In literature, a dynamic character is a character that “changes significantly as a result of events, conflicts, or other forces.” In Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, John Proctor is a dynamic character because he learns to forgive himself for his sins after facing challenges and his trials in court. In forgiving himself, Proctor forfeits his life in return for preserving the dignity of his name and saving the honesty of his convicted friends. John Proctor first appears in The Crucible during Act I when Abigail yells at the girls to not speak a word about the dancing in the woods. He is known to the townspeople as respectable and confident person who prides himself on exposing hypocrites. Arthur Miller himself describes John Proctor as having
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As a response to his wife being jailed for witchcraft, Proctor enters Act III determined to take up the challenge and prove that the girls are frauds. Once Proctor begins losing leverage over the court case after Abby and the girls discredit Mary Warren’s testimony, Proctor reveals the lechery he committed with Abby to prove that Abby is not the harmless, innocent girl the court thought she was. Danforth, surprised by these accusations, urges Proctor to elaborate. Proctor responds with, “I have known her, sir. I have known her… A man will not cast away his name.” (115). This is an enormous change from before, as he hurts his reputation regardless of the outcome by saying that he himself is a hypocrite. This action also helps lessen the weight of his sins because he publicly admits that he sinned, allowing him to forgive himself slightly. Even with his confession to lechery, Proctor is not able to convince the judges and is thrown into jail. In Act IV, Hale pleads for Elizabeth to help her husband confess to witchcraft so that he will not hang, so she goes to have a talk with Proctor. During their talk, Elizabeth confesses to Proctor, “Only be sure of this, for I know it now: Whatever you will do, a good man does it… It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery.” (143). Elizabeth now fully supports Proctor in his choice to confess or not. She also admits that she herself was …show more content…
Gradually, through tests and his trial, he learns how to forgive himself, ultimately culminating in the tearing of the paper and saving both his friends from sin and his good
As a response to his wife being jailed for witchcraft, Proctor enters Act III determined to take up the challenge and prove that the girls are frauds. Once Proctor begins losing leverage over the court case after Abby and the girls discredit Mary Warren’s testimony, Proctor reveals the lechery he committed with Abby to prove that Abby is not the harmless, innocent girl the court thought she was. Danforth, surprised by these accusations, urges Proctor to elaborate. Proctor responds with, “I have known her, sir. I have known her… A man will not cast away his name.” (115). This is an enormous change from before, as he hurts his reputation regardless of the outcome by saying that he himself is a hypocrite. This action also helps lessen the weight of his sins because he publicly admits that he sinned, allowing him to forgive himself slightly. Even with his confession to lechery, Proctor is not able to convince the judges and is thrown into jail. In Act IV, Hale pleads for Elizabeth to help her husband confess to witchcraft so that he will not hang, so she goes to have a talk with Proctor. During their talk, Elizabeth confesses to Proctor, “Only be sure of this, for I know it now: Whatever you will do, a good man does it… It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery.” (143). Elizabeth now fully supports Proctor in his choice to confess or not. She also admits that she herself was …show more content…
Gradually, through tests and his trial, he learns how to forgive himself, ultimately culminating in the tearing of the paper and saving both his friends from sin and his good