John Proctor's Character Development in The Crucible Essay Sample

John Proctor is Arthur Miller’s major character in “The Crucible.” We learned about Proctor throughout the play, but we did not see him change considerably. We initially see John Proctor in the play when he heads over to see Abigail Williams whom he had an affair with. Proctor is an unconventional thinker; he does not believe the nonsense that society tells its people. He does not believe in witchcraft which makes him an intriguing character during the play. John’s wife Elizabeth was accused of witchcraft by Abigail Williams, when she tries to get revenge on him for the promises he broke. 

As the reader can clearly see while reading the play John Proctor is a profoundly unconventional thinker. It is coherent that Proctor does not believe in witchcraft and likes to develop his own opinions about the stories he is told. As Proctor states, “If the girl’s a saint now, in my view it is not easy to prove she’s fraud and the town gone so silly” (Act II). When Proctor was having a conversation with Elizabeth he denounced the town for losing their minds because they believe that the girls are being controlled. He also states in the quote that the girls are regarded like saints because they have taken charge of the trials. Proctor is personally involved in the accusations because his wife Elizabeth is accused as a witch. This can be considered as a sign of revenge reason being John and Abigail Williams had an affair which Proctor eventually broke off. As Abigail tries to sympathize with Proctor she states, “Give me a word, John. A soft word”, as to which John responds with, “No, no, Abby. That’s done with” (Act I). It is intelligible what Proctor no longer wants to have a relationship with Abigail. Throughout the play John Proctor tries to convince the town that the girl’s revelations are completely erroneous. 

The struggle for John Proctor in “The Crucible” is when he has to fight against what he has been accused of. As readers, we learn that Proctor is one of the few sensible people in the town of Salem. As Proctor states, “I speak my own sins: I cannot judge another. I have no tongue for it” (Act III). In the quote John affirms that the only person you can truly judge is yourself. We perceive this throughout the play when the people of Salem try to judge the girls. As Proctor states earlier on in the play, “We vote by name in this society, not by acreage” (Act I). This statement is profoundly accurate to how people are judged in the town. Salem does not like to look at the facts of a case; it would preferably judge someone from their past. This is why the girls did not get in trouble after all of their accusations. 

At the end of the play we find out that John Proctor is one of the townspeople who was executed. When Proctor talks about not confessing he states, “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 III). We can depict from this statement John Proctor would more presently give his life away than to have his reputation ruined. This in addition provides us an insight into how Salem was run, the reputation of your name mattered since that is what everyone was judged on. Elizabeth makes a statement about her husband's good name when she states, “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” (Act III). Since Proctor did not confess to the crimes he is accused of, he cannot have the reputation of his name taken away. If he was to confess his name would be printed out and placed on the exterior of the church. Even if he was to live after this it would be no favorable life since everyone would have their backs turn against him. His wife Elizabeth, has her life spared since she is pregnant which is what John truly cares about. When her date of execution comes around the Salem witch trials were abolished, so she is capable of living the rest of her life in peace. 

Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” and John Proctor’s story presents us an insight into how humans do not consistently exercise their common sense. As a reader you have learned that you should obtain your own opinions about what you hear since not everyone is always right. The Salem witch trials had an effect on the people in Salem because it informed them that a good lie is more convincing than the truth. For John Proctor no matter how much he tried he would either lose his name or his life. For some people losing your reputation counts more than your life.