The Crucible: John Proctor as a tragic hero

Knoop

Sarena Knoop Mrs. Cox English 10 4 September 2014 John Proctor - Tragic Hero A tragic hero is a very favored person that suffers from a downfall which leads to their death. John Proctor like many others is a tragic hero. Proctor is a very respected man in Salem but he also has a few flaws that have proved him to be a tragic hero which are prideful, lustful, and well respected. Later in the play The Crucible, Proctor realizes his flaws and tries to fix them but it is too late. One of Proctors tragic flaws is that he was prideful. While Proctor is in jail, his wife Elizabeth tries to convince him to sign off on his innocents, but his pride gets in the way and he was hanged. One of the things Proctor says to prove his pride fullness is, "I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough!" (Miller 142). This part in the play is a very good example showing that John Proctor is a tragic hero. The quote explains to us that he knows what he did wrong, but he is also prideful about his name being ruined when that's all he has. Another example is when Proctor said, "Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! 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?" (Miller 143). Proctor realizes that he is trying to keep his name clean, so that his kids do not have to be judged for it. Proctor finds it easier to die for his name, then live and be judged everywhere he goes. As an adult Proctor had to make those decisions for the better which led to his death, but Proctor is prideful was one of many. A second tragic flaw that Proctor has is lust. Proctor lusts after his house servant while his wife is sick. Abigail then states, "I know how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever i come near! Or did I dream that? Its she put me out, you cannot pretend it were you. I saw your face when she put me out, and you loved me then and you do now!" (Miller 22). Abigail states that she and Procter were together and that they had feelings for one another while Elizabeth was ill. Proctors lust is one of his big burdens in his life, but he is aware of his mistakes and admits it. Procter then says, "Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby" (Miller 23). This quote is clear, Proctor realizes what he did wrong and now trying to change. Proctor is trying to move on but Abby is still in love with Proctor. Lust was one big one, but it all comes together. Lastly, Proctor is a tragic hero because of how respected he is in Salem. John Proctor was very well known in Salem. In Act one Arthur Miller states, "Proctor, respected and even feared in Salem, has come to regard himself as a kind of fraud" (Miller 20). Proctor then states towards Putman, "You cannot command Mr. Parris. We vote by name in this society, not by acreage" (Miller 28). John Procter is showing his true colors when he states his objection to Putman. Proctor is like a leader in Salem. John Proctors tragic flaws result in his death by being prideful, lustful, and well respected. These things resulted in Proctors death, and that's what makes John Proctor a tragic hero.