Character Analysis of John Proctor in The Crucible

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Who is John Proctor?

John Proctor is the most central figure of the play, The Crucible which is written by Arthur Miller, a famous American Playwright. The personality of John Proctor is marked by his all-the-time-anger and some positive versus negative sides of his character. John Proctor was lecherous, hypocrite but his stubbornness turns him into a man of steel who will sacrifice his life to put a full stop on the witch-trials and to secure his good name. 

A Lecherous Person

John Proctor is in his thirty when he takes liberty with a seventeen years old girl, Abigail. Proctor remains proud about his good name and reputation in his society but the revealing of such shameful act in public might destroy his good image in his society. This event takes place off-stage in the play but it has a significant impact in the story. We are told that it all started when Proctor's wife got seriously ill and the services of Abigail Williams were rendered as a maid. When Proctor is asked to recall the Ten Commandments, he forgets the tenth one which is related to adultery that "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife". Isn't that ironical?

Is John Proctor really a Hypocrite?

John Proctor does not share about his illicit relations to his wife and even to his society. Which can be counted in wearing two set of faces. It is also noteworthy that when Abigail reveals that they were merely dancing and there is no such a thing as witchcraft, Proctor replies while widening his smile, 

Ah, you're wicked yet aren't y'! […] You'll be clapped in the stocks before you're twenty. 

This is a clear indication that Proctor is greatly impressed by the hypocritical behaviour of Abigail. But acting so makes him a hypocrite throughout the play? Well, not exactly! He reveals about his adulterous relation in the court so that he may get his wife out of the prison. But this pretty much blots his good name in his society. 

John Proctor is a Man of Steel

When his wife is arrested for practising witch-craft on a doll, John Proctor is set towards the course of his redemption. Although Elizabeth Proctor is saved from being persecuted because of her pregnancy, John Proctor decides to stand for the people like Giles Corey who was stone-pressed to death. Also, he refuses to sign his name on the false confession because firstly, "It is a fraud. " and secondly, it will ruin his reputation. He tears up the confession in front of the authoritative Danforth which leads to his tragic finale and he is executed. In the last two acts, John Proctor proves to be a man of steel who fights with indescribable bravery for his wife, his executed friends and his good name. Elizabeth alludes to her husband's victory, 

He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him.

Conclusionary Remarks

John Proctor, though he may have a blotted history, but he makes a good history for himself as well as for the people who sacrificed their lives for retaining their names through his tragic departure. 

References and Suggested Works

1. Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008, November 11). John Proctor in The Crucible. Retrieved September 8, 2020, from https://use.shmoop.com/crucible/john-proctor.html
2. https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/crucible/character/john-proctor/
3. https://www.123helpme.com/essay/John-Proctor-A-Character-Analysis-212125
4. https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/c/the-crucible/character-analysis/john-proctor
5. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-crucible/characters/john-proctor
6. https://schoolworkhelper.net/the-crucible-john-proctor-character-analysis/