A tragedy depicts a dramatic composition containing a somber theme, generally involving a noble character destined to endure downfall or destruction through a character flaw or conflict. The Crucible, a classical tragedy, written by Arthur Miller in 1953, depicts the Salem witch trials and the havoc they created among the community. People also define a tragedy as a drama which showcases human suffering due to corresponding terrible events. The Crucible adequately subscribes to this definition because numerous people suffered in Salem, Massachusetts as a result of the witch trials. A tragedy usually revolves around a main character or hero. A tragic hero depicts someone who brings about their own death through a flaw in their character or
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The Crucible epitomizes a tragedy because it portrays the consequence of human suffering as a result of terrible actions. Furthermore, it depicts the character of John Proctor as embodying the definition of a tragic hero because his affair leads to the hamartia that causes an internal struggle and he displays hubris by challenging authority.
Human suffering, constantly portrayed in tragedies, leads to a catharsis, meaning that a “tragedy arouses fear and pity, and brings about the purgation of such emotions” (Guendouzi 1). Aristotle defines the concept of purgation or catharsis as the “basic principle… of the tragic plot and the conception of the tragic hero” (1). The feeling of catharsis arises when reading The Crucible because it showcases numerous examples of human suffering due to corresponding terrible events. Miller exposes human suffering in Salem when he writes about the arrests of the accused. The accused must “confess [themselves] or [they] will hang” (The Crucible 117). …show more content…
John Proctor exhibits hubris, or self-confidence, when he goes against the court and stands by to his own beliefs. Proctor, a pertinacious man, does not give up in the end. John Proctor falsely admits to witchcraft which causes him to go to jail, nevertheless when he goes to court, he stands up for his beliefs. Proctor acts as “the hero of The Crucible… because he makes a clear stand against the court, and… he shows the strongest opposition to the established order” (Guendouzi 5). Proctor opposes the court because he does not want to ruin his name. When Judge Danforth orders Proctor to sign his confession, Proctor refuses “because it is [his] name! Because [he] cannot have another in [his] life! Because… [he has] given… [his] soul” (The Crucible 143). By confessing to witchcraft, Proctor gives his soul away to the Devil, but signing would mean that he would have to give up his name. By signing his confession, Proctor acknowledges that he dealt with the Devil. If everyone in Salem views his confession, it would ruin Proctor’s name because the confessions confirms that he commits witchcraft. His name, the only uncorrupt part of him, ensures that Proctor still displays good characteristics. The hubris of authoritative resistance delineates John Proctor as the hero of this
The Crucible epitomizes a tragedy because it portrays the consequence of human suffering as a result of terrible actions. Furthermore, it depicts the character of John Proctor as embodying the definition of a tragic hero because his affair leads to the hamartia that causes an internal struggle and he displays hubris by challenging authority.
Human suffering, constantly portrayed in tragedies, leads to a catharsis, meaning that a “tragedy arouses fear and pity, and brings about the purgation of such emotions” (Guendouzi 1). Aristotle defines the concept of purgation or catharsis as the “basic principle… of the tragic plot and the conception of the tragic hero” (1). The feeling of catharsis arises when reading The Crucible because it showcases numerous examples of human suffering due to corresponding terrible events. Miller exposes human suffering in Salem when he writes about the arrests of the accused. The accused must “confess [themselves] or [they] will hang” (The Crucible 117). …show more content…
John Proctor exhibits hubris, or self-confidence, when he goes against the court and stands by to his own beliefs. Proctor, a pertinacious man, does not give up in the end. John Proctor falsely admits to witchcraft which causes him to go to jail, nevertheless when he goes to court, he stands up for his beliefs. Proctor acts as “the hero of The Crucible… because he makes a clear stand against the court, and… he shows the strongest opposition to the established order” (Guendouzi 5). Proctor opposes the court because he does not want to ruin his name. When Judge Danforth orders Proctor to sign his confession, Proctor refuses “because it is [his] name! Because [he] cannot have another in [his] life! Because… [he has] given… [his] soul” (The Crucible 143). By confessing to witchcraft, Proctor gives his soul away to the Devil, but signing would mean that he would have to give up his name. By signing his confession, Proctor acknowledges that he dealt with the Devil. If everyone in Salem views his confession, it would ruin Proctor’s name because the confessions confirms that he commits witchcraft. His name, the only uncorrupt part of him, ensures that Proctor still displays good characteristics. The hubris of authoritative resistance delineates John Proctor as the hero of this