A Characterization of a Tragic Hero in John Proctor in The Crucible, a Play by Arthur Miller

John Proctor, a clear cut tragic hero. Tragic heroes are broadly portrayed as literary characters who make an error of judgment or have a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy. Making the tragic hero suffer an experience of inner struggle as a result of this flaw. Another necessary part of the tragic hero is that he or she has a complete reversal of fortune brought by the hero's own flaw. John Proctor's fatal flaw was his great amount of pride, and that slowly tied a series of unfortunate events which eventually made John Proctor.

Proctor's life completely turned upside down when Abigail accused his loved ones, who then were sent to jail, or executed. Unfortunately, Proctor dies for a crime he did not commit. At the end of every tragic play, the audience must feel pity or remorse for the deceased hero. John Proctor in Arthur Miller's play, "The Crucible" meets the definition of a tragic hero because of his fatal flaws, affair with Abigail Williams, and his pride. Not to mention that John Proctor has been presented to the audience to be containing all the elements of a classic tragic hero.

John has lots of faith in God but little in humans. He knows that mankind is good but he also knows that they are weak and imperfect. Therefore, the affair with Abigail is his downfall because it provokes the witch trials. Abigail doesn't want to believe that the affair is over between her and John. Abigail provides evidence with when she said, "John- I am waitin' for you every night." (Act 1, Page 469) as she grasps for Proctor's hand before he can release her. Displaying that Abigail continues to thirst for Proctor. Abigail relentlessly follows her statement with, "Give me a soft word, John. A soft word. You come five miles to see a silly girl fly? I know you better" (Act 1, Page 469).

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Abigail portrays that her concerted desire is entirely on Proctor and nobody but Proctor. The affair also caused Elizabeth Proctor to distrust her husband, John, who for several months was trying to get into her good graces and is tired of her suspicions. He tells her, "Spare me! You forget nothin' and forgive nothin'. Learn charity, woman. I have gone tiptoe in this house all seven month since she is gone. I have not moved from there to there without I think to please you, and still an everlasting funeral marches. I cannot speak but I am doubted, every moment judged for lies, as though I come into a court when I come into this house!" (Act 2, Page 289).

This illustrates John's determination in attempting to redeem himself for his sin. Because John cannot control his desire and resist temptation, his life is being destroyed by the jealousy and need for revenge of Abigail, indicating the beginning of his downfall and road to becoming a tragic hero.

Another one of John Proctor's leading default was his individual pride. John's honor and good name is what kept him from confessing to adultery, which would have most likely, halted the witch trials. Elizabeth asked him to go into the court and tell them that Abigail is fraud, but he refused. He said, “I know I cannot keep it. I say I will think on it!" (Act 2, Page 489). Here John angers because he is aware of his wife being in the right. Proctor knows it's his duty to speak the truth but Proctor fears for the reputation of his irreplaceable name.

Proctor suddenly recognized that he could save his wife by making his relationship with Abigail public, and therefore expose her motives, but his pride keeps him from doing so. Finally, though, Proctor abandoned his concern for his reputation which enabled him to admit his sin in order to save his wife. "A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I beg you, sir, I beg you see her what she is . . . She thinks to dance with me on my wife's grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore's vengeance, and you must see it, I set myself entirely in your hands "(Act 3, Page 519).

His pride just like his wife was justified because of the time he lived in, his actions were frowned upon and he felt bad about them so admitting them was an act to be proud of instead of not admitting it because of his own pride. Proctor sacrifices his reputation in order to save his wife and stop the court proceedings. Proctor preserves his integrity by being honest. In act four Proctor cries with his whole soul, "Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!" (Act 4, Page 538). Overall Proctor is unwilling to blacken his friends' reputations—and he clings to his own reputation of loyalty and integrity. So, he throws his confession away.

The court gives him with an ultimatum with which he can plead guilty and live or be hanged with the others who didn't confess. After speaking with Elizabeth, John decides that he wants to live and surrender to a confession. After he signs the confession, he tears it up after learning that Danforth means to hang his confession on the church doors. As Reverend Parris and Hale are about to object, John pronounces, "For now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with, but enough to keep it from such dogs." (Act 4, Page 539).

Referring to all of the judges and court officials who keep trying to get him to confess to the sin of witchcraft. He is not guilty of witchcraft--he knows this, and anyone who knows him knows this--and yet, the courts and judges insist, based on the testimony of the cowardly Marry Warren, that he is in fact a witch. Despite the testimony he would rather die for the greater good, then ruin his name and the names of other innocent prisoners. Elizabeth doesn't try to stop him either knowing that he needed undergo this, tearfully saying to Reverend Hale, “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!" (Act 4, Page 539).

Elizabeth utters this significant phrase because it is the reason that she isn't stepping in and pleading for John to confess in order to save his life. She is standing there, watching her own husband go to the gallows to hang, and doesn't beg for him to reconsider; instead she, says that he finally "has his goodness" and that she wouldn't dare interfere with that. This proves that John is trying to do good, yet his misfortunes keep coming, which is another quality that aids John in becoming the tragic hero of the play.

In conclusion, John Proctor is the most definitely the one that had to pay the most because of his fatal flaw. His pride just like his wife was justified because of the time period he lived in, his actions were frowned upon and he felt bad about them so admitting them was an act to be proud of instead of not admitting it because of his own pride. John Proctor is definitely the one that had to pay the most because of his fatal flaw. Subsequently Proctor abandoned his concern for his reputation which enabled him to admit his sin in order to save his wife. His last act which was accepting the death sentence instead of lying and getting to live was what turned his character around and the complete opposite of excessive pride.

The decision between life and death was his crucible, his place or occasion of severe test or trial and the decision of dying is what redeemed his character, what separated him from living a miserable life filled with faults against dying as a martyr that wanted justice. He preserves his pride and dignity and declares the truth at the same time, dying as a man with flaws yet a good man, allowing the readers the ability to categorize him as a tragic hero.

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