The Trial Of John Proctor

In the play John Proctor is put in a tough situation between life and death. Proctor can either confess to witchcraft, which is a lie, or stick with the truth and get executed. John Proctor believes in keeping his reputation clean and decides to stick to the truth and get killed because of it. Proctor wanted to be remembered as the man who stuck to the truth no matter what rather

Proctor was reluctant to admit adultery, since it was considered a very high punishable crime. He tries to find other evidences that would keep his name clean and prove Abigail is wrong. Another example that shows that Proctor deeply cares about his reputation, is that he was able to get free if he says he had committed witchcraft and is an ally of the devil. Proctor was having trouble lying because it would ruin his good name. Then he is asked to sign the paper saying that in writing, which would hang on the church door for everyone to see, he couldn’t.

His actions create a situation where he has to do what he thinks is best, not going through with his confession, knowing he will be hanged. John Proctor has more than one thing motivating him though the story. The biggest thing motivating him in the beginning of the play would be his integrity. “A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now.” pg 110.

John Proctor made many decisions during the movie. He believed that his family came first. He was willing to disgrace his name by admitting to adultry instead of let his wife hang for witchcraft. He signed a confession admitting to witchcraft, even when the audience knew he wasn’t guilty. He signed a false confession in order to save his wife.

In his final act, Proctor atones for his mistakes and delivers a scathing denunciation of the witch trials. He nearly gives in when given a chance to admit his guilt in front of everyone and yet survives, even signing a written confession, but withholds his infidelity to save face from the court because of his great pride and concern for public opinion. Even yet, towards the play's conclusion, he is more concerned about maintaining his integrity than his good name. He still wants to preserve his name for purely personal and religious reasons. Proctor is taking a real spiritual and emotional stand by refusing to give a fake confession.

Proctor describes his name as irreplaceable and pleads with Danforth for he “cannot have another in [his] life.” (Miller 143). Also, he comments on his innocence and argues that if he were to sign the statement he would be signing himself to lies. Even though he says he has given Danforth his soul, he is still trying to preserve his name. Through these declarations, Proctor relays the dire importance of his reputation.

There are many ways that John Proctor’s actions, speech, and decisions in Acts 3 and 4 illustrate a man in conflict with his society. One way that his speech shows him being in conflict with society is when he yells --with a cry of his whole soul “Because it is my name! Because I cannot 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!

When Judge Danforth asks Proctor to give his honest (false) confession, Proctor refuses to confess because of the “shred of goodness in [himself]” (Miller 144). John Proctor decides to confess at first because he thinks his honesty has already broken, and he has nothing to lose by confessing. He thinks it’s more beneficial to make a false confession so that he can stay alive for the sake of his wife and children. However, when Proctor finds out the court wants a written confession that would be publicly announced, he reconsiders his action. John Proctor says the court will not “use [him]” to influence public opinion or condemn other innocent people to death (Miller 142).

It is clear that Proctor places importance on how people view him. For example, John Proctor is faced with a tough situation after he commits adultery with Abigail. “I mean to please you Elizabeth” (Miller 1268). Proctor says this to Elizabeth, making it clear to her that he holds more importance in the relationship with his wife than his reputation. Proctor goes with the hard decision to come forward with the truth, he could've easily denied it.

Also, Proctor is thinks about his children. He does not want to be a bad role model for their children. During the scene where Proctor had the choice to confess, “Proctor tears the paper and crumples it and he is weeping in fury, but erect”(133). Proctor tears the confession paper because he realizes that honor is more important. He decided to stop living a sinful life of lies and become a better person so, he refuses to get anyone else involved with the witchcraft controversy.

Self-alienated from the puritan Salem community, John Proctor is seen as a defiant Christian. His choices are denounced by the church as he refuses to have his third son baptised by Reverend Parris having “see[ing] no light of God in that man” despite him being ordained “thus the light of God is in him.” This defiance of religion and community has him seen as a threat to the power and influence of the church more specifically Paris. This fear of being overthrown is what initiates the church to be sceptical of Proctor, which is what leads to his eventual death. Throughout the play, Proctor is seen as “either with [the] court or he must be counted against it”, and considering his pride will not waver, he is ultimately counted against it.

He had very strong beliefs about his reputation and what other people would think of him and also what god would have in his future if he didn't confess. He was afraid that his name was going to be blackened and what the consequences were coming on his way. Before he was accused of witchcraft, he was afraid that his sons would never respect him and think him as a coward for carving into the court. Then he was accused of doing witchcraft and by doing that judge danforth wants to posted on the church door but proctor wouldn't stand it, by stating he is a which, john proctor feels that giving them this lie, is in line with his view of himself as a sinner in the eyes of god and a fraud in the eyes of the ones he love. By posting his signed confession holds a deeper truth for john proctor, he's not willing to shame his god, his boys, his wife and friends.

Proctor is a well respected upperclassman and him sacrificing his life led to his family living a greater life. To the court with great emotion proctor states “ Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (143).

Proctor even told them he is not something to be used to help them, “you will not use me” (4, 699). Proctor will not allow the town to use his name to save themselves for killing all the innocent people before him. Proctor even pleads with them, “I have given you my soul; leave me my name” (4, 730). Proctor is saying how the integrity he has is only left in his name since his soul has been sinned.

It Proctor values his reputation, albeit in a positive way (unlike characters such as Abigail) when he says"Because it is my name! Because I cannot 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 may I live without my name?