John Proctor: a Tragic Hero in "The Crucible"

John Proctor: a Tragic Hero in "The Crucible"

So, let's talk about Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible." You know, the character John Proctor really sticks out as your typical tragic hero. It's like watching someone you admire go from being all noble and respected to totally crumbling under pressure. I mean, his journey really shows what happens when you've got a major tragic flaw. Let's dig into this whole pride thing with Proctor and how it messes with him and eventually brings him down.

What Makes a Tragic Hero?

Aristotle had this idea about tragic heroes—they're usually folks of noble birth whose big mistake leads to their downfall. Well, John Proctor, who's just a farmer in Salem, Massachusetts, fits this mold perfectly. He's well-respected and all, but he’s also got some serious inner struggles going on that make him the perfect tragic hero type. And man, as the play goes on, you see how his pride becomes his biggest problem.

The Problem With Pride

Proctor's got this excessive pride that kind of blinds him to what's really happening. He just can't admit to his own screw-ups. It's like he's so caught up in keeping his good name that he won’t even confess to something he didn’t do—even if it might save his life! His reputation means everything to him, and that pride ends up leading him to make some bad choices.

The Fallout From His Flaw

This pride thing doesn’t just mess up Proctor’s life; it has huge consequences for others too. By refusing to admit any guilt, he not only sets himself up for execution but also indirectly causes more innocent folks to die. His inability to see the bigger picture makes everything worse—not just for him but for the whole town of Salem.

Wrestling With Guilt

Throughout the play, you can see how torn up Proctor is about his past mistakes. He's got a lot of guilt over his affair with Abigail Williams—a move that helped kick off the witch trials in the first place! This internal battle between wanting redemption and not being able to forgive himself keeps pushing the story forward. And let’s face it, who can’t relate? We all struggle with our own mistakes sometimes.

A Change in Character

As things progress, you notice Proctor changing big time. He shifts from being this proud guy who's stubborn as heck to someone who's ready to die for what he believes in—to keep his integrity intact. It’s pretty moving how he finally gets what his actions have done and accepts his flaws. This growth makes us root for him even more because it’s so relatable—he becomes real, you know?

Final Thoughts

In the end, John Proctor's biggest issue is that darn pride mixed with an inability to forgive himself. It drags him down and costs Salem a lot of innocent lives too. Looking at how Proctor changes throughout the play highlights just how important self-awareness is—and why we should be careful about letting our pride run wild. His story serves as a warning: think about your actions because they have consequences!

References

• Miller, A. (2003). The Crucible. Penguin Classics.
• Blythe, H., & Sweetwood-Mihelcic, C. (2018). Understanding The Crucible. Greenhaven Publishing LLC.
• Cunningham, L.S., & Reichert Powell, E.H., (Eds.). (2016). The Cambridge Companion to Arthur Miller. Cambridge University Press.
• Moss, L.A., & Wilson-Dickson, J.S. (2019). Examining "The Crucible": Critical Essays and Contexts. SAGE Publications.