The Character John Proctor in ‘The Crucible’

To begin, Abigail was one of the causes of John Proctor’s death. First, Abigail started it all and continued it. “I never called him! Tituba, Tituba…” (Miller 42). “She made me do it! She made Betty do it!” (Miller 43). This is about how Abigail started the entire thing and who she starts blaming. She accuses Tituba for starting it. For making her drinking blood and for making betty drink blood also. Secondly, Abigail was obsessed with John Proctor and wanted to take his wife's position. “Oh, John, I will make you such a wife when the world is white again!”(Miller 150). “She thinks to dance with me on my wife's grave! And well she might for I thought of her softly” (Miller 110). Abigail admits to John alone that she will make him a great and loving wife to him in the new world when it no longer has witches and no longer has hypocrites. Then John tells the court that Abigail wishes his wife dead and wishes to take Elizabeth’s place. Thirdly, she threatened the other girls to continue it which then led Mary Warren accusing John. “Now look you. All of you. We danced … let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you” (Miller 20). “Don’t touch me - don’t touch me!” (Miller 118). All the girls are in a room. Abigail tells them that if anyone admits to lying and such, that she will kill them like Indians killed her parents. She directed it more towards Mary Warren because she originally wanted to confess but Abigail didn't want to get in trouble or die. Later on, Mary gets scared after coming clean and doesn't know what else to do so she goes back begging Abigail to forgive her, lying saying John Proctor is a witch. As a result, a cause of john proctors death was Abigail who was obsessed with him.

Another cause of John Proctor’s death was Reverend Parris. To start off, Reverend Parris kept telling the court that Proctor was there to ruin him and to overthrow the court. “They’ve come to overthrow the court, sir!” (Miller 88). Parris tried to save himself by telling the people of the court that Proctor was only there to convince the judges that all of it was a charade and it needs to be stopped because there are no such things as witches and why would outstanding citizens be strangely accused and be a witch? To continue, Parris wanted to take back everything he has done to Proctor because he doesn’t want to feel threatened anymore by the community. “Tonight, when I open my door to leave my house - a dagger clattered to the ground … you cannot hang this sort. There is danger for me. I dare not step outside at night!” (Miller 128). Parris felt extremely threatened by the community and was scared and did not know what to do. He told the judge about it and was nervous around the people of Salem. Lastly, he becomes obsessed and dedicated in the signature of Proctor signing his confession. And gets upset when he doesn’t get it. “It is a great service, sir. It is a weighty name; it will strike the village that Proctor confess. I beg you, let him sign it. The sun is up excellency!” (Miller 141). “Go to him, goody Proctor! There is yet time!” (Miller 144). He wanted to rush things so that John, a well-liked citizen, wouldn’t be hung and so that he wouldn't be blamed for it. Reverend Parris was clearly ignorant and selfish and did things mainly for himself so he could gain power. Him attempting to do certain things like saving John clearly shows him doing something for himself personally.

Finally, another cause of John Proctors death was himself. In the beginning, Proctor had an affair with Abigail when she worked for the Proctor family. Abigail then became obsessed with what happened. “I know how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I come near! … you loved me then and you do now!” (Miller 22). “Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you again.” (Miller 23). Abigail and John were talking about the affair and how John is saying it was a mistake and will never happen again. Next, Proctor threatens Mary Warren that later on leads to her accusing John. “you’re coming to the court with me, Mary. You will tell it in the court … My wife will never die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me!” (Miller 80). Proctor is scared for his wife. He is tired of the lies and wants it to stop so he threatens Mary Warren saying she must go to court and admit it was all a lie and an act. Lastly, John rips up the confession written for him to sign to admit he is a witch. “No, no. I have signed it. You have seen me. It is done! You have no need for this.” (Miller 142). ‘His breath heavy, his eyes staring, Proctor tears the paper and crumples it, and he is weeping in fury, but erect.’ (Miller 144). John Proctor signed the paper and snatched it before anyone could have it. He knows that it is stupid and that it is crazy and that it will ruin his name for him and his kids. He then starts overthinking about it and finally gives in to God and rips the paper knowing it is a lie and wants to die an honest and dignified man in the end to preserve his name and future for his kids and wife. John Proctor was the cause of his own death. He decided to give his life instead of giving into lies.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible: A Play In Four Acts. New York: Penguin Books, 1976. Print.

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