John Proctor Character Analysis Essay Sample

As the Bible states, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2). Arthur Miller’s The Crucible demonstrates the tragic consequences of sin through the character of Proctor. Known as an upstanding citizen, Proctor’s pride derives from his success and place in Puritan society. However, the pride he drew from his solid reputation contributes to his tragic flaw of hubris, leading to a series of prideful and self-serving decisions. These decisions led to his eventual demise; the resolution of his internal conflict led to his physical death but also his salvation. Proctor’s pride damns him, from the decision to engage in the illicit affair to the lies told to preserve his reputation. Ultimately, his soul is saved by his act of integrity, though his prideful actions cost him his life.

Proctor’s pride renders him susceptible to immoral acts because he believes himself to be above human temptations. Proctor angrily reacts to Abigail’s pleas during Act I, “Abby, you‘ll put it out of mind. I‘ll not be comin‘ for you more...You know me better” (21). Although Proctor has clearly committed adultery, he still regards himself as an ethical person without fault. His pride and arrogance are evidenced by the hypocritical comment, “you know me better.” Abigal expresses familiarity with his character and failings, but he refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing because of the pride that blinds him. Proctor does not seem to know himself, as the emergence of his internal conflict begins with a part of him wanting to believe he still upholds the well-respected image everyone knows, while struggling with deep shame and regret. Proctor continues to deny the reality of sin by admonishing Abigail, “But I will cut off my hand before I ever reach for you again...we never touched, Abby” (22). Proctor goes so far as to deny the affair ever occurred, as he appears unable to accept that he committed a sin against the commandments Puritans know by heart. Internally, Proctor seems to know he has gone astray, as he would cut off his own limb before “ever reaching for [Abigail] again.” He immediately denies the prospect by saying they never touched in the first place, essentially disregarding Abigail's feelings and accusations for the sake of his ego. The illicit affair threatens his pride. To preserve his pride, Proctor still sees himself as a victim of Abigail’s seduction.

Subsequently, Proctor goes to great lengths to protect his public reputation by deceptive manipulation. Proctor treats Elizabeth harshly after she grows upset with him about the affair, “You will not judge me more, Elizabeth…Let you look to your own improvement before you go to judge your husband anymore” (52). Proctor displays an inclination to hurt his wife in order to safeguard his secret, as he would rather paint himself as the victim instead of owning up to his actions. He uses manipulation to make Elizabeth believe that she needs to look at her own imperfections rather than his deception. His words may only seem like emotional abuse alone, but his obsession with maintaining his name and pride for the public puts Elizabeth at risk in the future. Elizabeth denies that Proctor committed the sin of adultery in response to Danforth’s questioning, unaware that Proctor confessed beforehand: “She only thought to save my name!”(105). Due to the manipulation and lies Proctor told Elizabeth to save his name, Elizabeth, in turn, tries to preserve her husband's name by compromising her own integrity. However, her decision proves to damn Proctor emotionally instead of saving his name, as he is now in a situation where he cannot make up for his sins. If Proctor had not told a series of lies out of his selfish nature, he would have protected his wife instead of his reputation. The consequences of putting his pride before others and victimizing Elizabeth with manipulation lead to the tragic ending for Proctor’s character.

 In the final act, Proctor regains a nature of virtue through his integrity, but his pride ceases to save him. Proctor denies the signing of a confessional document from Danforth that would be displayed to the public: “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life. Because I lie and sign myself to lies!” (133). Irony lays in the fact that Proctor wouldn’t sign the document stating he saw the devil when it could be noted figuratively that Proctor couldn’t save his name because of devil-like lustful temptations. It is likely Proctor would have signed the fake confession prior to his moral epiphany, as it would have benefited him and ended the hysteria. However, Proctor breaks his usual character by the end of the play, realizing every sin he has committed and the sorrowful man he has become. He cannot bear to live on with another guilty lie, as his name has already been severely tarnished under God. The guilt and remorse he carries for his actions allow him to perform an act of integrity; he decides to die for the truth. His soul is saved by his noble sacrifice and admitting to all he has done, but the damnation caused by his pride could not be undone.

Elizabeth refuses to protest Proctor’s decision of death when asked to go after him by Hale, “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him” (134). Throughout the whole of the play, Proctor continuously suffers from a “disgraced” soul, as his lack of virtue caused him to commit the sin of adultery and lie numerous times. He suffers from the tragic flaw of hubris. His hubris exists at an unconscious level and manifests itself in his refusal to admit his mistakes. Whether death can redeem Proctor for his mistakes is debatable, but it is certain that Proctor’s newfound probity and ability to adhere to what he believes in saves him from dying a dishonest man. As his own wife stated, she cannot take his “goodness” away from him, as he has been fighting for it ever since he committed the affair. Proctor’s pride may have damned him, but his humility saved his character.