot sign his name for the whole village to see. It is a lie and he will not post lies. He is no longer strong. He has come extremely vulnerable as he confesses everything he feels. John proctor is then hung but he dies with “his goodness.”

                Proctor is a complex character. His strength is admirable but if his conscience is no clear, he finds it hard to be strong. He loves but sometimes his desires get the best of him and he makes poor decisions. He is very intelligent but he does not think everything through before he takes action. His internal conflicts bother him and he only rests peacefully if he does not feel guilty of sin. This is why he agreed to die. He agreed because he would hang with his pride, a clear conscience, and his “goodness.”

 

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One Comment Add your own

• 1. riekenffxi  |  October 24, 2008 at 2:49 am

  i like how you focused so much on his relationship with his wife. i appreciate that you support his strengths and weaknesses talking about it. good job:)

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