by Charlie Freund
What is there after death? Culturally, we and the people of Salem in the 1600’s believed there is heaven and hell. But there is more, because we also continue to exist in the minds and stories of generations far ahead of our time. Look how The Crucible has immortalized the story of Salem and how the people involved will be remembered as they were illustrated by Arthur Miller. We recognize the good, the bad, the greedy, the kind, the malicious, and the honorable and we will always have that with us, making a almost completely unnoticeable effect on our future. Think how one person effected by someone else, can then have a different effect on other people in a snowball effect. This is why it is so important for one to be remembered, and preferably, well. John Proctor lead a very distinct and proud life that deserves to be cherished in the history of humankind. Proctor died by his own choice, for reasons purely of principle, and justified his adultery for himself and others through his actions . What Proctor achieved through death is something worth striving for in anyone’s life. The most successful life you can have is one that will be embraced in memory.
John Proctor is quite admirable because he changed his life from that of a sinner to become a most respectable man. Proctor was introduced early to having committed adultery against his wife, his mistress just a teenage girl, Abigail Williams. Proctor deeply regretted such an act and felts the guilt on his shoulders constantly though he refused to commit such an act again. It became even more painful for him when he was with his wife. Whenever he was around her, he would worry she was still upset, so he went out of his way to be extra kind and loving. The separation between the two was sadly obvious in their rather cool and fake conversations over dinner one night. However, Proctor always knew he loved Elizabeth, his wife, and they finally united again in the end of The Crucible when they met in the jail. The love between them was strong as John came to amends on his adultery with Elizabeth and himself. This strong reconciliation of John’s acts shows that he is characteristically a dignified man.
The fact that Proctor decided to stand against the wave of witchcraft is why he was hanged. John’s great character shone through when he went against the majority and spoke out against the witchcraft trials. He tried with all his might to prove the innocence of Gile’s wife, Francis’ wife, and his wife. And he continued to go any length to achieve this such as revealing his adultery. He confessed this in order to prove that Abigail did have reason to try to get his wife killed, but it failed. Also, when Proctor brought Mary Warren to testify that the girls were lying, he ended up only bringing pain on himself. After preparing signed testament of Mary’s confessions, it seemed set that he would finally persuade the judge that the girls were lying. But, Mary gave in to Abby’s threat and did a 180 on Proctor, accusing him of dealing with the devil. So, Proctor again brought problems on himself for trying to do what was right. Yet, his intentions were very noble and would have been impossible for most people to do. It took incredible courage to stand up with just a few others against a self-centered priest, an egotistical, righteous judge and a town that followed the two.
Finally, Proctor died by his own choice because he would not veer from his principles and ethics; and he went down with courage. He had a last choice to make, to live with great shame or to die with dignity. If he were to live, he could have stayed with Elizabeth for at least a year, or more if her hanging was finally called off . Also, he had a child on the way to take care of and educate. This is why he at first chosen to “confess”; so that he could live. On the other side, if he lived, everyone would believe he was evil. He would have been thought of as a devil worshipper or a warlock for the rest of his life. And his child would grow up with this local belief that his father is evil. Thus, Proctor’s whole life would be put in shame. Maybe that wasn’t bad enough, but he would have also been required to confess that his friends were witches also. This meant not only would John Proctor be forever remembered as a warlock, but Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey would be known as witches after their death also. This is where John Proctor took his last stand on what is right or wrong. He boldly chose to die rather than legitimize those accusations against himself, his wife, and his friends. And that is honor. This is how Proctor’s goodness shines through the glumness of the story. Thus, this is how the man will be remembered.
Overall, not every life has a chance to be scribed down for future generations to always have. In The Crucible, John Proctor gains that such a fortunate opportunity. Now, his actions will be known by almost all and he will be recognized as a giant among men for generations to come. Even without it, his effect would still be there because he portrayed what was ethical for someone to do. He invokes a sense of justness that is deeply embedded in one’s mind. There is no equation, no method to determine how his actions have changed history for the better, but it has at least a little. When we think of people that have taken his actions to heart, and then followed in his footsteps to do what is right, the good could be unimaginable. John Proctor died for dignity. And that dignity will last for centuries to come.
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