John Proctor Dynamic Character Essay

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A dynamic character is a character that undergoes a personal development and change, whether through a gradual process or a crisis. Although the change may be sudden, it is expected based on the story’s events. Some dynamic characters learn a lesson, like Eddie did in The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Some develop a new philosophical understanding of the world, some become rebellious, and some find aspects of their own personality that they didn’t know were there. In The Crucible, the characters Reverend Hale, Reverend Parris, and John Proctor are dynamic characters that undergo important and life changing experiences.
John Proctor is a dynamic character that changes to a person that admits his mistakes and takes the fall for other people.
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In the beginning of the play, John is sorry about the affair and mainly wants Abigail to forget about it so he does not get in trouble. A quote from John Proctor: “Abby I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched Abby” (Miller 23). The quote shows that he denies what he did because it was wrong, and he also doesn’t want anyone to know so he doesn’t get condemned for adultery. But, at the end of the play, John Proctor proves that he is a really sorry man by confessing to Hawthorne that he did have an affair with Abigail: “I have known her, sir. I have known her” (Miller 110). This shows how John Proctor went from putting the affair aside and keeping it secret, to admitting his actions, showing his forgiveness, and becoming a moral and honest person. Secondly, from the beginning to the end of the play, John Proctor goes from not believing witchcraft to rather giving up his life than accusing other people of witchcraft. This is a quote from John Proctor: “I’ve heard you to be a …show more content…
Firstly, in the beginning of the play, he is afraid as to what the implications of witchcraft will be upon his own reputation. A quote from Parris to Tituba : “You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba!” (Miller 40). This shows how Parris wants Tituba to be accused, so Abigail and Betty won’t be accused, and so Parris won’t look bad because Abigail and Betty are part of his family. Secondly, in the middle of the play, Parris decides to embrace the power that the trials have given to him. The fear of his name and reputation being ruined is gone and now he displays power in the courtroom and the town. A quote from Reverend Parris when he asked John Proctor if he read the gospel: “I think not, or you should surely know that Cain were an upright man, and yet he did kill Abel” (Miller 75). The quote shows how Parris is using the court to accuse other people of witchcraft instead of primarily trying to protect his name. Thirdly, in the end of the play, Parris is afraid again because of the repercussions that the trials have caused. Abigail and another girl have ran away with all of his money. He confesses fear for his life and tries to save John in order to make himself look good to people that have effectively repudiated him. Parris’s ending or fate is him walking alone on a road away from Salem. Parris goes from trying to save his reputation,

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