Term 2 Week 6 Homework

Is John Proctor a hero or not? We have debated this in class. Now choose the most effective point in the argument for or against and write a paragraph on this point with a really effective topic sentence and evidence from the play in support.

,John Proctor, although undoubtedly a noble character in the play, The Crucible by Arther Miller, has too much pride to be classified as a hero, and it is this pride that leads to his downfall. In defining a hero, one of the most crucial elements is that he must exhibit the quality of selflessness. Proctor however, values his good name in the village perhaps more than he should, as it is because of the importance he places on his reputation that he becomes stubborn. This is clear in his refusal to put an end to the growing hysteria and the witch trials when he had the chance, as it means sacrificing the prestige of his name though confessing to committing lechery with Abigail. It is only when he realises that his wife's life is at stake and that to confess is the only option that he does so, however even then this 'pride' is still evident when he states, "I have made a bell of my honour! I have rung the doom of my good name" (98). In the latter part of the play, after he has finally confessed to witchcraft in order to save his  life, it is pride that changes his mind. This is demonstrated when he cries out, "Because it is my name. Because I will not have another in my life. Because I lie and sign myself to lies. Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang. How can I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name" (124). Even though in both circumstances there are lives at stake, John Procter is consumed predominately with concern for his reputation, his name, rather than others as someone who is selfless would be. Consequently he does precisely what he is warned against, and "throws his life away for pride" (115). John Proctor cannot be defined as a hero because of his abundance of pride and lack of selflessness.