how does john proctor’s great dilemma change during the course of the play?

by Aletha Grant 4 min read

John Proctors great dilemma changes throughout the course of the play because he faces having to appeal to Abigail, his wife, and the court all while attempting to uphold his respectable reputation.

How does John Proctor's great dilemma change during the course of the play? Proctor, the play's tragic hero, has the conscience of an honest man, but he also has a secret flaw—his past affair with Abigail.

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How does Proctor emerge from his dilemmas?

Proctor emerges from his dilemmas as a purified saint, gold emerging from the crucible: beyond all crises, he tears his confession and mounts the scaffold, telling Elizabeth: "show a stony heart and sink them with it."

Who is John Proctor in the Crucible?

John Proctor, the protagonist of Arthur Miller's Puritan take on McCarthyism, "The Crucible," is a man who faces several dilemmas, each a sequel to the previous one, showering upon his head like an early American Job.

How does Miller Miller present Proctor's second dilemma in the Crucible?

Miller took artistic license with Proctor's age and position in the proceedings, but he retained the testimonies of the events, knowing that the audience's intense interest in these would also intensify Proctor's second dilemma. With a riveted audience and a near-riven protagonist, he has Proctor speak scathingly of Abigail: "it is a whore."

What is Proctor's crisis as the play opens?

Proctor, about to be swept into the maelstrom of the Salem Witch trials, actually believes his crisis is passed as the play opens; having confessed to wife Elizabeth his adultery with Abigail Williams, he has "gone tiptoe in this house all seven month" in repentence; Elizabeth's judgment, he declares, "would freeze beer."

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What is Proctor's dilemma?

As the play develops, John Proctor's moral dilemma becomes evident: he must decide whether to lie and confess to witchcraft in order to save his life, or to die an honest man, true to his beliefs.

How has John Proctor's character changed from the beginning of the play?

John Proctor is the main character in this play. His personality changes totally from the beginning to the end. Through the play, he goes from a selfish person who betrays his wife to someone who truly wants to make everything become normal and not violate his conscience. First of all, John Proctor is a farmer.

What is John Proctor's dilemma in Act IV?

Proctor's dilemma is not facing death, but facing his own loss of identity.

How has Proctor changed throughout the play and what does his death reveal about the development of his character?

He showed responsibility and no fear as he scarifies his life for his family. Due to all the events John Proctor went through, he changed into a better person. John Proctor changed for the better and became a town hero who died to save lives of innocent people.

What is the purpose of John Proctor's change?

His change is important because it shows how much he wants to prove to Elizabeth that he loves her and not Abigail. This is because he chose to stay with his statement which said that Abigail was a fraud and he chose that which would get him hung.…

Which character undergoes the greatest change in The Crucible?

In the Crucible, many of the characters go through changes because of the intensity of the situation. But there is only one character that I think changed the most, and that is John Proctor who is the protagonist of the novel The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

What causes Proctor to change his mind and not confess?

Furthermore, he cannot betray anyone he loves or help perpetuate the ideologies of fear and blame that persist in Salem. Even though it will cost him his life, Proctor refuses to make a written confession because he will not let the Salem official to use his testimony for their…show more content…

Did John Proctor reach the right decision at the end of the play?

Did John Proctor reach the right decision at the end of the play? Yes, because no matter what decision he made, his life would be over. He could choose to die with honor or live with shame.

What happens to John Proctor at the end of the play?

After having signed, then ripped up his confession, John Proctor declares that he cannot throw away his good name in a lie, even though doing so would save his life. He chooses to die. As John is led away to his execution, Rev.

How has Proctor changed from the beginning of the play What do his actions in this act reveal about his character?

Answers 1. Proctor certainly matures. He laments his behavior with Abigail, Instead of blaming his wife Elizabeth, for his affair, he places guilt squarely on his own shoulders. By the end of the play John has gone from self-righteous philandering to trying to keep any good that is left in his name.

What is John Proctor's tragic flaw?

Honest, upright, and blunt-spoken, Proctor is a good man, but one with a secret, fatal flaw. His lust for Abigail Williams led to their affair (which occurs before the play begins), and created Abigail's jealousy of his wife, Elizabeth, which sets the entire witch hysteria in motion.

How does John Proctor save his reputation?

He is faced with the decision to either confess to or deny the accusations. Ultimately, Proctor chooses to deny the accusations and dies a martyr. Proctor's decision to sacrifice himself is justified because he protected the reputation of those who died and risked being arrested to save his wife, Elizabeth Proctor.