What were the changes in John Proctor's character throughout the play "The Crucible"? ( Arthur Miller)

Essay by Sami DahlanHigh School, 10th gradeA+, December 1996

download word file, 8 pages 4.7 1 reviews

Downloaded 116 times

In The Crucible, John Proctor initially portrayed a sinful man whom had an affair, struggling to

prove to his wife that he should be trusted again. The dishonesty of the betrayal of Elizabeth and his

marriage to her changed, though, by the end of the play. This transition in Proctor's character

showed he transformed from a deceitful man and husband, to one whom was true to himself as well

as his beliefs. This paper will discuss Proctor's change in character and his struggle with getting to

the point in his life where he was finally at peace with himself.

In Act I, John Proctor displayed his guilt about having an affair with Abigail Williams, a young girl

of seventeen 'with an endless capacity for dissembling.' Proctor convinced himself he was a sinful

man that had done wrong, and to have respect for himself once again, he must break off all ties with

Abigail. When Abigail mentioned to Proctor the relationship she and he once had, he said to her,

'No, no, Abby. That's done with,' and, 'Abby, you'll put it out of mind. I'll not be comin' for you

more.' Even when Abigail tried to persuade Proctor to admit his love for her, he still denied it and

claimed he had no love for her any longer. She said to him, 'I know how you clutched my back

behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I came near! Or did I dream that? It's she

put me out, you cannot pretend it were you. I saw your face when she put me out, and you loved

me then, and you do now.' In all of Abigail's persuasion to try to get him to admit his love for her,

Proctor replied, 'Abby, I may think of you...