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 accusers. Proctor deducts from the events that Mary Warren and Abigail, the lead .
