Everyone can relate to an archetype character in a movie, book, or television show. An archetype in literature is a typical character with an action or a situation that seems to represent such universal patterns of human nature. Common archetypes of characters are: a hero, caregiver, rebel, damsel in distressed, lover, villain, or tragic hero. In the play, The Crucible, there are several kinds of characters with archetypes. Tragic hero normally are in tragic plays which also can be called tragedy. “Tragedy is a drama in which a character that is usually a good and noble person of high rank which is brought to a disastrous end in his or her confrontation with a superior force but also comes to understand the meaning of his or her deeds and to …show more content…
accept an appropriate punishment.” A tragic hero normally has the characteristics of a person of noble stature, not an ordinary person, someone who is good but not too good, causes his own destruction for a greater cause, and the death will be seen as a waste of human potential. The tragic hero in this play would be John Proctor because he has a high social status, is good but not too good, and the audience shows pity for him. John Proctor is illustrated to be of high social status in Salem, Massachusetts by being a landowner and having a well respected name. In the sixteen-hundreds being a landowner gave you high social rank. Before he entered the play the text stated, “Proctor was a farmer in his middle thirties.” (TC,1.28). Also he says, “I have hardly stepped off my farm this seven months” (TC,1.30). Both of these represent that he is a landowner which means he is noble in the town people’s eyes. John Proctor is shown to be of high social status by having land and he also a respected name. In the courtroom Proctor said, “I have made a bell of my honor. I have rung the doom of my good name” (TC, 3.1090). This represents that he had a respected name before he confessed that he had an affair with Abigail Williams in the courtroom to show that she was not as great has we thought. John Proctor’s character has a high social status and he is shown to also good but not too good. John Proctor’s affair with Abigail Williams, not knowing his ten commandments, and not going to church all show us that his character is not totally good. In the play when John Proctor and Abigail are alone, they both have to talk to each other. Proctor says several times, “Abby, you’ll put it out of mind. I’ll not be comin’ for you more.” (TC, 1.30). One of Abigail’s responses was, “I know how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I come near! Or did I dream That? It’s she put me out, you can’t pretend it were you. I saw your face when she put me out, you loved me then, and you do now!”(TC, 1.30). This represents that they had an affair when she was working at the Proctor’s house and that Abby still wants to be with him even though he doesn't want her. Another way he is shown not to be the greatest is when he doesn’t know his ten commandments. Proctor was asked to say his commandments and he couldn’t get one without his wife’s help. Afterwards, here is what he said and how he acted, “[As though a secret arrow had pained his heart.] Aye. [Trying to grin it away- to Hale] You see sir between the two of us we do know them all. I think it be a small fault.”(TC,2.1064). This shows us that he didn’t know his commandments on his own and to him it wasn’t a big deal even though it was to the Puritan community while people are being accused of witchcraft. Finally, John Proctor wasn’t the greatest of character by barely going to church. In the overturn it states, “This predilection for minding others people’s business was time-honored among the people of Salem, and it undoubtedly created many of the suspicions with were to feed the coming madness.”(TC,1.17). This shows that he did not go to church all the time which lead the people to doubt him as being a true Puritan. John is good but not too good and he also has us having pity on him. We, the audience, have pity for John Proctor through him trying to save others from getting hurt and leaving his family to do so.
Judge Danforth stated in court, “Mr. Proctor, this morning your wife send me a claim in which she states that she is pregnant now.”(TC,3.1078). Proctor says, “But if she says she is pregnant, then she must be! That woman never lie, Mr. Danforth.”(TC,3.1078). These two statements show that John’s wife has a child coming and that being an honest woman that she is she wouldn’t lie about something so important. Proctor also says, “I have three children- how may I teach them to walk like men in world, and I sold my friends.” (TC,4.1110). This statement shows that he cares about his children and his friends since he is going to be hung for the wrongdoings that have happen. Also, we pity John Proctor for the way he feels that he should fix the problem of others being blamed for witchcraft by blaming himself for it instead. John said to Judge Danforth, “Then who will judge me? God in heaven, What is up, what is up? I think it is honest, I think so: I am no saint. Let Rebecca go like a saint; for me a fraud.”(TC,4.1107-1108). This represents that he takes the blame for the others to set them free because he believes he should be punished for his wrongdoing, not the good people of the village. His wrongdoing was having an affair with Abigail which made her want him so she started the witchcraft rumors to get him back by eliminating his wife, Elizabeth
Proctor. John Proctor is the tragic hero in the tragic play The Crucible. His character has a high social status by having a good reputable name and being a landowner. John is shown to be a good but not too good of a character by having an affair with Abigail Williams, not knowing the ten commandments, and not going to church often. Finally, the audience feels pity for him for saving others, but leaving his family to do so. John Proctor follows the basic archetype of a tragic hero. Every story has it’s own types of archetype. Everyone of us can relate to one. I am like the caregiver archetype by wanting to help people in need. What kind of archetype character would you follow the best?
John Proctor: “God in heaven, what is John Proctor, what is John Proctor”. John is a man of strong moral beliefs, concerned only for the safety of his family and personal welfare. He cares of nothing for the beliefs of any of the other people in the town and what his supervisor which is the Reverend, thinks either. After trying to avoid involvement in the witch trials he is later prosecuted for witchery and sentenced to hang. John trys to avoid any involvement in the Salem witch trials. His reason for doing so is to protect his image because he is afraid he will be committed of adultery with Abigail Williams. Following these events he trys to save everyone’s lives by admitting to this horrible offense adultery and ends up losing the trial along with his life. He did have a chance to live but instead of signing away his name and his soul to keep his life, he wanted to die honorably with his friends not without a name, a soul, and with guilt. “John Proctors decision to die is reasonable and believable”. Reverend Parris, the Salem minister and Proctors immediate supervisor, which says “ there is either obedience or the church will burn like hell is burning.” “The church in theocratic Salem is identical with the state and the community and will surely crumble if unquestioning obedience falters in the least.” Proctor, on the other hand, “has come to regard his self as a king of fraud,” as long as he remains obedient to an authority which he cannot respect.
An archetype in literature is defined as a typical example of a certain type of person. A character in a poem or play can be placed into many different archetype categories. Archetypes help a reader to gain a better understanding of who a character in the work is on the inside. This deeper insight into the character allows the reader to follow the flow of the story easier and more effectively. There are many different archetypes that can help to advance the story. One of the most useful in advancing this story is the typical powerful character. Whether it be supernatural or cunningness this character always comes out on top in the situation and holds the most control over others and their actions. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”,
She used to serve me in my house, sir. A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I beg you, sir, I beg you—see her what she is. My wife, my dear good wife, took this girl soon after, sir, and put her out on the highroad. And being what she is, a lump of vanity, sir— Excellency, forgive me, forgive me. She thinks to dance with me on my wife's grave! … God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore's vengeance, and you must see it now” (3. ). The fact that Proctor came clean when it really came down to it speaks volumes about his character; he chose to try to save his wife instead of saving himself. He sacrificed his good name to save his wife’s name instead. He then goes on to try and show the court the wickedness of what they are doing, “A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud—God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!” (Miller 596-601). This quote shows that Proctor is no longer afraid to see things how they are and take responsibility for the things he is
John Proctor began as a stubborn, rude, liar. It was said that “In Proctor’s presence a fool felt his foolishness instantly” He had committed adultery with Abigail Williams then lied about it later, which was what started the drama. Abigail wants to split up John and Elizabeth, and she attempts to do so by setting up a string of trials that ruins the town and the Proctors’ lives. When John’s pregnant wife becomes part of the trials by being accused of witchcraft, John begins to change. He knows it is his fault that all of this is happening, and he gets them to keep her from being hanged by telling them about her pregnancy, and they tell her that they will give 6 months. He changes into a very truthful person and learns to keep his temper under
"Them that will not confess will hang. While I speak with God 's law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering. I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and ocean of salt tears could not the resolution of the statutes." (Miller 129). Judge Danforth is not afraid to kill those that stand in his way. He is very similar to Abigail in that he will have innocent people killed to prove a point or to get what he wants. Its his way or the highway. If you do not cooperate, you will die. He abuses his power to get people to talk and give names. He is also very similar to Parris in his concern for power. Danforth holds all the power in the courtroom and basically forces you to talk and confess. If you don 't cooperate, then you will suffer the consequences. Ergo, it is a win-win situation for the accuser. "You are the high court, you word is good enough!" (Miller 143). Proctor later denounced himself for saying this, but the phrase is completely true. This quote is a reference to Danforth 's abuse of power throughout the witch trials. The high court deeply resembles the courts during the McCarthyism era. They held all the power and had the people 's lives in their hands. Danforth was prideful and believed himself to be a honest man. So whatever he thought was right, was declared as right. If they said you were guilty of being a witch, and hanged you, then no one in Salem did anything about it. They couldn 't say or do anything because the high court was always right. Many innocent people died because Danforth couldn 't admit he was wrong. If he did admit to being wrong, then the high court would lose power and it would of hurt his
John Proctor is typically an honest man and along with Rebecca Nurse tries to be the voice of reason deeming the concept of witchcraft ridiculous. Proctor has an extremely toxic, and particularly one-sided relationship with Abigail Williams the origin of the tumult that becomes the Salem Witch Trials. John had a brief affair with Abigail though to him was trivial, to Abigail meant the world. Proctor does not seem to understand this despite his wife forthrightly telling him “[t]here
John shows his mendacity throughout the whole story by lying to the whole village about his affair with Abigail. He showed more Mendacity when he lied to the Judge about not seeing anyone with the devil. John lies about many things in this story and he shows one example of his mendacity when he says, “ Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang!” John is admitting to all the lies that he has told throughout the whole witch-hunt. He is upset about the lies he has told so he begins to degrade himself. When Proctor was in court, he was asked multiple times by Danforth if he saw anyone with the Devil and John denied it every the accusations every time. Danforth asks “ Did you ever see Martha Corey with the Devil?” Proctor replies, “ I did not.” Danforth begins to get annoyed by Proctor’s lies so he says, “ Proctor, you mistake me. I am not empowered to trade your life for a lie. You have most certainly seen some person with the Devil. Mr. Proctor, a score of people have already testified they saw this woman with the Devil.” Even though John Proctor knew the truth, he continued to lie to Danforth about seeing the Devil with Martha Corey. John proves to himself and the whole village that telling many lies cannot only affect the people around you but it can affect you as well. John’s inability to tell the truth has affected his relationship with his wife
When analyzing literature from an archetypal perspective, one does not simply look at the character’s behavior in that literary piece. Rather, when using the archetypal theory, one connects the traits and actions of the characters in the literary work, the settings, the surroundings, and the situations to a familiar type of literary character. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, the characters Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Reverend Hale exhibit common archetypal behavior and fit into a certain archetypal figure.
As a man he does not confess the sins of other because of integrity. Rebecca remains alive because Proctor does not admit to her presence with the devil. “Give them no tear. Show them a heart of stone and sink them with it,” says Proctor. “Whoever weeps for these weeps for corruption. Take them.” Proctor warns Elizabeth to not feel pity over his death for confessing his sins. Danforths threats to take whomever cries is a reminder that she must stay alive to take care of her three children. The author persuades the reader to remain truthful and loyal at all time. “And yet you’ve not confessed till now.” The truth will always be brought to the
John proctor is an honest man who regrets breaking his marriage vows. John knew with all his heart and mind that adultery is wrong. Elizabeth, John’s wife, had no way of finding out what had happened, but John Proctor still told her. This shows that John took responsibility for his actions and acknowledged that he had sinned against her and God. In Act 2, he had to season his wife, Elizabeth’s food behind her back. When she gave him his food he said that “It was well seasoned.” (pg. 50) He did this to make her feel better about herself, showing that he loved her. It is at the end of the play when Proctor is most honorable because although he was going to admit to witchcraft, he still refuses to accuse any other people in Salem. He says, in act 4, "I have three children-how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?" (pg. 143) He also tears up the paper that he signed, admitting to witchcraft. He says, “I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (pg. 143) John Proctor chose to be truthful and deny the untrue accusations made against him, sentencing himself to a hangman’s death. John Proctor is not a perfect man, but he has a good heart. His good part of his personality relates to his name the “Tragic Hero,” and also lead to his downfall at the end of the
He believed that if he lied, he would be damned by God, and it would set a poor example of integrity for his children. In trial, Judge Danforth asked Mary Warren if she knew that “God damns all liars?” (1084, Miller). This was more of a statement than a question, for he clearly wanted to intimidate Mary. Many people believed that if you lied, you would go to hell. Proctor states that he has three children and asks how he would teach his children to be honorable men, when he was not going to be considered one himself. (1110, Miller). He would not be considered honorable because he would have confessed that he was a witch; that he wasn’t a man of God. Some say that Proctor would be damned by God and sent to Hell if he lied by saying that he committed witchcraft. In addition, people say his children would not see him as a good role model if he had confessed to being a witch. He chose to die and feel like he did the moral thing, instead of finding out the outcome of confessing to a
John Proctor faces many decisions in response to his moral dilemma to try to save his life. One of the difficult decisions John makes is to reveal that he had an affair with Abigail Williams and thereby has committed adultery. If the local court convicts him of this crime, he faces being jailed. Also by admitting this crime, John reveals a weakness in his character. This flaw in his personality will make it harder for him to stand up in the community as an honorable and believable person. In trying to convince others that witchcraft does not exist John’s dishonesty with his wife will make him less convincing to the community.
At the final moments of the movie, one of the most crucial scene comes to be: John Proctor, the movie’s protagonist is about to sign his witchcraft confession. He has his wife by his side, after being separated in jail for many years. He also has his friends, people that have known him for his entire life. But one antagonist is there, Judge Thomas Danforth a Puritan conservative who’s acting as the religious persecutor. His goal: to get John Proctor to sign a witchcraft confession and, therefore, discredit other people that were accused and claimed innocence.
“Peace, judge Hathorne. Do you know who I am, Mr.Nurse?”(pg 89) No judge needs to show confidence like that, especially in a serious matter like this. He just proved that he's more focused on himself then the situation. “I judge Nothing. I tell you mister, I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits; i have seen them stuck by pins and slashed by daggers. I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me.” Danforth tells Proctor with all confidence (pg 91). John Proctor gave judge danforth evidence to work on against witchcraft but judge Danforth is still blind. The decisions that he already made wouldn't let him change his mind because people already died because of it. Judge danforth never ceased the opportunity to open his head and realize the truth but instead he's still was blind to the
“Finally, John Proctor is faced with the decision to tell the truth, plead his innocence of witchcraft and hang, or to tell a lie and live. Elizabeth Proctor, who tells the only lie of her life in an attempt to save her husband, escapes the hangman because she is pregnant. When John Proctor declares he will plead guilty, Rebecca Nurse, the town's midwife, is brought in from her prison cell to witness his declaration in hopes that she too will also plead guilty. She refuses and is shocked by Proctor's willingness to confess to a lie. When the Judges try to force Proctor to name others and post his confession in public, he refuses because he has confessed to them before God. He admits that his confession is a lie. He is taken to be hanged with the other accused. ”(Bannon,http://www.ibiblio.org/miller/crucibleteachnotes.html) Rebecca insists not confess. She holds her pure soul and die like a saint. Although she suffers, her personality remains. Her decision also influences John Proctor to deny the confession. “You have made your magic now , for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs.” (Miller,858)As the play goes on, audience can see the change of his personality from selfish to righteous. His scarification ends up the trail. His honest wife and children are his motivations; therefore, he shows the integrity. It is hard