Complexities of John Proctor
October 1, 2008
Daniel Day-Lewis plays John Proctor in Arther Miller's "The Crucible"
John Proctor is a man with many qualities. As all humans do, he has weaknesses and strengths; some more prominent than others. Throughout the story we see all different sides of him laid out and all different emotions. He is a complex man who struggles through guilt as he tries to find himself.
Proctor is an honest man. After his short adulterous lifestyle with Abigail Williams, he confesses to his wife without hesitation. He admits to lechery, and goes in front of the court in order to stop all the lies. Honesty is a definite strength, but with all strengths come weaknesses and his weaknesses are guilt and lust. As he is confessing his crime to the court he says, “She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And while she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat.” He recognized his crime and came forth, all to save the ones he loved.
John Proctor is a loving man. Love, for him, is both a strength and a weakness. The love he has for his friends and family forced him to speak about what he knew, even though it was a risky attempt. That same love for his family almost made him ruin his name; for he feared being without his wife and children. The love he has for his family turned out to be a weakness in itself, since it silenced him forever.
Dignity and honor are both strong attributes involved in the complexity of John Proctor. His honor and name are things that he strives to keep good. “Because it is name! Because I can not 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? I have given my soul; leave me my name!” From this statement, it is evident that he does not want others to judge him, nor think negative thoughts at the sound of his name. When Elizabeth, his wife, inquired about his sultry affair, Proctor could only reply with harsh words and cruel conjectures. He would not have people relate his name to witchcraft. His sense of honor and dignity truly make him a good man.
For John Proctor, there is a fine line between weakness and strength. His strengths may be considered weaknesses because they ended his life. Knowing that you died a good man and for reasons that should be honored can be of great satisfaction. All the qualities of Proctor make him an honorable man, loving husband, and trustworthy friend.
