John Proctor Character Analysis

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John Proctor, a well-respected farmer, is come face to face with a difficult conclusion and because of his dignity, decides to keep his reputation while saving the innocent; unfortunately this is the concluding cause of his downfall. “Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut of my hand before I ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby.”(Act II) Proctor, admits that he does think about the times him and Abigail did spend together, when they were seeing each other, but he is done cheating on his wife. He is committed to Elizabeth, and no longer wants any part of this ongoing affair. He wants to have trust in his heart that the affair he had with Abby never happened. For Proctor, the affair…show more content…
“How do you call heaven! Whore! Whore!! Mark her! Now she'll suck a scream to stab me with. Beg you, sir, I beg you, sir, I beg you. See her what she is. My wife, my dear good wife, took this girl soon after, sir, and put her out on the highroad. And being what she is, a lump of vanity, sir Excellency, forgive me, forgive me. She thinks to dance with me on my wife's grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore's vengeance, and you must see it.”(Act III 189) Proctor finds out what Abigail’s true motivations, she’s jealous. Jealousy and aspiration, to get at goody Proctor, and his…show more content…
The courts want him to sign a legal statement of his actions, to post on the church doors. The court feels that if the community sees that if someone honest confessed, they will feel that it's all right to confess also. Proctor refuses to sign. He knows that a false submission would not only make others look down on him, but also put a dapper on his image. He has high levels of integrity, by refusing to give up his personal integrity, he feels he will be rewarded eternal life in heaven. “You have made your magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs.” (Act IIII) Proctor would rather die knowing that he did not give in, and that he stood up for what he knew to be true. He also declined to give the names of innocent community members. Proctor realizes that if he gives the names of innocent citizens they will be hanged. So instead he feels he has no choice, but to do the right thing, and die for the good

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