In plain terms, a hero is someone who displays courage in times of danger. A tragic hero however is much more complex than that. Defined by Aristotle, a tragic hero is composed of 4 main characteristics. These include morality, superiority, a tragic flaw, and the understanding that their death is the product of their own actions. Based off my understanding of what makes a tragic hero, I agree with the idea that John Proctor is a classic tragic hero. John proctor is a moral and ethical person, is held to high respect within the community of Salem, and possess the tragic flaw of pride, which eventually leads to his demise.
Many rule John Proctor out as a moral and ethical person for his one time mistake of adultery. However, I challenge this
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idea that one mistake all of a sudden deems you as a bad person. Compared to others in Salem who falsely accused neighbours for revenge or land lust, John Proctor was one of the only characters to do what was right, even if it was at a personal cost. In the town of Salem, it is easy to see that the image someone has plays a huge factor in how they are treated. One mistake and you are set to shame and forced to live a sad life. Therefore, Johns reaction following the arrest of Elizabeth Proctor show his goodness. Revealing Abigail's true intentions, John tells Danforth “She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. 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; I set myself entirely in your hands. I know you must see it now” (Miller, 29). I believe this shows how John Proctor put truthfulness and justice before himself. He knew his confession to adultery would corrupt his image and cause him to lose everything he had, but that didn't stop him. Regardless of what his intentions were, he still maintained a value of truth and justice despite the consequences that would follow, and for that reason alone, I say John Proctor is a good, moral and ethical man. Him giving up his image is even more impactful, when you look at how he had a sense of superiority and was highly respected in Salem, another trait that proves he is a classic tragic hero. John Proctor is a common man. He is a farmer and is not described as a very wealthy person. However, he still has a sense of superiority. He has respect and dignity within the community of Salem that gives him this superiority. For example, John was described as “ the kind of man - powerful of body; even tempered and not easily led - who cannot refuse support to partisans without drawing their deepest resentment” ( Miller, 19). Its clear to see that the citizens of Salem look to John much like how they look to Rebecca Nurse, with respect and admiration. For that reason, I think John qualifies as a tragic hero as his displays the superiority. John Proctor possess many flaws that could be considered his “one tragic” flaw, however I think his most damaging flaw was his pride.
His sense of pride created many problems for him that could have easily had been avoided. For example, had he confessed to having the affair with Abigail from the beginning, the entire witchcraft hysteria could have been easily avoided. This proves how he was unable to put away his pride until he finally had an epiphany and realized it was the cause of his problems, however by then it was much too late. Another example of pride being his tragic flaw, is where he refuses to admit to being a witch even if it means he would get to live. He refuses to sign his confession and screams to the audience about how he will not confess “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 who hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul, leave my name” (Miller 62.) With this quote, it's evident that John will not confess to the crime he did not commit as way to maintain a sense of dignity, that feeds into his pride. If he had just put his pride aside and confessed, he would have been able to live, however his tragic flaw got in the way, which eventually led to his demise. He understands that he is going to be hung due to not only his actions of lust, but mostly his inability to put aside his pride. That being said, he easily fits the
tragic hero model as he possesses a tragic flaw that is the cause of his downfall. Overall, John Proctor was a good man with a respectable reputation, who gave everything up for the sake of morality, and due to his overbearing sense of pride, died an easily avoidable death. For those reasons exactly, I consider John Proctor to be a classic Aristotelian tragic hero. He was a good man who upheld morality in times of unjust and died a hero’s death.
What is a tragic hero? A tragic hero is typically defined as a character in a literary work who has a lot of pride and makes a judgment error that leads to their ultimate demise. The downfall usually has to do with their pride.
He tried finding some other way possible to stay alive without showing guilt. He Faced internal struggle with himself to confess of witchcraft. “It is evil is it not, It is evil” (The Crucible, Act 4) He knew the trial had been corrupted because of Abigail deceitful tongue. It only lead him believe in his truth and stand his ground. The whole village had be corrupted in john eyes. Abigail, floundering with lies, got so many people exacted, so John felt it in his power to stop this madness. He would not let evil prevail. He had hated Abigail and everything that she stood for. He wanted to be the opposite which influenced his final decision. Salem would be the same knowing hatred and lies were spread all throughout the
The magistrate sits in your heart, that judges you. I never thought of you but a good man.” In this essay I will explain to you why John Proctor is a good man. During the time when he was in court with his wife, he failed to easily recite the 10 commandments which was “thou shalt not commit adultery.” The mistake he had made was having an affair with Abigail and later on he confesses to that he had an affair with Abigail and forfeits his good name and reputation in an attempt to show the court Abigail is a liar.
Reverend Hale was correct, John Proctor possessed an excessive sense of pride. Proctor chose to be hanged because he didn’t want to put his name in vain by claiming to be associated with the devil. Proctor refused to confess he was acting honorably. Thus, earning himself respect in Salem by dying. His actions were foolish; he committed adultery with Abigail Williams.
When it comes to being a tragic hero the character has to have the qualities of being a tragic hero. A tragic hero is where the main character of a tragedy whose fatal flaw leads to his or her destruction. Either the character was born into society as a great man or a slave, they may have carry
¨A tragic hero is a character that is noble and well-respected but he has one tragic flaw that causes him to fall from greatness.¨ John Proctor was known throughout the town of Salem as a well respected farmer and landowner. As the story progressed, John got more involved with the witch outbreak in the way that Abigail dragged him into it. Proctor had committed adultery whist he had a family. This quote relates to John that he is a tragic
What is a tragic hero? The most well known definition of a tragic hero comes from the great philosopher, Aristotle. When depicting a tragic hero, Aristotle states "The change in the hero's fortunes be not from misery to happiness, but on the contrary, from happiness to misery, and the cause of it must not lie in any depravity but in some great error on his part." In addition, he explains the four essential qualities that a tragic hero should possess, which are goodness, appropriateness, lifelike, and consistency. All of these necessities help to classify the character of John Proctor in Arthur Miller's The Crucible as the tragic hero of the play. Not only does he unfortunately fall to desolation, but also his character captures the sympathy and pity from the audience or readers. Proctor's downfall in the play is initiated by a human flaw, which to a great extent qualifies him to be the tragic hero.
The only thing John Proctor wants to be is an honorable man in the eyes of Puritan society. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible John Proctor repeatedly tries to do good for other people. John’s motivation motivation to retain his honor is seen throughout his actions. Since John Proctor is motivated by his honor, his decision to admit he committed adultery creates doubt in the guilt of the accused.
In conclusion, it cannot be denied that John Proctor made a major mistake and betrayed his wife and his own moral code. Despite that, he was a strong, level-headed individual that cared for his family and desired to leave them with a good name. He would not have felt such a high level of guilt if he had not expected so much from himself, which is the quality of a moral person. John Proctor was a good man who truly deserved the title of protagonist in The Crucible.
What makes a hero a tragic hero? According to the Greek play write Aristotle, a hero must possess certain character traits in order to be tragic. Aristotle’s rules are still used today when labeling a hero tragic or not tragic. Jack Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth president of the United States is a tragic hero, because he possess four of the six traits a tragic hero must possess. This will be proven through the use of credible sources and explanation of these four traits.
By sleeping with Abigail Williams he had completely lost his honor and all hope for a reputable reputation, but towards the end of the story, John begins to realize his sins and the mess that has been made by one foolish act. John slowly beings to attempt redemption to his prestige. In the final act of this performance, John has a choice to make; save his own life by signing a confession to witchcraft, or be sentenced to hang if he did not. At first he began to lie, signing the false confession, then he snatched it back, “I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows my how black my sins are! It is enough!” John does not want his name and his false confession hanging in public for all to see, his name means too much to him. John also talks about the effects it would have on his sons, “I have three children-how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?” In John’s eyes it would be more honorable to die than to hang his lie for all to see. All would know it was a lie, and how could John raise his sons, living a lie? In short, John’s reputation meant more to him than his
John Proctor is both flawed and honorable. After having an affair with Abigail. His wife has been unable to forgive him for this, and their marriage is unhappy, John has the guilt from his past affair weighing down on his shoulders, he apologizes for the mistake but it is shown that the guilt is still there “I have not moved from there to there without I think to please you, and still an everlasting funeral marches round your heart. I cannot speak but I am doubted every moment judged for lies, as though I come into a court when I come into this house!” this shows that the guilt is crushing him that he has been trying to apologized for his wrong doings but hasn’t been forgiven he needs his wife to forget about the pass and move on he will do anything to show his wife he is devoted to her. John Proctor knows what he will do knowing that now his wife is charged with witchcraft he must go to the court and prove to them that this is all a hoax and this his wife is not involved in witchcraft and that Abigail is making this all up. John makes a ...
A tragic hero can be defined as literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her own destruction. A well known novel in American Literature is The Great Gatsby which displays an example of a tragic hero. The author of the book, F. Scott Fitzgerald, portrayed an example of a tragic hero through the main character of the novel named Jay Gatsby. In the book Gatsby tries to accomplish the American Dream by gaining wealth and doing everything in his power to be with the love his life Daisy Buchanan. His whimsical ways granted him wealth and allowed him to be in the arms of his lover Daisy but, it also leads him to death. Jay Gatsby can be considered a tragic hero because he has a tragic flaw and because his misfortune was not wholly deserved.
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.
A tragic hero can be described as a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is