John Proctor's Motivation In The Crucible

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.

The motivation of John’s behavior is to be an honorable man. At the same time he knows he must confess to committing adultery, which will desecrate his name, but save the lives of the accused. In the courtroom, John confesses about his affair with abigail saying:“ She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she, 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 now.” (Act 3 Lines 380-384)

At great personal costs to himself, John reveals Abigail’s true motivation of jealousy and desire. When he confesses to committing adultery,John knows numerous people have died or confessed to having been visited by Satan. However, the confession does not help anyone as John is being accused of

forcing Mary Warren to sign Satan’s book.
The justice in Salem is outrageous.

Proctor’s confession to having seen Satan is fake, and without the confession he must be executed. Proctor’s confession is soon to be revealed false when he states: “ You will not use me! I am no Sarah Good or Tituba, I am John Proctor! You will not use me! It is no part of your salvation that you should use me!” ( Act 4 Lines 281- 283). John’s decision to keep himself honest, while at the same time, wanting to confess, leaves him with a magnitude of frustration aimed at himself. With the option to save himself by lying and confessing about having Satan visit him, John feels that this is his chance to prove to himself that he is not a fraud. John’s decision to destroy the signed confession causes him to forgive himself and not to think of himself as a

fraud.
Proctor chooses to die for the truth, his reputation, and for the people he cares about. He forgives himself and sees the good in all that he has done and tried to do. As John decides to die rather than sign a fake confession, he finally forgives himself and sees the good in all that he has done and tried to do. As John decides to die rather than sign a fake confession, he finally forgives himself of what he considers to be fraudulent behavior by saying, “ I do think I see a shred of goodness in John Proctor.”(Act 4 Lines 746-747 Page 116). John is no longer frustrated at himself for being a fraud. Instead, he realizes what he has done is for the greater good. Choosing not to falsely confess shows that John wants everyone to know the witch trials are wrong and should be stopped. Since John is choosing not to confess, the town is starting to realize that the witch trials are immoral. Now that John has forgiven himself, he can truly say that he is a good man. John knows that not submitting to the court helps prove that there are no witches in Salem.
Since John Proctor is motivated by honor, his decision to admit he committed adultery creates doubt in the guilt of the accused. Johns motivation for being honorable shows that he will die for the truth to reveal the outrageous justice in Salem. For instance, when John decides to confess, it shows that he would rather die for the truth than let the court take his name for themselves which proves to Salem villagers that the witches are normal people.