Aristotle argues that a tragic hero is, “who is not eminently good and just, whose misfortune is brought about not by vice or depravity, but by some error or frailty.” In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, the protagonist; John Proctor, is led to his misfortune through his fatal sin of adultery with his former slave; Abigail Williams. Proctor, a well-respected and powerful man in town, feels the guilt with what he had done with his wife Elizabeth, so he repents his sin in court by blackening his own good name. In John Proctor, Miller shows when a person comes to terms with his or her own tragic flaw, they can still prove that they’re a good moral character through honesty, love, and loyalty. John’s good moral character and loving personality
…show more content…
More than anything else, it is about how one treats other people. This is illustrated when Proctor clamps his jaw to keep from weeping as he confesses: “I have known her sir.” (115) right after he roars “It is a whore!” (115) at Abigail. At this time, Proctor’s “voice is about to break, and his shame great” and claims that his “wife, dear good wife...is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one!” (115-116). Danforth and Hale are astonished at his confession, denoting that even though Proctor did not go to church, he still spoke “God sees everything, I know it now.” (115). Here, he combines his honesty, love, and loyalty towards his wife. He accepts his sin, lowers his eyes, which shows that he truly regrets his mistake, demonstrating his acceptance of the committed sin. John finally realizes that his wife “only thought to save his name” (119) when she lies to Danforth about his lechery. Elizabeth shows her selflessness which finally clicks in Proctor’s mind. She was always his backbone, despite his deceit. His loyalty avails for the the townspeople as well, “Let Rebecca go like a saint; for me it is fraud!” (145). Good people always look for the good of others. Rebecca was a good woman all her life, and John sees this opportunity as a way to pay for his sin by doing someone
More than anything else, it is about how one treats other people. This is illustrated when Proctor clamps his jaw to keep from weeping as he confesses: “I have known her sir.” (115) right after he roars “It is a whore!” (115) at Abigail. At this time, Proctor’s “voice is about to break, and his shame great” and claims that his “wife, dear good wife...is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one!” (115-116). Danforth and Hale are astonished at his confession, denoting that even though Proctor did not go to church, he still spoke “God sees everything, I know it now.” (115). Here, he combines his honesty, love, and loyalty towards his wife. He accepts his sin, lowers his eyes, which shows that he truly regrets his mistake, demonstrating his acceptance of the committed sin. John finally realizes that his wife “only thought to save his name” (119) when she lies to Danforth about his lechery. Elizabeth shows her selflessness which finally clicks in Proctor’s mind. She was always his backbone, despite his deceit. His loyalty avails for the the townspeople as well, “Let Rebecca go like a saint; for me it is fraud!” (145). Good people always look for the good of others. Rebecca was a good woman all her life, and John sees this opportunity as a way to pay for his sin by doing someone