Can a person with strong Puritan values make mistakes, but still be capable of exhibiting their core values in a good manor? In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible John Proctor makes the regretful mistake of committing adultery. He and Abigail Williams have a romantic history together and his wife, Elizabeth Proctor, is aware of John’s mistakes. As the plot develops, readers see that John still tries to stay true to his puritan beliefs. By the end of the play, John must decide if he should confess to the court to spare his life, or stay silent and be hung. Based on his decisions and actions, readers can see that John Proctor exhibits the puritan values of honesty, love, and altruism. Proctor exhibits the puritan value of honesty when he decides to confess about his affair with Abigail Williams. Proctor decides that confessing his crime of adultery would be the best choice in order to try and
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Proctor makes a very selfless decision at the end of the play when he decides to die rather than blacken his family’s name. This selfless act was done for the well-being of his children. Proctor wanted to ensure that his children’s futures would be promising. Proctor says, “I can. And there’s your first marvel that I can” (Miller 1357). This is when he says that he can be hung and he will not give in to confessing to witchcraft because he knows that it is not true. When proctor refuses to give a false confession it is a religious stand, and Proctor believes this act will bring him to heaven. He also says, “I have three children—how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold your friends” (Miller 1356). Proctor realizes that he does not want his name to be hung on the church door because his children will forever have a bad reputation in the village. Proctor demonstrates altruism by deciding to die, rather than ruin the reputation of his family for generations to
Proctor makes a very selfless decision at the end of the play when he decides to die rather than blacken his family’s name. This selfless act was done for the well-being of his children. Proctor wanted to ensure that his children’s futures would be promising. Proctor says, “I can. And there’s your first marvel that I can” (Miller 1357). This is when he says that he can be hung and he will not give in to confessing to witchcraft because he knows that it is not true. When proctor refuses to give a false confession it is a religious stand, and Proctor believes this act will bring him to heaven. He also says, “I have three children—how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold your friends” (Miller 1356). Proctor realizes that he does not want his name to be hung on the church door because his children will forever have a bad reputation in the village. Proctor demonstrates altruism by deciding to die, rather than ruin the reputation of his family for generations to