Crucible - John Proctor As A Tragic Hero

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John Proctor as Tragic Hero in the Crucible

In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, the small town of Salem is engulfed in hysteria due to the

accusations of children that many of the townspeople partook in witchcraft. Among the accused

is John Proctor, a strong, steadfast farmer. John Proctor fulfils the requirements of a “tragic

hero” by his actions throughout the story. His “tragic hero” status is illustrated by his efforts to

save his wife from being put to death, his attempt to prove the children are making fraudulent

claims, and his unwillingness to confess to practising witchcraft when accused.


Proctor is a tragic hero in his efforts to save his wife. Proctor’s first display of trying to save his

wife is shown when the Court officials come to take Elizabeth away. Proctor is so infuriated by

this assault on his house that he rips the warrant and tells them to leave rather forcefully saying,

“Damn the Deputy Governor! Out of my house!”(77), demonstrating his intense love for his

wife. Proctor shows signs of being a tragic hero when he attempts to go into court to save his

wife and prove the girls liars. However, he ends up being accused himself. Mary Warren is in

court testifying when she suddenly breaks down “ hysterically, pointing at Proctor, fearful of

him: My name, he want my name. ‘I’ll murder you,’ he says, ‘if my wife hands! We must go and

over throw the court,’ he says”... “ [Proctor] wake me every night, his eyes were like coals and

his fingers claw my neck and I sign, I sign…”(119). Thus John Proctor fails in trying to rescue

his wife from the clutches of the false accusers; instead he falls prey to them.

Proctor establishes that the children are lying in court with respect to their accusations of the

townspeople. Proctor first learns of this through his household servant, Mary Warren who is one

of the accuse...