John Proctor: The Importance of Reputation Reputations standards are hard to fill even in today's society. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller reputation is a critical aspect of the viability of the character and why they do the what they do. The desire to uphold these valued reputations and respect can influence the character's traits and emotions. The concern to maintain their reputation is more important than any other element they have to deal with. John Proctor displays this perfectly, his hypocrisy, pride, and pomposity all reveal his importance to reputation.
John Proctor’s hypocrisy has only developed the story. Hypocrisy is when a person claims to have certain morals and beliefs but exhibits only empty talk and false virtue and …show more content…
Hubris is excessive pride and arrogance. John Proctor exhibits this excessive pride through Act 1 and 2 of The Crucible. In particular, in The Crucible it states, “I will fall like an ocean on that court”(Miller, 78). This quote illustrates the pride John has, because of confessing what he knows immediately he hesitates and does not tell about his affair, and instead tell Marry Warren to confess her sin. In addition, his affair with Abigail is due to his pride. This is shown when he says,“Abby I may think of you softly from time to time.But I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you again.Wipe it out of mind.We never touched”(Miller, 23). Procter only stopped the affair once his wife found out, this was to save his reputation and so that no one else would see his true self. John goes against the sacred beliefs of the people, his pride allows him to do this if he had not been discovered by his wife he would have continued to have an affair with Abigail. John’s pride has caused him to do many irrational things in order to save his …show more content…
He works only for the good of himself and his image in Salem. For example, when the courts take Elizabeth, John says to Marry Warren, “You will tell the court what you know”(Miller, 80). This example demonstrates his self-importance because he does not falter when telling Marry Warren that she must tell the courts but when it comes to himself confessing he wavers his decisions and wants to protect his own image from being tarnished. He does not care what happens to others as long as his good name is saved. Secondly, when Elizabeth tells John to go to the court and confess about the affair, “John, if it were not Abigail that you must go to hurt, would you falter now? I think not.”(Miller, 54). Proctor selfishness is displayed here because instead of going to the court and saving people that were falsely accused he cares more about himself and his
John Proctor’s hypocrisy has only developed the story. Hypocrisy is when a person claims to have certain morals and beliefs but exhibits only empty talk and false virtue and …show more content…
Hubris is excessive pride and arrogance. John Proctor exhibits this excessive pride through Act 1 and 2 of The Crucible. In particular, in The Crucible it states, “I will fall like an ocean on that court”(Miller, 78). This quote illustrates the pride John has, because of confessing what he knows immediately he hesitates and does not tell about his affair, and instead tell Marry Warren to confess her sin. In addition, his affair with Abigail is due to his pride. This is shown when he says,“Abby I may think of you softly from time to time.But I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you again.Wipe it out of mind.We never touched”(Miller, 23). Procter only stopped the affair once his wife found out, this was to save his reputation and so that no one else would see his true self. John goes against the sacred beliefs of the people, his pride allows him to do this if he had not been discovered by his wife he would have continued to have an affair with Abigail. John’s pride has caused him to do many irrational things in order to save his …show more content…
He works only for the good of himself and his image in Salem. For example, when the courts take Elizabeth, John says to Marry Warren, “You will tell the court what you know”(Miller, 80). This example demonstrates his self-importance because he does not falter when telling Marry Warren that she must tell the courts but when it comes to himself confessing he wavers his decisions and wants to protect his own image from being tarnished. He does not care what happens to others as long as his good name is saved. Secondly, when Elizabeth tells John to go to the court and confess about the affair, “John, if it were not Abigail that you must go to hurt, would you falter now? I think not.”(Miller, 54). Proctor selfishness is displayed here because instead of going to the court and saving people that were falsely accused he cares more about himself and his