These beginning quotes describing Proctor begin to hint towards us about his character. Miller gives us the sense that Proctor is well respected and holds a firm and positive influential status in Salem. This small introduction paragraph tells us that Proctor is very noble, and is acting as a “hero” of the village.
“In proctors presence a fool felt his foolishness instantly” this is showing us that Proctor is a type of person who will not stand any foolish or idiotic behaviour however soon Arthur Miller begins to tell us that Proctor “has come to regard himself as a kind of fraud”. This could be telling us that although Proctor is a feared and respected person of the community, he has committed sin(s) which he is repenting for. He has feelings of guilt within him, for something which he has done.
Right at the beginning Proctor shows his power and authority, as he is talking to Mary Warren “Be you foolish, Mary Warren? Be you deaf? I forbid you leave the house, did I not? Why shall I pay you? I am looking for you more than my cows!”
Automatically Proctor makes a big entrance into the play. He treats her harshly and firmly and clearly shows his dominance within the room and society. This point states that heroes are generally powerful and influence others around them and always have a say and higher status.
This shows that other characters are scared of him, and respect him knowing of his power and might, “Trying to retain a shred of dignity, she goes slowly out”.
We are introduced to Proctor’s affair with Abigail. This point does not show any sign of heroism “Looking at Abigail now, the faintest knowing smile on his face” Proctor is clearly giving into the temptation of Abigail. “I may have looked up”.
Towards the end of this conversation, we receive a clearer picture of what Proctor and Abigail’s relationship is really like. Proctor treats Abigail with warmth but he is firm about not wanting the relationship to continue. “Gently pressing her from him, with great sympathy but firmly”: Child. We are now aware that even though Procotor is a hero and how his status and respect is affirmed before the people of the society, he still has faults and a weakness which whom till this point he is only aware of, this links back to the earlier point that Proctor regards himself as a kind of fraud.
Proctor is feeling guilty and does not want this relationship to continue, “Abby, never give you hope to wait for me”. This is showing us that Proctor no longer wants to pursue their relationship. Somewhere he still has tenderness and responsibilities towards his wife Elizabeth. Generally if heroes give in to any sort of temptation, they are usually stereotypically shown to re-think their current actions.
Proctor does not allow Abigail to speak abruptly about Elizabeth and threatens her “You’ll speak nothing of Elizabeth”. He still yet defends his wife showing us he has some feelings for her, even though after his affair with Abigail. Proctor is trying to resist temptation, and he still wants to fulfil his basic duties towards his wife as a responsible husband. This is another point showing us Proctors heroism. As the audience can realise the change within Proctor and him re-thinking his decision, showing that he has the power to retaliate and resist, which are general qualities of a typical hero.
Proctors relationship with Elizabeth is restrained, they are both trying really hard to be polite and respectful to each other, but clearly Proctor feels that Elizabeth hasn’t forgiven him for his adultery.
In Act two Proctor tries to gain forgiveness from Elizabeth, he says “Spare me! You forget nothing ‘and forgive nothin”
Another point at where Proctors heroism is emphasised is in Act two when he rips up the warrant and risks his own liberty for his wife. This is showing us that he still loves his wife, and is prepared to go to any extent to save her and retain her respect and dignity. He is putting himself in danger for his wife; self sacrifice and defending others is a typical sign of heroism.
Proctor is also accused of not going to church, suspicion quickly begins to arouse, as it generally would in the society and in that time. Proctor quickly defends himself and says “I nailed the roof upon the church, I hung the door-“
This is again providing evidence and shows that Arthur Miller displays to us that Proctor is a hero as he did something and helped the community. One reason why Proctor may not want to go to church is that he isn’t very fond of hearing talks on hell and other negative aspects of his religion. On top of this he has his guilt about having the affair with Abigail. So he together avoids going to church and tries to avoid being faced with God and his sins, and tries to avoid hypocrisy, this again links back to the statement and conflicts with Proctor having “A sharp and biting way with hypocrites”.
Proctor sees the hysteria as nonsense and cannot believe how other people are reacting. When the women of the village are arrested Proctor aids their husbands to defend them.
Ultimately, this leads to Proctor under-pressure confessing to his affair with Abigail and gives this as a reason for the accusations the girls are making. He knew that this would result in the loss of his reputation, but he did not realize that his word would be turned against him. He is accused and taken to jail. “I lusted and there is a promise, I such a sweat”. Proctor admitting his affair, makes our belief in him being the hero stronger, as he did tell the truth eventually. Truth is one main quality in a typical hero. Although we know he has committed sins and done wrong, he still has confessed, which again a typical hero would do, confess any past or present sins at one point and protect others.
Proctor also defends his friends and their wives. This shows us that he is still a loyal and trustworthy friend; he takes the troubles and responsibilities on his shoulders. This is yet again another sign of his heroism. Generally a hero can go to any extent to save or protect his loved ones, just as Proctor is shown to do in the play.
He also stops Giles Corey from getting into further more trouble, and is determined to help. “Peace Giles, well prove it all now”. This point again merges with heroes helping and risking themselves for their friends, and loved ones.
Further on in Act three Proctor is not afraid to defend himself or speak up. “You are pulling heaven down and raising up a whore” he rebels. This again shows us that how heroic Proctor is, as he is able to stand up for himself and for the dignity of his religion and speak out. This point links back to when Proctor first enters the room, he is shown to have a hero-like character, and he shows his dominance. So Proctor has no fear in speaking up to anyone even if it is someone with a higher status than him, this also shows his courage, all these are typical quality’s of a hero.
The play ends with the death of Proctor and other highly respected characters in the village. He is unable to sign a confession that would save his life because it would harm his character and self respect. Proctor eventually dies a heroic death, maintaining his innocence of witchcraft and his good name, whilst also confessing his guilt as an adulterer.
As a typical hero, Arthur Miller shows Proctor’s heroic side in many ways across the play, with little things such as helping the community to standing up and sacrificing himself for his community and most of all loved ones! After becoming aware of his sins and affair, the audience may be left to feel deceived and let down. But then after becoming aware of his acts of heroic deeds, the argument may balance and they may seem that he should be forgiven of his sins.
In conclusion, I would say that ‘The Crucible’ is a very powerful play written by Arthur Miller. It contains many strong themes. John Proctor was conveyed as a true hero, although he committed adultery. Finally when Proctor is hung you truly realise that how strong, defensive and heroic of a character he was. There were many sides of Proctor to see, from the respectful and feared man, to the one who was seduced and fell for Abigail.
By refusing to give up his personal integrity Proctor implicitly proclaims his conviction that such integrity will bring him to heaven. He goes to the gallows redeemed for his earlier sins. As Elizabeth says at the end of the play, responding to Hale’s plea that she convince Proctor to publicly confess, “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him”.