Essay On Hypocrisy In The Crucible

Aristotle defined the classic tragic hero as a man whose fate is changed because of a tragic flaw and eventually has a tragic downfall, where as Arthur Miller believed that, “in this age few tragedies are written” (“Tragedy”), because there aren't many heroes among us. According to Miller, the common man is “a subject for tragedy” (“Tragedy”). He identifies a “Modern Tragedy,” which concerns a common man who stands up against social injustice and refuses to live in bad faith. The Crucible is one of many tragedies written. The play is about the Salem witch trials and takes place in a small religious town were false accusations of witchcraft are made. John Proctor, the modern tragic hero, refuses to be a bystander to these accusations and died

for what he believed in. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is a quintessential modern tragedy due to its exposure of moral and political hypocrisy and its concern with a common man seeking to restore his dignity and authenticity.

The characters of Abigail, Reverend Parris, Danforth, Mary Warren, and Thomas Putnam, illustrate the moral corruption and hypocrisy at the heart of Salem’s society and witch trials. Abigail realizes that she has power and, “turned her own violation of Salem law into a occasion for naming those for whom she has little liking and, in so doing transforms herself into a local heroine” (Schlueter and Flanagan 116). Abigail really wants revenge on Elizabeth Proctor and will do anything to have her killed so she can be with John again. One of the reasons Abigail doesn't want to confess is because if the people found out she wanted to cast spells against Elizabeth, they would realize she had an affair with John Proctor and think she interacted with the devil. Proctor brings the past affair into court and says, “She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave!” (Miller 116). Elizabeth was only one of many people she tried to have killed. The finger pointing from Abigail was used to get the attention of dancing in the woods out of her hands. Reverend Parris also displays moral corruption and hypocrisy in the story. Parris is a selfish liar who only

cares about his reputation. In act one he seems caring for his niece who is very sick in bed. A little late he shows that the only thing he really cares about is his reputation. If the people of the town found out there were signs of witchcraft in the priests house, they will try to overthrow him. In act three Parris is brought into the court and asked if he ever saw the girls dancing naked in the woods. Parris replies, “I can only say, sir, that I never found any of them naked” (Miller 110). Parris lied to the court to defend himself and Abigail. Danforth, the deputy governor, was an unfair judge who believed nobody would be punished unjustly because he is guided by god. Because of Danforth's biased and selfish judging, he had many people killed but never felt guilty as he convinced himself that god is helping them make the correct decision. Thomas Putnam was a very greedy and selfish man. He tried to accuse wealthy people of witchcraft so he could buy their land. The people in Salem don’t only confess to interacting with the devil, but they also accuse others (Schlueter and Flanagan 116). Most of the people being accused of witchcraft would give other names to have an easier punishment. Miller Budick indicates, “Rather, the problem is that the characters have not admitted humankind’s very paltry powers of moral judgment. They have not accepted in their hearts that God alone can render judgment on humankind” (97). These characters played a huge role in Salem’s corrupt society and the witch trials however, most of the people living in Salem were also depraved and bystanders which contributed to the mass hysteria.
Emerging as the voice of reason amid the paranoia and mass hysteria is John Proctor. However, in the style of modern tragedy, Proctor is not without the flaws of the common man. Indeed, despite an intellectual virtue that sets him above his peers, Proctor is guilty of dishonesty and sexual impropriety – flaws that ultimately set in motion his own demise. White recties, “Proctor is a simple man whose moral conscience is tested by the hysteria in Salem” (148). John Proctor’s “adultery with Abigail establishes the hero a fallen man, falling even before the action of the play begins” (Budick 92). Budick says, that Miller explains how “guilt is a major force behind and throughout his drama” (91). “John Proctor, is a self-aware character who struggles to assert his identity and worth as an individual in the context of public terror and finds himself unexpectedly undergoing a hard reassessment of self” (Schlueter and Flanagan 114). Elizabeth was suspicious about a past relationship between Abigail and her husband. After a long time of holding in the guilt, John confessed the truth to his wife, that he “cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is a fraud. I am not that man. My honesty is broke, Elizabeth; I am no good man” (Miller 143). Once John was able to accept the fact that he sinned and committed adultery, he felt free to confess to the court, “[he was] overwhelmed by guilt and confessed the truth” (Schlueter and Flanagan 117). John Proctor refuses to be passive in the face of social injustice. Proctor knew what was wrong with the society he lived in. He refused to be a bystander and let people die for no reason. John Proctor was one of the only upstanders in Salem even though he was a sinner himself, his actions opened the eyes of the people who were involved in this mass hysteria and made them realize how corrupt their society was.
Ultimately, what gives John Proctor the status of a modern tragic hero is his willingness to lay down his life to secure his sense of personal dignity.

Proctor struggled to confess to lies and live the rest of his life in shame, “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 my feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Miller 150). Proctor later decided he could not confess to lies and live a life of sins. He wanted to die a truthful man and in the path of god. Schlueter and Flanagan say, “Proctor is a man of extraordinary moral courage” (115). He is a courageous man because he gave up his life to set an example for Salem. He wanted the town to realize that they are killing innocent people. Proctor died to save other people’s lives as well. Unlike most people in Salem, Proctor never admitted to seeing anyone with the devil to save himself. He put himself in front of others, “He sacrifices himself in order to save others and to stage a protest against his persecution” (Adam 71). John Proctor was not going to let his wife Elizabeth be accused by Abigail for his sins, “My wife will never die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me!” (Miller 85). June Schlueter and James K. Flanagan explain that, “Renenging, he agrees to death to preserve for his sons the honor of his name” (115). He

wanted to keep his good name. If his confession was made public his name would be framed and his future kids would think poorly about their father. John Proctor was not going to die without a purpose, he did whatever he could to stand up against this mass hysteria, he died a hero.
John Proctor was a man who stood up for what was right in a time of evil. The Crucible and the Salem witch trials were not very different from our society today with all the hypocrisy and corruption going on. We need people like Proctor to stand up against the hate in the world. After his death, the people of Salem finally noticed how unjust there community was. If we had more John Proctor's in the world, maybe people would stop being so judging and there will be peace.