Sacrifice In The Crucible

The Tragedy of a Hero “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing themselves.” With these perplexing and baffling words, John Proctor’s sense of bravery of changing himself truly shines in Arthur Miller’s powerful play, The Crucible. The Crucible, portrays the Salem people and their beliefs in witchcraft that lead to citizens blaming others to protect themselves, progressing into the idea that if you are an accuser then you are safe. No other character expresses this type of courage, to falsely confess and admit his sins to the court, as much as John Proctor. He is a well-known farmer in the Salem community and minds his own business until his former mistress: Abigail Williams accuses people of witchcraft, including …show more content…
He goes to court and testifies but not to just get his wife back but all his friend’s wives back too. He tells Danforth, “ I have known her, sir. I have known her… She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might, for I thought softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it; I set myself entirely in your hands, I know you must see it now.” (110) During the Puritan times, it was forbidden for the people to commit adultery. When Proctor says, “ he has known her,” he basically left his innocence to prove that Abigail is making all of this up, all this nonsense over a love affair. By this point of the play Proctor changes tremendously from too afraid to even go to court to announcing to the court his darkest secret of all. This scene shows a transition between Proctor concerns about what others think to not caring to protect his loved ones. When Proctor gets the opportunity to be free as long as he turns others in, he yells to Danforth,” I have three children-how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?” (143) This quote explains that Proctor having “sold my friends” he means that he has been a chance to get out of the death penalty, but that would only leave with one choice left which is accusing other innocent people in the Puritan society. But instead of constantly lying to protect himself like how he did in the beginning of the play, Proctor, allows his children “to walk like men” and preserve his integrity by telling the truth. He has told the truth but that is the opposite of what the court wants to hear so he must be hanged. Proctor has signed himself to lies to being a witch and the court wants him to sign his name and the public will figure out that he is a “witch.” Proctor refuses and