John Proctor - Tragic Hero
...ery tragic hero has a tragic flaw, and in The Crucible, Arthur Miller reveals John Proctor is not involved in the community. This very serious flaw leads to the downfall of John Proctor. If John Proctor were more involved in the community, he would not have suffered and the mass hysteria which became known as the Salem Witch Trials, may not have even occurred in the first place. John Proctor fails to let the community his knowledge of the real motives between the accusations which led to the Salem witch trials. He is the only one who is aware that the girls are just accusing people to save themselves from punishment. At first the accused are expendable people who no one would really miss. John Proctor only becomes involved when his own wife is among the accused. John Proctor says, "I have good reason to think before I charge fraud on Abagail, and I will think on it". (Miller, pg. 54, 1953) Perhaps this delay by John Proctor is because of his lechery that he had committed with Abagail Williams (the leader of the hysterical youth). He did not want to risk the community finding out about his past sins. Proctor's lack of involvement in the community is evident to others such as Reverend Hale when Hale says, "I note that you are rarely in the church on Sabbath day" (Miller, pg. 64, 1953). This lack of involvement in church leads to others forming suspicions that he and his wife secretly compact with the devil. If John Proctor were more involved in the community, he would of known how crazy the community's beliefs in witchcraft were before it was too late. He realizes this when he says, "I never knew until tonight that the world is gone daft with this nonsense" (Miller, pg. 68, 1953). John Proctor would rather die an honorable man than live a disrespected man. This is what makes him the hero he is in The Crucible. He will not allow the community to see a false confession to conspiracy with the devil that he would sign just to save his own life. He does this for the good of his children, knowing that if he dies never being confessed, his children would keep his land. He says, "God does not need my name nailed upon the church" (Miller, pg. 142, 1953). John Proctor swallows his own pride and reputation for the goodness of his wife and to save others. He admits to adultery (which was highly disrespected by the Puritans) by saying, "I have known her sir. I have known her". If there remain any doubts as to John Proctor's motivation, they are cleared when John says, "My wife will never die for me...