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John Proctor Tragic Hero Characteristics

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A tragic hero is a person who has heroic qualities and is fated by the Gods or by some supernatural force for doom or at least to great suffering. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Salem was in a period of time where witch hunts were frequent which created chaos throughout the town. These witch hunts often targeted innocent, hard working people who were accused of witchery with no actual evidence. As a result when this conflict introduced itself to John Proctor, he exhibited tragic hero traits such as pride, catharsis, and nobleness.

Pride plays an interesting role in the life of John Proctor in The Crucible. During the trials, Proctor daily wages an internal, war between his conscience and pride. His prideful mindset is what primarily caused his downfall; a person who rises and falls because of their own ignorant flaw, which is the true meaning of a tragic hero. Therefore there are several traits that exemplify a tragic hero in John …show more content…
John Proctor was a noble man throughout The Crucible when Elizabeth was taken to jail. Infuriatingly, Proctor questioned Mary Warren by desperately yelling at her to tell the truth and in that desperation he told her, “My wife will never die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me” (Miller 205)! Proctor stood up for his wife and was intent on protecting her at all costs. John Proctor was one of the only men in the play who abided for what was right in the Salem community and respected all people. An example was during his final hour, “I speak my own sins, I cannot judge another. I have no tongue for it” (Miller 239). Proctor refused to smear the names of his friends despite that revealing the other names would have saved his life. The righteousness that he bestowed upon them helps illustrate what a true noble person he truly

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