John Proctor's Flaws In The Crucible

In The Crucible John Proctor was open-minded and moralistic enough to improve himself throughout the crucible. From the beginning of the story he fights to redeem himself and his soul, after cheating on his wife. He knew that it was his responsibility to correct his wrongs or his soul would be ruined. At the climax of the court scene Proctor recognizes that he has made mistakes, saying “I have quailed” and “we will [all] burn”(Miller.120). John Proctor’s recognition of his flaws and efforts to redeem himself are the reason he is able to ultimately save his soul.

Danforth shows what happens when one is unwilling to admit their problems. Although Danforth’s intention is to save Salem from the threat of witchcraft he plays a role in Salem’s

progression into hysteria. Even when John Proctor presents clear proof and Hale is lending his insight, Danforth can not be swayed. As the trials turn bad, instead of righting his wrongs, Danforth just becomes fiercer in his persecutions telling Proctor, “you will give me your honest confession...or I cannot keep you from the rope” (Miller.144). It is obvious from this statement that Danforth is looking for anything to avoid admitting his mistakes. Even when John Proctor presents clear proof and Hale, the witch hunter, lending his insight, Danforth can not be swayed. Although Proctor and Hale try to advise him otherwise, Danforth’s fear and inability to admit wrongdoing prevents him from self-improvement. with Allie’s death, the grief of it follows him around. Even though it’s been years Holden can’t let this go enough to allow him to live a normal life.
Lastly, when Holden addresses his current state in a mental institution he speaks vaguely about what is next for him. Even after all this trouble he has gone through, Holden brushes off his past and future problems saying “That stuff doesn’t interest [him] too much right now”(Salinger.276). This shows Holden hasn't fully accepted that he has a problem that must be fixed. Despite being in a mental institute Holden still doesn't own up to and accept that he has a problem. This lack of change even after so much strife, criticism, and learning experiences show that Holden’s close-mindedness
In The Crucible, Reverend Hale serves as the rational, outsiders opinion during the trials. At the start of the trials, Hale is a supporter of Danforth, but once he realizes the court’s have been making mistakes he tries to fix it. By telling Elizabeth, “Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook my own” (Miller.132), Hale recognizes he is at fault and needs to fix it. In the end Hale tries his hardest to save Proctor, and although Proctor dies in the end, he made up for the “blood on [his] head”. By professing his guilt and leaving the corrupt court, Hale improves himself.
For all these characters, acceptance or lack thereof was the make or break factor in their journey towards self-improvement. Whether it was the hard-headed Holden who was unwilling to accept his own faults or John Proctor whose self-reflection saved his soul in the end. Outsider advice had no impact and self improvement had to come from within the character. Overall, change was only brought to those who admitted to needing change.