Is John Proctor a tragic hero?
INTRO
The concept of a tragic hero originates with the philosopher Aristole. He states “the change in the hero’s fortunes be not from misery to happiness, but on the contrary, from happiness to misery, and the cause of it must not lie in any depravity but in some great error on his part”
Tragic hero-goodness, appropriateness, lifelike, and consistency
All of these attributes can classify john proctor in the crucible
It is not onlt the textbook definition of a tragic hero, but also the fact that he captures the sympathy and pity of the readers
THESIS
BODY—John starts in a bad place
He lived a respectable life in a puritan town with a wife and three children. Initially, the audience discovers that Proctor and Abigail had an affair. His wife was sick and he kinda turned his back on her: “I know how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I come near… you loved me then and you do now!”
The initial flaw is a requirement of a Aristotle’s tragic hero> but quickly Proctor rebounded and tried to get back on Elizabeth’s good graces. He perseveres and tries to redeem himself.
Johns flaw, his inability to control himself and his temptations, begins his path to becoming a tragic hero. His missteps paved the road for future glory.
BODY—Overcoming Mistakes
He begins the start of this when he confesses to his wife: “No more! I should have roared you down when first you told me your suspicion. But I wilted, and, like a Christian, I confessed.” (55).
Confessing to his wife is not full redemption. He still hides behind the picture perfect perception of Proctor that others have so as to not tarnish his reputation.
He finally overcomes his mistakes and settles into hero-dom when he decides to testify against Abigail despite his guilt: “she thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted”
This is the climax of the play
John finally overcomes his sense of self worth and realizes that he must put aside his individual needs and sacrifice his reputation for the good of the community.
BODY—Death in honor
The epitome of John Proctors honor and grace that define him as a tragic hero is his self-sacrifice. He chooses not to sign a false confession which not only redeems him for committing adultery, but also serves the community. He accepts death rather than betray his friends and neighbors. He rises above Abigail and all the others who let this go on, and chooses to become a symbol that doesn’t allow reassurance to the people of the court: “you will not use me! I am no sarah good or tituba, I am john proctor! You will not use me!”
Is John Proctor a tragic hero?
INTRO
The concept of a tragic hero originates with the philosopher Aristole. He states “the change in the hero’s fortunes be not from misery to happiness, but on the contrary, from happiness to misery, and the cause of it must not lie in any depravity but in some great error on his part”
Tragic hero-goodness, appropriateness, lifelike, and consistency
All of these attributes can classify john proctor in the crucible
It is not onlt the textbook definition of a tragic hero, but also the fact that he captures the sympathy and pity of the readers
THESIS
BODY—John starts in a bad place
He lived a respectable life in a puritan town with a wife and three children. Initially, the audience discovers that Proctor and Abigail had an affair. His wife was sick and he
