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John Proctor As A Tragic Hero

John Proctor is a tragic hero according to Arthur Miller's definition. As an average man in Puritan society, Proctor had an affair which would typically have little consequence, but the Salem witch trials magnify his sin. Proctor refuses to falsely confess or sign away his name and dignity to escape punishment, as that would reduce his character. Though his good actions lead to his death, Proctor remains virtuous by refusing to compromise his honor even when faced with superior forces and the opportunity to live. His tragic fate arises from circumstances beyond his control, but he dies with his integrity intact, making the ultimate heroic sacrifice.

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Khushi Randhawa
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244 views1 page

John Proctor As A Tragic Hero

John Proctor is a tragic hero according to Arthur Miller's definition. As an average man in Puritan society, Proctor had an affair which would typically have little consequence, but the Salem witch trials magnify his sin. Proctor refuses to falsely confess or sign away his name and dignity to escape punishment, as that would reduce his character. Though his good actions lead to his death, Proctor remains virtuous by refusing to compromise his honor even when faced with superior forces and the opportunity to live. His tragic fate arises from circumstances beyond his control, but he dies with his integrity intact, making the ultimate heroic sacrifice.

Uploaded by

Khushi Randhawa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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John Proctor as a Tragic Hero

 
John Proctor is the embodiment of a tragic hero within the parameters set by Arthur Miller. Arthur
Miller defines the tragic hero as an average man. However, in order for this “average man” to become
a tragic hero, he must have a “fault”, that leads to his tragic downfall. This fault is the inability to
accept his fate if it would reduce the dignity of his character. The hero’s tragedy is made more
poignant by the impossibility of victory in his chosen struggle pitted as he is against superior enemies
or forces working against him. But what is it that defines nobility or humanity? Not necessarily purity of
actions in the past, but purity of mind and spirit. The hero will suffer anything rather than sign away his
honor, name, and dignity.
 
While the tragic hero is no different than the average man there are, however, accidental
circumstances surrounding his tragedy that differentiate him from ourselves and allow, or force, his
particular tragedy to unfold instead of our own. John Proctor, a simple farmer and an average man in
every way: he is married, he has children, and he owns a farm. Mr. Proctor is not a rich man, but not
overly poor and he has respect and dignity within the puritan community. Although John is a puritan,
he is not devout and has strayed and sinned in the past in his affair with Abigail. John does, however,
behave as honourably as possible following his discovery by admitting to his sin and making every
effort to put it behind him. In John’s ordinariness we can see ourselves: we pity his plight whilst
fearing that we could so easily find ourselves in a similar situation.
 
In another time or place John’s sin would have had no more serious consequences than the myriad of
adulteries that are every day committed, discovered and passed over but the hysteria unfolding in
Salem during the witch trials magnifies the consequences of his simple sin and he is dragged into
court in an attempt to clear his wife’s name of the charges of witchcraft against her. Instead, he is
found guilty of witchcraft by Danforth who represents the insuperable forces of a blind, jealous, greedy
and self righteous society that he finds himself in opposition to.
 
At the very end of the book, John is offered a way out; if he confesses, he is to be freed. However this
confession requires a signature, and this would be degrading to his dignity. John thus resigns himself
to the tragic fate that has been cast upon him. However, his ‘flaw’ is not his sin with Abigail but instead
his inability to sacrifice something as seemingly small and insignificant as his name and honour in
return for his life. The audience are therefore torn: our sympathies for Proctor would have him live but
our desire that he remain a virtuous man require that he not compromise his honour. The tragedy lies,
then, in the fact that Proctor’s good action, the only action he can really do while remaining a good
man, leads inevitably to his death. Out manoeuvred by a series of consequences beyond his control
Proctor goes to the gallows a gallant man unwilling to compromise on his ideals and, thus, he dies a
hero’s death.

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