John Proctor's Redemption by Sin in The Crucible

Man’s Sin Can Set Him Free

A Puritan society to those who have or are accused of committing a sin can be a living hell. The Crucible, by Arthur Miller tells the tale of a Puritan community in Salem that is struck with witchcraft. During this time many are unjustly accused of witchcraft. Many refuse to confess to the act they never committed and die because of it. John Proctor, the protagonist of the play is hit hard when his wife, Elizabeth is accused. The accuser Abigail Williams the antagonists, who wants his wife dead because she is in love with John. He is determined to save his wife and in the end makes a dangerous choice to tell the truth. His confession brings confusion and tension by the end of the play.

John Proctor needs to prove his wife’s innocence to halt her approaching death. In order to do this he has to provide crucial evidence that the jury full of girls are liars. It’s a hard task to take on considering some of the accused have confessed to witchcraft. Therefore making the girl’s testimonies more believable. “Abigail Williams told you it had naught to do with witchcraft She told me the day you came sir”, she uses her word to damn others. Proctor tells of a conversation he had with Abigail in private. Now that Elizabeth has been accused he will do whatever necessary to get her back.

Proctor makes the decision to come out to the judge and spill the truth. He goes to to the with a friend, Giles Corey to prove the innocence of those accused including Elizabeth. While there confessing to the cour John confesses to his biggest sin adultery. “I have known her, sir. I have known her”, this gives evidence that Abigail isn’t as truthful as she should be, now that she is a member of the court. Adultery is a big sin to commit as a Puritan, John confessed his sin to the court to prove that there are liars among the court. In the process he also damns himself to jail for his sin.

By the end Proctor can be seen as a good man or a hero. He has confessed to lechery, knowing he’ll go to jail for this. “I have confessed myself!… God sees my name: God knows my how black my sins are”, he has confessed to his unholy sin. John Proctor admitted to the one thing many other Puritans wouldn’t. He does it in order to save the lives of those accused but more specifically his wife. He put his name and life on the line to save Elizabeth and the others.

John Proctor felt determined to save his wife. He tells of the time Abigail confessed to him it had naught to do with witchcraft. Showing to the reverend that there were liars amongst him. Proctor risks it all and tells of his sin, adultery in the end making him the hero. He put his life on the line to prove that the accused and his wife were innocent and good people.He did everything he could to save those people. By the end Proctor’s truth has braught about tension and doubt to the little town of Salem.