Arthur Miller's Crucible

Proctor had been born into a wealthy estate in Massachusetts, and later had moved to Salem and leased one of the largest farms available: ‘Groton’, a 700-acre property. His wife, Elizabeth, and his daughter also ran a local tavern. ‘Along with establishing himself as a prosperous and wealthy farmer, Proctor also diversified his economic interests by owning and operating a tavern on Ipswich Road. His economic standing was undoubtedly recognized within the community even though he held no official title.’ It looked as though he was feared and respected by the community, though not as a Christian. He was described as being a sinner, and it looks as though he was fighting an inner battle with himself, as most of his sins violated not only the moral standard of the community, but his own creed itself. “He was the kind of man—powerful of body, and not easily led—who cannot refuse support to partisans without drawing their deepest resentment. In Proctor’s presence a fool felt his foolishness instantly…the steady manner he displayed did not spring from an untroubled soul. He was a sinner, not only against the moral fashion of the time, but against his own vision of decent conduct... Proctor, respected and even feared in Salem, had come to regard himself as a kind of fraud. But no hint of this had yet appeared on the surface…” (pg. 19) 

Proctor was the first male to be accused of being a wizard. The accusations against him may have been a result of his vehement public defense of his wife, Elizabeth. ‘Proctor wrote an impassioned letter to the Boston clergy, claiming “we are all innocent persons.” He described the unfairness of the court proceedings and how torture was used to extract confessions. His letter may have made an impact on the clergy, but it was not in time to affect the trials. On August 5, both John and Elizabeth were found guilty. Elizabeth’s life would be spared because she was pregnant. But Proctor himself was hanged on August 19, 1692.’ At his execution, he pleaded for more time, saying he was not yet ready to die. He had yet to make peace with the community, and with God. ‘One of 19 victims hanged in 1692, John Proctor embodies the legacy of innocence connected to the trials and executions of 1692. Proctor maintained his innocence until his death, all the while questioning the methods of the court and its acceptance of spectral evidence. Because of his constant protest of the court proceedings, Arthur Miller found John Proctor to embody many qualities important to The Crucible.’