Characteristics Of John Proctor In The Crucible

What are the characteristics of a good person? Is a good person one who always does the right, or moral thing, or one who has flaws and sins, but learns from mistakes and then acts to improve their character? With these questions in mind, the reader is introduced to the character of Proctor Proctor in the play, The Crucible. Proctor is a lowly farmer who lives on the outskirts of the close Puritan village of Salem. He is a family man who participated in the church but did not always agree with its practices. Even though he may not have done everything according to the strict expectations of the time, he was still a well-respected man in the society. Even though the reader is shown actions by Proctor Proctor that probably would not be a characteristic of a good person, there is still a very convincible argument by the evidence in the text, that he really is a good person. Proctor Proctor is …show more content…
He had an affair with Abigail Williams when his wife was sick. Obviously, this act is completely illegal due to the seriousness of religion within the Puritan society. Abigail, a servant of the Proctor family, was kicked out of the house by Elizabeth Proctor after she found out about Abigail and her husband’s relations. After this altercation, Elizabeth turned on Proctor and their household was filled with tension. Not until after the plot was unfolded in the play, did Elizabeth and Proctor really get over the mistake Proctor made and the cold house Elizabeth Proctor kept. Another way the reader can see the bad characteristics of John Proctor is when he curses the Lord, in the water, where he confesses. Reverend Parris and Danforth are persecuting Proctor with questions of his accusations of witchcraft when he finally if tired of all the childishness with the trials and curses Gods name and states he has seen the Devil and will burn in