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Madeline Bell

Ms. Larson

English 3, Period 3

7 October 2015

The Hardships of Being a Sinning Saint

Can a holy man who sinned ever be forgiven? This is a commonly debatable theory in the

play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller. In a town of jealousy, hysteria, and accusations one man,

John Proctor, will face trials for some of his risque actions. John Proctor proves to be a saint

when he confesses his sins, dies for the truth, and keeps faith for his family during the hardships.

John Proctor gets in a rough spot when an affair is conjured between him and his servant,

Abigail Williams. Once it is ended and and the two run into each other they have a suspicious

conversation. Abigail hints to having another rondayvoo when John threatens, I will cut off my

hand before ill ever reach for you again (23). John says this out of embarrassment because he

does not want the the infidelity to be revealed. while being accused he finally confesses to the

court, I have known her, sir. I have known her (110). john admits the adultery act in order to

prove abigail whore. By doing this he blackens his name and confesses his sins.

After confessing the judge brings in the wife of John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor.

Danforth, the judge wants Elizabeth to admit to Johns adultery. In a cover up to save her

husband she testifies, My husband - is a goody man man, sir (113). By saying this to the court

she is protecting her husband but also she is giving him forgiveness. Elizabeth does not realize
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that she hung her husband by lying. Once the court hears that they summon the hanging for him.

When Hale is remorseful by telling John that he will die and hang. John stays strong and replies,

I can. And theres your first marvel, that I can. You have made your magic now, for now I do

think I see more shred of goodness in John Proctor (240). John has felt bad and guilty about the

affair and when he gets questioned for being accused of witchery he holds his ground and never

lies to live. He dies for his truth.

Throughout the play John is always trying to please, support, and protect his family.

When he and Elizabeth are talking after he gets home from town she is icy towards him. He

attempts to show affection when he is explaining, [He] mean[s] to please [her] (50). Even this

is still hard for Elizabeth the grasp the idea of forgiveness. He is showing progress and

expressing a desire to work through the affair. His name is brought up in court for suspicion of

witchery. They make him sign his name to his confession to show the town he is not to be

executed. When he is being made to do so he reflects on his children's future and decides, [He]

[has] three children - how may [he] teach them to walk like men in the world, and [he] sold his

friends (143). He tries to give his kids a good name to be known by. With the blackened name

the kids could be ridiculed and have a hard time living with Johns consequences.

John is a saint because of the effort he puts into his family, the courage to confess the act

of lechery, and the power to die for the truth. throughout the play he shows a great passion to

prove the truth to the town. In the end proving truth ended in John being hung.