Abigail's 'John Proctor In The Crucible'

John Proctor’s desire to keep his good name motivates him to make the heroic choice of going to his death without signing his name to an untrue statement. Proctor is the voice of reason whose integrity defines him and clearly distinguishes him as the protagonist. His honesty and acumen endows him with heroic qualities as we see him repeatedly being able to perceive the truth from the false and the moral from the corrupt when he claims that he “cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is fraud. [He] is not that man. [His] honesty is broke…” (136). The fact that Proctor doesn’t consider himself good enough to die as a saint like hero, makes him a hero. This is because his betrayal reveals his strong sense of self-reproach and morality, which intensifies his inability to forgive himself. In this statement

there is a sense of desperation, emphasizing his internal struggle. As Proctor wrestles with his conscience whether to confess to witchcraft, saving himself from being hanged, he utters, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life!

Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (143). Proctor’s cry for the defense of his name, demonstrates his obsession with his good name. Early in the play, Proctor’s desire to protect his good name prevents him from testifying against Abigail. Now, he has come to a complete understanding that the meaning of a good reputation signifies the truth. As he realizes that the truth is more important, he “tears the paper and crumples it, as he is weeping in fury” (144). Proctor tearing the paper is significant as it is possibly the highest climactic point of this play. In order to save his integrity and the innocent, Proctor surrenders his physical body, the more materialistic element of himself. This reflects his desire not to dishonor his fellow prisoners, as he wouldn’t be able to live with himself knowing that others died while he quaked at death. The paper is also a symbol for higher, more powerful societies such as the Church and the courts; thereby ripping it signifies their

disintegration.
To remain the respected judge of Salem, Danforth refuses to reprieve the accused prisoners and demands them to sign the false confessions in order to maintain his power of the court. As the administrator of justice, Danforth believes that the people must be sentenced to death if they do not confess. He follows procedures and refuses to admit Proctor’s deposition. He believes that “a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it” (94). Danforth has a very restricted form of justice, either right or wrong. This foreshadows Proctor sentencing, because although he is known as a good man in the townspeople’s eyes, Danforth can only see his guilt and his ‘un-Christian ways.