Natchaya Zhou Natchaya Zhou (3B) Mr. Harris English 10(3B) Oct. 14.

2012 John Proctor is not Tragic Hero In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the author uses both direct and indirect description to form a well-developed character. There has always been a debate about whether John Proctor, a farmer is a tragic hero of The Crucible. In my opinion he is not. In fact in Millers The Crucible, John Proctor is not the tragic hero because he rebels against the government, dies to save his reputation and has an affair with Abigail Williams who is Reverend Parriss adopted daughter. First, in The Crucible Miller uses John Proctor to prove that he is not a tragic hero because he rebels against the government. It though can be seem that this

heroic move was solely based on personal reasons that of freeing his wife, Elizabeth. Before his wife was taken by the court he was scared to tell the truth, he didnt want to go to the court and confess his relationship with Abigail Williams, which would here indicated to the community that, perhaps, witch trial was false. PROCTOR, between his teeth: Good, then. Ill go. He starts for his rifle (Act 2, page 62) these lines indicates Proctors feelings of unwillingness, he only agree after Elizabeth, his wife is chained and forced to go to prison. When his wife was in prison, he decided to go take action, and confess in court his relationship with Abigail. Aye, naked! And the wind, Gods icy wind, will blow! (Act 2, page 81) In this quote, he felt metaphorically naked, his prided striped from him. Proctor needed to confess the

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fact that he betrayed his wife in order to save her. If he went against the court to help the community not solely because of his wife, it might have made him a tragic hero, but the fact that he cheated on his wife could not be ignored, and only confesses this when his own family is in trouble, lead to greater questioner public or civic its possibility. In conclusion, Millers first proved that John Proctor is not a tragic hero is his rebellion against the government. Second Miller uses Proctor to prove that he is not the tragic hero by showing that he dies for his reputation. Actually, audiences often ignore the reason he chose not to confess. He chose to rip the paper to save his name, not to save the village, in some greater sense of truth, or any other reason. John Proctor did agree to confess before the signature, I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. (Act 4, pg.136) In this line it clearly shows, John Proctor did agree to lie, and he realizes only changes his mind when he Because it is my name! His actions may be assumed as a heroic but its only purpose is to protect his name, his honor, but it serve no purpose when he has a pregnant wife, young children, and family. In Salem society, women do not have any ability to make enough money to feed the family, like Sarah Good, who was a widow and a social outcast that everyone looked down to. After Proctor took the heroic move, to die for his name, Elizabeth and her three children would have a very harsh life in Salem. Johns actions in saving his honor at the expense of making his family destitute, call his character seriously into question. As a result the second reason Miller used to prove John Proctor is not a tragic hero is his death to save his reputation.

Natchaya Zhou The last reason Miller uses to prove that John Proctor is not a tragic hero is his affair with Abigail Williams. The play, The Crucible starts out as extremely simple revenge. If Proctor hadnt had an affair with Abigail, she would never have thought of revenge, and innocent people would not have died. Abigail was young

nave, and John Proctor took advantage of this innocence. He introduced her into the unknown world and put knowledge in my heart (Act 1, page 24) Hyperbole was used in this quote, knowledge does not store inside heart, but brain. The knowledge was inside her heart because John Proctor was in her heart. Later Proctor wanted to walk away with no guilt, acting like nothing had happened. Abigail already fallen in love with him, during the play she even stabs herself to accuse Elizabeth. Abigail loved Proctor, their conversation Act 1 fully proves this statement, in tears (Act 1, page 24) And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? (Act 1, page 24) J ohn, pity me, pity me! (Act 1, page 24) The second quote is a hyperbole, the light from her eyes could not be torn, Miller used the word tear to emphasize the pain John Proctor brought to Abigail William. From these words and stage directions, it clearly proves Abigails love for John Proctor. These actions are normal for any girl who begs for love, but not for Abigail. Abigail is not any girl, she is a strikingly beautiful girl(Act 1, page 8) a girl with beauty was begging for pity, in tears. She loved him so much that she would have done anything to get him back. Proctor maintains relatively unequal relationship with Abigail. He started and he ended the relationship. His horrible break up with Abigail that led their relationship the whole village, and himself into catastrophe. To conclude, Miller showed that John Proctor was not a tragic hero through his affair with Abigail Williams.

Natchaya Zhou John Proctor is the tragic hero of The Crucible? No. After all three reasons

from above John Proctor was not a hero, and of course not a tragic hero. He was too selfish and self-confident to be a hero. Proctor only does what he think was right, and what he feel like doing, his movements only base on one condition: From John Proctors perspective. In conclusion in Millers The Crucible, the author shows that John Proctor is not the tragic hero through his rebellion against the government, his death for reputation, and his affair with Abigail Williams.

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