John Proctor: A Tragic Hero

Words: 604
Pages: 3

Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, follows the lives of the residents of Salem as they attempt to fight their way through the confusion and hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. The protagonist, John Proctor, is easily the tragic hero of the play—he lets his prideful attitude and fear of the public opinion influence his actions, essentially prolonging Abigail Williams’ jealousy-induced reign over the innocent townspeople of Salem. Yet, despite his many mistakes, manages to reveal to the audience before the end of the play why he has been labeled a tragic hero, instead of just a tragedy.
In the beginning of The Crucible, John Proctor is seen as the epitome of remorse. When Abigail attempts to persuade him to continue their affair by