A character study of John Proctor

"I have given you my soul.Leave me my name"

Introduction

In my opinion John Proctor is a very brave man.I think this because although there is alot of pressure on all the characters, Proctor stands up for what he beleives is right.

He wants to be a good man and this is proved when he wont betray his freinds or blacken their names and the way he cares so deeply about his name and reputation, quote "I speak my own sinns;i cannot judge another.I have no tongue for it."This quotes is effective and clearly shows us the kind of man Proctor is, how he is willing to put his own life on the line but he will never betray his freinds.

He wants to gain respect from his children and his wife, Elizabeth.He's

his own person who wont be told what to do or think, even by Danforth who is a very strong character, who places alot of pressure on Proctor to confess and names names.But Proctor wont and really sticks by his beleifs.He comes across as to the point, direct and blunt. He wont suffer fools gladly!

Act 1

Proctor is introduced in the first act and comes across to the audience as someone you wouldn’t like to cross. We get this feeling from the description given of him.Quote:"He was a kind of man-powerful of body,even tempered, and not easily led"and also "In Proctors presence a fool felt his foolishness instantly." I feel both of these quotes make us feel weary of this Man. feel Proctor has a side we don’t know about or even would be afraid of knowing. We can tell he is a very powerful character and obviously creates an atmosphere between him and other characters in the play.He almost separates himself from others just by the way he Is. appears to be a man of little integrity or conviction.

As the act continues the audience discover an affair which occurred between Procter and Abigail.This is a great sin and we almost feel distant from proctors character, as if hes a sinner.

Quote: " 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 your mind,we never touched Abby."

He is in a nervous state and doesn't want this behavior from Abbey.He is ashamed of what he did.We know he is also angered at himself for the sin of adultery and knows its not gods way and that it's very wrong.He wishes to forget it but finds it hard to fight off abbys feelings for him.

As the act progressed we learnt of the differences between Parris and Proctor.They are two very seperate characters with different beleifs and ways of living life.Their is great tention between the two.Proctor does not like the way Parris does things and is open about his negative opinion of the "AUTHORITY".He is not afraid to let everyone know what he thinks of them which i think is a brave way to live but sometimes his opinion is not necessary and dosn't need to be known by others.

Act 2

The act opens with Proctor and this is the first time we get introduced to Elizabeth Procter.We can see Proctor has great respect for his wife although he struggles to be a good husband after seeing Abigail.I think that Elizabeth also finds it hard and feels she has to prove to her husband that shes a good wife.I think she knows John wont play away again but blames herself for why he did in the first place.

Compared to Proctor Elizabeth has little power and seems to us a rather mousy character.When Elizabeth finds out about Proctor and Abigail being alone together she is not angry bit dis-heartened and looses all faith.Proctor quickly jumps to his innocence and blames Elizabeth for being over suspicious.Quote;"Spare me!You forget nothin'and forgive nothin'.Learn charity, women.I have gone tiptoe in this house all seven month since she is gone.
The tention between the two, has been built up to break here, where we learn how Proctors Lechery has effected the relationship between them, and has made it hard for Elizabeth to trust John.Elizabeth ...

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Proctors strength is shown again in this act.His anger towards Mary Warren is frightening and we remember how strong and fearless Proctor is.

Quote:"As soon as he sees her,he goes directly too her and grabs her by her cloak furious."

Proctors anger is soon drained by curiosity and he is eager to know what has been going on in the court.We are shown Proctors opinion of witch craft.He thinks its noncence and stubbornly doubts Marry warrens story of people being condemned.Mary is strained by Proctors disbeleif and has to persuade Proctor of the goings on.

I think Marry warren is brave to stand up to Proctor.Although she is terrified she manages to stick up for herself, refusing a whipping which not many would do.I think this shocks Proctor and he suddenly feels disgust for Mary who thinks she can belittle him.

Proctor has a great deal of respect for reverend hale.I think Hale makes him feel quite threatened and nervous.He trys to keep in his good books.

Quote:"No,no.We are not use to visitors after dark,but your welcome here.Will you sit you down sir?"

We learn of another sin commited by Proctor.He rarely attents church on Sabbath day.which makes us wonder why?We discover Proctors disliking for parris is deeper than we first thought.Proctor speaks as if hes hiding something although i didnt beleive he was.Hes put back by questioning off Reverend hale and when asked to recite the ten commandments he struggles to recite"thou shall not commit adultery."I really feel for Proctor here and we can see that this is a task for him.He knows what he did was wrong and is almost ashamed to recite this commandment.

We begin to learn more about Proctors character.We suddenly feel we can relate to his situation.I think we know Proctor has a good and honest heart which weve later to discover.Procter tells revernend hale of his know abouts of the children being sick due to which craft and calls it pretence.We can see he only wants to do whats best.Even this early on we can see Proctors protection for his freinds.He is angered by Rebbeca being taken to the jails and clearly disturbed by this decision.He is destined to stand for her innocence.Quote:"How may such a women murder children?"

He holds the same attitude when his wife is charged.He cant beleive Abby would do such a thing and he knows shes doing it through jeolousy and want.He knows Abby wishes to take Elizabeths place.He seeks help in Mary to help prove Elizabeths innocence in the whereabouts of the poppet.Procters power comes through once again when he quotes "will you see her taken?"This line is directed at Hale and the stage directions show "to Hale ready to break him."He blames hiself for the taking of his wife.He can barely look at her leaving.He promises her to bring her home soon and we know from this point Proctor will keep his word and to do this he needs Mary Warrens help and will place alot of pressure on her until she does so.

Act 3

Proctor arrives to the court holding Mary Warren who is in a state.The other characters seem to be shakened on his arrival and his powerful sense seems to effect all in the room.Although he carrys this description well he knows his place againt Danforth.Proctors bravery really comes through here for the first time.Its something he must do no matter how threatened by Danforth he is.Danforth questions him about his little attendance at church,the lechery and why he ploughs on sunday.Proctor faintly faulters but is prepared to explain himself.He is a hero figure at this point and it comes across what a good man Proctor is.He is willing to make a fool of himself to save others which i really respect him for.Quote:"These are my freinds, their wives are also accused."

Procter speaks of him and Abigail and why he believs Abby has accused his wife.Abby loves Proctor which we know from act 1 yet she is quick to consem him through jelousy.Shell do anything to be beleived by Danforth and the court and takes these measures although i think it hurts her greatly.Proctor directs the charge of murdering at her.He compares her to Elizabeth and talks kindly of his wife.He speaks of how she would never lie.Again we see Proctors love and respect for his wife.I think Proctors character has really come out now compared to act one where he was distant from the audience and seemed a stubborn sort.It is here we get to see the real John Proctor.But in Danforths attempt to prove that Elizabeth speaks the truth always he tests her.I think this is wrong because Elizabeth lies for her husband.Their relationship is already un-steady and she dosnt want Proctor to be ruined.She lies for love and is devastated when she finds Proctor has confessed his sinning.

The bird scence in this act, i feel, is very important to the story line and for the audiences understanding of witchcraft and the goings on between the characters and within the court.Proctors actions in this scence are true.Hes the kind of man that beleives only what he sees and calls the bird pretence.Hes angered by Abbys strange actions.We know this when he offers to show her the whip.Quote:"Give me a whip,ill stop it."I dont think this line frightens us at this point in the play because we feel were part of the fight to prove these peoples innocence.We know Proctors desperate to show whats right even if his behavior comes across as un-nessacery and forward.Proctor is having none of Abigails lies and again is making sure everyone knows what he thinks of Abby and the bird.Quote:"lies,lies!"

When Mary turns suddenly on Proctor he is astonished on what shes saying.I think Proctor reacts in the wrong way towards the accusations and does himself no good by speaking badly of heaven and Danforth.He mentions hell, which in thoses days was a reality and to go there was to be a devils worker.Quote:"You are pulling down heaven and raising up a whore."He relates to Abigail as being a whore and the was he sentances his opinion of Abby and of what the court is doing is cleverly done.Its very effective and Procters character shines through when he speaks this.The way Proctor reacted was instictively related to his character.He again speaks his mind openly even though he is guilty of nothing, he makes himself out to be.We see Reverend Hales respect for Proctor here.Hale quits the court on Proctors behalf.Proctor is sent to the jails.

Act 4

Elizabeth is carrying a child by this point so she will be kept for a year for her child to be born.Danforth sees this as a privalage and Proctor should be grateful, but this dosnt satisfy John.Its not enough.Elizabeth is sent by Danforth to soften up Proctor to confess to save his neck but he is not willing to live a dishonest man.He knows lying is wrong and he will die a truthful man.This is a emotional time in the play.Proctors powerful image has fallen and we see Proctor weak.The sight of Elizabeth is heaven to him.He wants Elizabeth and his children to respect him and his decision and Elizabeth tells him she wants him alive but wishes not to judge him.Elizabeth convinces her husband that she has faith in him and when he asks her if he should lie and confess to witchcraft or tell the truth and die for it she tells John that the decision is his to make, and she sets him free of her judgement. This gives him the strength to make a decision with confidence, because his wife believes that he will do the right thing.

When proctor quotes:"I cannot mount the gibblet like a saint.It is fraud, i am not that man." means he will not lie, he is not a man who could or would lie just to save his life.He knows it wrong although everyone else thinks its the saintly thing to do, confess.But he will not confess when he is innocent.He does not want to be a saint.It is at this point he looks directly at his wife.We can tell Proctors ashamed of himself and feels hes doing wrong by Elizabeth.He wont hear her put herself in the wrong and pulls the blame upon himself to protect his wife.Proctors want and love for life is passinate and he confesses to Hathorne.Proctor is tired of fighting for what is right.He feels he can't do it and feels he has no more strength.Hes ready to give up.With his last bit of dignity, he refuses for his coffesion to be written.Anything but that.He admits to seeing the devil.Yet he will not mention of anyone else who was involved in doing the devils work.He will blacken his name but not others.We see here a true and loyal man.Quote:"I speak my own sins, i cannot judge another.I have no tongue for it."

Their is alot of pressure on Proctor yet he refuses to sign his name on paper.He tells judge Danforth that he cannot have his confession and name nailed to the church door because it would betray his friends who have already died for the truth.He does not think to deney it when free but he knows its the only name hell have in his life,hell never have another and he will not blacken it with lies.Mary warren, also wavers his decision.He sees her as a godly lady and knows she is right when she is prepared to die telling the truth.He feels hes given them his dignity,pride and soul and his name is little to all of these things.It is one thing he wont give up on.He is incredibly brave.He dosnt want to be an angel and he dosnt beleive he is a good man but he thinks of himself better than to give lies to dogs.He tells his wife to syand proud and not to weep for him.He beleives this pleasures them.Elizabeth now knows this is Proctors final decision.She will not follow him but let him die a truthful man who will hold his head high for bravery and honestly.

Conclusion.

I think my essay backs up my opinion of John Proctor.He was a good man!I feel Proctor was a strong person.He stood up for what was right even though the penalty was death.He fought long and hard till the end and i think nothing but good things of this.I also think the characters in the play respected him greatly too.Reverned Hale,by act 4 had a high respect for Proctor.I think he really did beleive Proctor and wouldnt stand by the decision of Proctor being hanged so therefore he quit the court.I think this shows great honestly from Hale.He follow his heart just like Proctor.The characters are alike in that sense.Also Elizabeth beleived John was a good man.She knew he thought good of himself at the end of it all.We know this because john quoted "I cannot mount the gibblet like a saint.It is fraud, i am not that man"and then at the end of the play he goes to execution saying "Now i do think i see some shred of goodness in John Proctor."When the two quotes are compared we can see that John died thinking he did right which i beleive he did.

John is very much like Martin Luther king.Martin Luther king stood strongly for his beleifs againt racism.He had a great understanding of colour people and racism itself.He didnt only fight for racism but freedom and social change.This is exactly what Proctor did.He stood for what was right.He was brave and fought for freedom of his freinds and the town of salem.Proctor changes from a timid character held in bondage by his sin to a strong, righteous man who will die for the truth. I think this change is down too the faith of his wife and the influence of other people who share his beleifs.Another example of the change in Proctor’s character through out the play is when he finds strength to tell the truth from the example set for him by the citizens of Salem who he respects. He values the opinions and beliefs of the upstanding people such as Rebbeca Nurse, who he cant beleive her goodness, Giles corey and also Reverend Hale.All these people also stood by their principles even if it meant death.

I think Johns changes in himself throughout the play are triggered by seperate things except one reason which signifys the change is his self determination to become what he felt was a good man.Although his freinds thought him to be upright, his shame and guilt from his affair with Abbey has almost destroyed his self concience.John experienced emotional changes thourgout the play to help him become a better man.His pride and selfishness vanished but his humble side came through and he is willing finally to admit and live up to his mistakes so he makes the decision to die strongly and for what is right.He is a brave man.