Due to the intense growth of the hysteria, the accusations of witchcraft become uncontrollable. Abigail is one of the accused girls and also happens to be the Reverend’s niece. Following these events he tries to save the lives of innocent townspeople by admitting to this horrible offence of adultery. This would have looked upon as very blasphemous indeed as in a Puritan society, peoples lives were based upon the Ten Commandments. He has clearly sinned against the commandment of “Thou shall not commit adultery”
Although John has committed past wrongs with Abigail, he is very devoted to his wife, and is willing to stand up for her whenever necessary. He tries to please her by complimenting her cooking “It’s seasoned well” Nevertheless we know that he is not satisfied and is only putting on an act because of his initial actions “Then he lifts out the handle and tastes. He is not quite pleased. He reaches to a cupboard, takes a pinch of salt, and drops it into the pot.” But, Elizabeth does not always display the same kind of trust, although she must love him, for she didn't leave him when he committed adultery. She doesn't make things easy for him, as she is often suspicious. There is a sense of emotional distance between the couple, through body language and their bland and strained conversation topics. “It’s winter in here yet”.
Later on in the act Elizabeth had, been accused by Abigail of witchcraft. Proctor was prepared to risk his own neck if Elizabeth was in trouble, even right after they have had a dispute as he did when Cheever came with an arrest warrant for Elizabeth. Proctor becomes angry and concerned, "Herrick, Herrick, don't chain her! Damn you, man, you will not chain her” The concern in his behaviour shows that he does love his wife.
The relationship between John and Elizabeth Proctor goes through almost unrecognisable changes. At the end of Act 4 we hear a warm and passionate exchange. John says to her "I have been thinking I would confess to them, Elizabeth. What say you? If I give them that?" to which she replies, "I cannot judge you, John" It is as if now there is more trust in the relationship, he wants her to judge her, whereas before, he didn't. At the end if this scene Proctors only hope to save his wife by is through Mary Warren. His only option is to take her to court and is dependant on her to tell the truth.
Although the dilemmas faced by Proctor in Act 2 are relatively minor, compared to later test events, they help to set up the structure of the following acts. Miller builds up tension in the play by creating acts with a calm beginning and then escalating the drama and tension towards the end of the act, where the characters and passions become increasingly inflamed and violent. Additionally each act starts with a level of conflict that has been established in the previous act.
Proctor’s conscience is further emphasised by the strong dramatic effects… these include volume, tone, pace, linguistic devices etc. The use of repetition augments the tension. When Mary was stammering in court the audience would feel intense and she is one of the key features at that moment. Also when the girls start to repeat everything that Mary is saying has an effect on the audience making them feel very frustrated. Mary: “Stop it!!” Girls: “Stop it!”
Pathetic fallacy is used to add effect and reflect on the characters mood. Throughout the play the contrast between light and dark is a prominent feature. In the footnote at the begging of act one Miller has used the image of light "There is a narrow window at the left. Through its leaded pains the morning sunlight streams. A candle still burns near the bed… The room gives of an air of clean sparseness." This symbolises that everything is in order, there are no bad things happening. Light throughout the play is use to symbolise good. As the story line continues the atmosphere and even the scenes themselves become darker and more sinister, even the weather becomes more glum and depressing. Dark is used throughout the play to symbolise bad. For example, the courtroom is always dark; there are no open windows and no candles. In some cases certain characters bring light into a scene that was dark, like John Proctor. But when he is accused of witchcraft the light that accompanies him became a lot dimmer.
He did have a chance to live but instead of signing away his name to keep his life, he wanted to die honourably with his friends, rather than live a life of guilt and carry a blackened name. Proctor has come to regard himself as a fraud as long as he remains obedient to an authority in which he cannot respect. As he talks with his wife Elizabeth discussing the matter of whether or not he would confess, he tells her of what a fraud he is. “I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is a fraud. I am not that man. Nothing’s spoiled by giving them this lie that were not rotten long before” While in other words he believes that he cannot be his true self when he has to abide by lies and not by his morals. He acknowledges that he is a sinner and that another lie, to save his life won’t make any difference. Then who will judge me? God in Heaven; what is John Procter? I think it is honest, I think so; I am no saint. Let Rebecca go like a saint; for me it is fraud!' He struggles with his decision, but decides; Hale: 'Man you will hang you cannot!' Procter: 'I can. And there's your first marvel; that I can. You have made your magic now; for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Procter. Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs.'
He is caught in a web of moral dilemmas involving not only his own fate, but that of his wife, his friends and the entire Salem community. He does not want to be remembered like that, he wants to be remembered and looked upon as John Proctor, the simple and moral farmer, nothing more. John Proctor has a choice, to commit himself to one side or the other. The choice was to either live with lies, guilt and no name, or die for his friends and in an honourable and justifiable way. As he is handed the testimony and a pen to sign away his life, he realises that he shouldn’t give into the corrupt ways of the unjust people, but rather stand up for what he believes in. He has to choose and his choice was to die which was a choice to commit himself to his friends as an honest man. One thing he reflects on is this: “I have three children - how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?” John will not be able to face anyone if he lives because they will see a liar, a coward and an unmoral man. If he was to sign away his friends, then he and his family would carry that forever and he would not be remembered as a friend, but rather as a foe. His choice to die will have him leave this world being remembered for his dignity, not only to his family and friends but to himself as well.
John Proctor’s frequent absences from church services didn’t exactly gain him favour in the eyes of other disciplined Puritans. Having an affair with a young girl no less did not help matters much either. But by following his character and reading into him, it can be detected that he really was a just man. He was an imperfect human being like the rest of the town. He was made of flesh and therefore made mistakes like everyone else. But his intentions were for the good of his family. Because John came to the conclusion, on his own and because it was a righteous and un-selfish act, John Proctors decision to tell the truth and be put to death for it is true and justifiable.
Such a courageous decision can parallel John to many martyrs as these martyrs died for what the believed in, so to did John. John can also be compared in some ways to Jesus Christ who is greatly remembered as a saviour as he sacrificed himself to confirm his devotion to God and faith in what he believes. Like Jesus, Johns views were went against many peoples previously ‘set in stone’ series. We’ve always regarded Jesus actions as moral and principled; similarly, we can regard Proctors actions as pure and sufficient proof that he had a high spiritual level and a strong conscience.
