Essay

Hannah McCaffrey
AP English: F- Mr. George
November 23, 2008
The Crucible Essay

The actions, judgements, and events that took place in Salem in "The Crucible" were tragic. While many characters contributed to the story’s unfortunate results, John Proctor bears more blame for these events than anyone else. John Proctor committed the fundamental action that initiated a series of events leading directly to the Salem witch trials. Although the reasonable and honest John Proctor did not intentionally try to create this situation, he still deserves the most blame.

In "The Crucible," John Proctor is the character who is most responsible for the deplorable acts of the Salem witch trials. He is to blame for the action that started a chain reaction of unfortunate events that resulted in a town’s tragedy. John’s affair with Abigail was a major sin that caused everything else to happen. Even though Abigail was part of the affair, John is more responsible because he is an older, married man. He should be held accountable for the affair since he should have been the one to say no. The results of this affair contribute to the witch trials.

It may seem that Abigail was the main cause of the witch trials because she told many lies. However, she would not have done this if it was not for the affair with John Proctor. John is married to Elizabeth Proctor, and once John ended his affair with Abigail, she became very jealous of Elizabeth, willing to do anything to get John back. John even said it himself, "I’ll tell you what’s walking in Salem–vengeance is walking in Salem"(Miller 77). She was so desperate that she even resorted to witchcraft. As Betty explained, "You did, you did! You drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!"(Miller 19). If John never agreed to an affair with Abigail, she would never have resorted to witchcraft, which was accompanied by countless lies. John Proctor’s own actions greatly affected the actions of many other characters, especially Abigail’s. John Proctor’s thoughts and actions had such an impact on others that they even affected the actions of his wife, Elizabeth Proctor.

One of the major recurring themes of "The Crucible" is pride and protecting one’s name. John Proctor is by no means immune to this. Although he was very honest, Proctor was a proud man nonetheless. He was very ashamed of his affair with Abigail and was reluctant to reveal this great sin. He was honest, and did eventually tell Elizabeth about the affair, but he was also very hesitant to expose his sin to others because of the damage that it would do to his name and reputation.

This attitude rubbed off on Elizabeth at what could have been a major turning point in the plot. Danforth brought in Elizabeth to see if she could confirm Proctor’s story about his affair with Abigail. Elizabeth lied and said nothing about the affair. The Proctors were honest people and Proctor realized why Elizabeth lied, "She thought only to save my name!"(113). The trial should have ended at this point and it was John Proctor’s fault that it did not end here. His affair and pride in his name led Elizabeth to want to protect John’s reputation, as well. Even though this was done inadvertently, it is still John’s fault because it was his thoughts and actions that influenced others.

John Proctor certainly did not intend to cause something so awful. He is to blame for the false accusations and hangings of the witch trials. Fundamentally, John Proctor was a good and truthful man who took responsibility for his actions, and even blamed himself for all of the events. John blaming himself for these actions is evidence in itself that he is mostly responsible. He openly states that he is at fault for everything that happened in Salem, "I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face"(120). He sees his actions as so wicked that he calls himself the devil because he failed to tell the truth from the beginning. He sees his actions and sins and how they influenced others and believes them to be more evil than the devil. Also some of Proctor’s dialogue with other characters shows how he was "angered–at himself as well"(23). He openly takes responsibility for being the most at fault for the witch trials.

Although they were not intentional, Proctor’s actions make him the most at fault for the events in "The Crucible." His initial and continuing thoughts and actions started chain reactions, leading directly to the disastrous witch trials. Being an honest, overall good person cannot save John Proctor from bearing the most responsibility, and the most blame, for the saddening results of this novel.