John Proctor Flaws

The Crucible is a tragedy play that retells the witchcraft trials occurring in Salem.  Tragedies normally include a main character that suffers and in the end usually dies. Every tragedy has a tragic hero.  The tragic hero usually has an error in judgement or a flaw in character, which results in his suffering and misfortunes.  John Proctor is a prime example of a tragic hero. In Crucible, John struggles with his guilt over the affair with Abigail which led to lies and unfaithfulness.  John is a tragic hero, because of his noble stature, tragic flaw, and self-knowledge.

John Proctor is a man of noble stature.  He was not born into nobility, but he possesses the characteristics of a noble man. He is a highly respected man in the village of Salem, because he owns a large amount of land and is a good father.  John does not

attend church, but he is a religious man. He does not like Parris, the preacher “I have trouble enough without I come five miles to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation.”  John dislikes listening to him preach, because he rarely talks about God. John makes a big mistake. In Act 1, John has an affair with his servant, Abigail Williams. “God helped me I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat.  But it is a whore’s vengeance.” Near the end of the play John admits to the affair. His willingness to speak about his affair in public shows that he is a good man. In Act 4, John has been offered a chance to save his life. “I have three children-how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?”  He is asked to accuse his friends of something they did not do. If he does then he would be set free. He refuses to do it. This illustrates that John is a honest person and refuses to lie.

John Proctor is described as a person with high integrity, but has a tragic flaw.

His tragic flaw is too much pride which eventually leads to his death. John wanted to maintain his good name.  “A man will not cast away his good name” John did not want his name tarnished with accusations. A person with a bad name has a better chance of being accused of witchcraft in Salem.  John makes a mistake and dishonors his name. He states, “I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name” John wants to expose Abigail for her lies. He ruins his reputation and pride before the town to reveal the affair.  In the final scene, pride is evident when he refuses to sign the written confession. “Because it is my name; Because I cannot have another in my life, Because I lie and sign myself to lies.” John will not sign it and tears it up. He wants to preserve his name and reputation, “How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me your name.”  John is concerned with the reputation of his name and does not want the community to see his name on the church door. He would rather die with a good than live with a bad

name.
Although John Proctor is defined by his actions, his choices resulted in a moment of self-knowledge. John is consumed with the guilt of his affair. His affair with Abigail is the reason for the witch trials in the first place.  “Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of your mind. We never touched, Abby.” John is trying to end his relationship with Abigail.  Abigail is very toxic and starts witch craft paranoia. Later, Elizabeth is arrested for witchcraft and John tries to clear her name. “I’ll not give my wife to vengeance.” John loves Elizabeth and wants to be a good husband. He is trying to turn his life around that stand up for what he believes in.  Last, John begins to forgive himself for his actions. “I can. And There’s your first marvel that I can.” John is proud of his accomplishments.  He would rather die with a good name than live the rest of his life with the guilt of a lie.
In Crucible, John Proctor struggled with guilt of his affair with Abigail and his pride.  John Proctor is a tragic hero. He gains self-knowledge and takes responsibility for his actions.  His noble qualities abandoned his concern for his reputation which enabled him to admit to his sin in order to save his wife.   His pride to preserve his name was his tragic flaw.  These flaws led to the downfall of John Proctor. He died of a crime he did not commit.