How does Miller present Proctor as a character throughout the play of the Crucible?

This shows the authority Proctor has over Mary, we can see he likes everything to run his way. After this event we see Proctor and Abigail Williams in a deep lengthy conversation. This is where we here of the affair between Abigail and Proctor. Abigail was once the maid of the Proctor household until Goody Proctor (Elizabeth Proctor) found out about the relationship. This makes Proctor feel guilty and he cannot forgive himself for what he has done.

Throughout this conversation with Abigail Proctor tries not to talk about the affair, but when we hear of the affair Proctor shows he wants nothing to do with the affair and says to Abigail:

"No, no Abby. That's done with"

Proctor also shows he wants nothing to do with the affair by saying:

"Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby!"

Miller presents Proctor first as a simple person but all the way through the play he is the protagonist, at the start of the play Proctor is not a main character or someone who puts pressure on the play. As the play progresses Proctor tries to stop the Salem witch trials.

At the start of this scene Proctor comes to see what is going on in Salem as Tituba and a few girls are caught dancing in the woods and are convicted of witchcraft. Proctor is a true Christian who goes to church most Sundays, but now he as had to stop as he does not believe in what Parris is doing, In Johns opinion he thinks Parris using the church to gain advantages over the people. He believes in this so strongly that he has not had his latest child baptised.

Act 2

The Proctor we see in act 2 is very different as miller tries to bring out Proctors sensitive side. Proctors influence on this act proves he is noble, at the start of this scene we see an elegant loving side of Proctor. At the end of a long days work Proctor is exhausted and as most people would try and get some rest and be a bit grumpy but we see Proctor trying to make everything okay between him and Elizabeth, most of this scene is a sort of an apology as all the way through Proctor tries to be a nicer character and prove he is a good man as he thinks Elizabeth has lost all her trust and faith she ever had in him. We can sense this with his actions, as the couple are quiet throughout this whole act. While Proctor and Elizabeth are talking Elizabeth is trying to tell Proctor to go tell the courts that he had an affair with Abigail. Proctor doesn't want the courts knowing of this affair as it will ruin his reputation and no one will ever trust him again.

Proctor is trying to keep Elizabeth happy we know this as he says:

"I mean to please you, Elizabeth"

When Proctor finished his meal he looked out of the door among his fields as Elizabeth clears away the dishes. While this is happening we can sense the gloom of the household.

During this scene Elizabeth tries to make Proctor confess to the courts what he knows, as he is losing his temper he repeats, "I'll think on it."

At the end of the scene we see a darker side of Proctor we see a side which then becomes an important part in the play as we see Proctor let out all his anger on Mary warren as there is a poppet with a needle stuck through it and is considered to be a voodoo doll.

We are now seeing all of Proctors problems get on top of him and he can't hold them in anymore.

ACT 3

During this scene Proctor see's his reputation crumble as he has to tell the courts that he had an affair with Abigail, this means he has confessed to adultery as well as cheating. Through this scene we see Proctor finding his true feelings about Elizabeth and that he does love her and that he was stupid to have an affair with Abigail. I think he only realises how much he is in love with Elizabeth and he knows he will do whatever it takes to get her back.

In this scene Proctor exposes himself I don't think this is just for Elizabeth I think this is to help him to forgive himself for what he has done, I think Miller did this to try and make us feel sorry for Proctor. In this scene Proctor also exposes himself by quoting:

"God s dead!"

I think this puts him in a bad situation, he is also is crying while he says and I think tries to make us have sympathy for Proctor. Throughout this Proctor is sacrificing his reputation and he is also ashamed of himself. I think that miller is now trying to say Proctor knows that the witch trials have gone on long enough.

ACT 4

Throughout this scene we see a downside to proctor he is presented weak until the end where he has his life taken and stands up to the courts.

This is the act where it all ends this is where Proctor is sentenced to death. He awakes in a cell and is told he can admit to witchcraft and keep his life.

Proctor then admits to witchcraft so he can keep his life and look after Elizabeth and his children. Proctor has to sign a confession. Danforth says he wants to pin it on the church notice board. He says:

"Because it's my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? Have I given you my soul?"

This shows that Proctor means well for his family because if he hands over the paper he will blacken not just his name but his whole families name.

During this scene we see proctor and Elizabeth in their final glimpse of each other. I think this is where they know how much they really love each other.

Throughout the play of the Crucible we see how John Proctor's image changes in act 1 we see him as a well respected man, as we realise he has had an affair with Abigail Williams and has emotionally tortured himself for this. He is a powerful man as we realise when we see him shouting at Mary Warren (his maid)

In act 2 we see a totally different Proctor we see a sensitive side of him and also he evolves into the Protagonist. We also realise how sorry he is for having the affair, as the whole scene is a sort of apology.

In act 3 we see proctor's image crumble before his eyes. We see him in the courts admitting he has had an affair with Abigail and that she is lying about the witchcraft.

In act 4 Proctor is breaking down and has to condemn himself for not just his sake but his family's sake as well. We see him in agony saying that he wants to live but not blacken his whole families name. This where it all ends for Proctor and he gets hung.

Danny Dargue / English Essay / The Crucible