The Theme of Self-Reliance in the Character of John Proctor by Arthur Miller in the Crucible

By the end of The Crucible, John Proctor has become a self-reliant man, knowing that he will be hated by the town's people, but completely satisfied with his actions as they are his version of righteousness and holiness and he believes that he has the possibility of salvation and greatness. His actions were spontaneous and instinctive, as originally he had calculated out his actions in order to save his life and his good name. However, at the court once Abigail and the girls begin their pretending, Proctor sacrifices his reputation in order to attempt to show Abby's true intentions and goals. At the signing of the confession, Proctor refuses to allow it to be published and finally declares himself to be not guilty of witchcraft, thus securing the death sentence even though he finally released all his burdens and feels free.

"To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, that is genius." (page 19) By Emerson's standards, by the end of The Crucible, Proctor has become a genius. He can clearly see that everything occurring in the court is a pretense, and believes that the others within the court can see it as well, declaring "For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud-God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!" (page 111)

Throughout the scene in the court house, Hale's belief in the validity of the trials steadily wavered, and after this declaration, his faith completely wanes and he begins to hold the court in contempt, recognizing that Proctor is innocent and that Abby was using the court to achieve her own agenda. At the same time, Paris knew that the court was invalid and artificial, but he was too concerned with preserving his reputation and monetary gains to bother with that. "You are pulling Heaven down and raising up a whore!" (pg 111)

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Emerson declares that a self-reliant man should show his beliefs through his actions rather than simply words. “Your genuine action will explain itself, and will explain your other genuine actions. Your conformity explains nothing." (page 25) If everyone were to simply try and conform to the system, no progress would be made and others would merely be confused by actions when you were genuine. Proctor initially tries to save Elizabeth by going through the court using Mary Warren and her confession, however by the end, Mary backs away in her cowardice and Proctor chooses to expose himself and his affair with Abby, finally declaring “I have rung the bell of my good name-you will believe me, Mr. Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one!" (page 103).

This declaration is a desperate but genuine attempt by Proctor to save the life of Elizabeth, a last resort where Proctor finally releases all of his harbored burdens into the world for everyone to see. Proctor's finally actions during the confession explain his initial ones by confirming that the girls really were pretending, and that he never was truly guilty of witchcraft.

You are the only one who can choose how to live your life and be at peace. This is the declaration Emerson makes in the quote "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles." (page 38) Proctor begins the book by always trying to hide from himself, pretending that nothing happened between him and Abby, but by the end, he has embraced the idea that by following his morals he will be happier with himself and feel like he has a better chance at salvation.

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