In the play THE CRUCIBLE, BY ARTHUR MILLER, -set in the Puritan town of Salem Massachusetts America in 1692- there are many characters, of which John Proctor is very important. Arthur Miller has tried very hard to create John Proctor as a heroic figure throughout the play; seen most in Act 4. This essay will describe and explain whether or not Arthur Miller was successful in doing this.
The play was written by Arthur Miller in 1953, at the time of anti- communism in USA. It is very ironic that this play was based on the Salem witchcraft trials at the time of the anti-communism, because both times people were accused of being wrong- in the witchcraft trials, people were accused of being witches even though they were not and were given the punishment of death, and during the McCarthy trials, people were accused of being communists, when they were not. When the Salem witchcraft trials took place, anyone who confessed of being a witch and being connected with Lucifer- the Devil, and also gave another person’s name, or lots of other names they were let off and were not hanged. If however a person did not confess and stayed adamant, they were hung. Similarly, during the McCarthy trials, if a person was accused, and they gave another person’s name then they would be free to go, but if they didn’t they were put into prison. In my opinion, the Crucible was written at this time because in the Crucible at the end, every one realised that whatever was happening was incorrect and in the same way Arthur Miller may have wanted to show this through writing the play at such a time, so that the people realised that what was happening was incorrect and should stop before it was too late.
In the end of Act 3, John Proctor was arrested and accused of being “…the Devil’s man!” This was said by Mary shortly after Abigail and her friends pretended to see Mary’s spirit in the town hall, attacking them. In Act 4, John Proctor decided to confess to witchcraft -even though he was not in any way connected with the devil and witchcraft-, because when he was with Elizabeth talking, he told her he was thinking about confessing and asked Elizabeth about it too. She too wanted him to live, so indirectly she was going to lead him onto the path of lies, something that was strictly forbidden in the Puritan society of Salem at that time in history. At this crucial and most important part of the play, both Elizabeth and John Proctor have changed very much and so has their behaviour towards each other. In Act 2, we can see that Elizabeth and John Proctor’s relationship is not as good and as strong as husbands and wives usually have. They seem very far away from each other and also a little uncomfortable, not getting on as well as they should be. In the stage directions in the beginning of Act 2, John is not very pleased with Elizabeth’s cooking, as it says “.as he swings a pot out of the fire and smells it. Then he lifts out the ladle and tastes. He is not quite pleased. He reaches to a cupboard, takes a pinch of salt, and drops it into the pot. As he is tasting again, her footsteps are heard on the stairs. He swings the pot back into the fireplace and goes to a basin and washes his hands and face.” This shows us that John does not feel comfortable doing what he is doing in front of Elizabeth and so this shows that there are distances created between the two. This part of the play also shows that John is ashamed after confessing his affair with Abigail to Elizabeth. This has created major differences between them and Proctor regrets telling his wife. However, towards the end of the play especially act 3 and 4, Elizabeth and John Proctor become closer as Elizabeth is pregnant. John Proctor then decides that it is best that he confessed to witchcraft. Elizabeth is proud of John and supports his decision for he wants to live for his children and wife. This scene is said to portray John Proctor as a heroic figure because he confesses to something that is false and wants to live his life with his wife and children. It makes him sound heroic also because of the fact that he knows that the entire community will know about him being connected with the Devil, as his signature will be visible in all public places, especially the Church. The home of God, where the Devil is supposed to be banned from entering. By signing the paper, he is disgracing his name amongst the community. He is sacrificing his honour and self- respect only to be with his family, and not many people are able to do that, so Proctor is said to be a heroic figure.
