John Proctor is the protagonist of _The Crucible_.
He is a well-respected individual within the
community of Salem, Massachusetts.
Traits:
* strong willed
* independent
* hardworking
* honest
Appearance:
* described as a "well-built man," late thirties, farmer, "a farmer of about three
and thirty, his face still hale, his hair dark, his eyes of a piercing
lightness, his frame of a stiffness hardly to be expected in a denizen of
the forest."
Occupation/Social Standing:
* He is a farmer and a respected member of the community.
* He owns a large amount of land and is prosperous.
Reputation:
* He is known for his good name and his honesty.
* He is a member of the church and is considered a pillar of the community.
* He is fiercely independent and dislikes the hypocrisy and pettiness of the
Salem leadership.
Flaws:
* He is proud and stubborn.
* He has a temper.
* He can be arrogant and dismissive of others, particularly those who are not as
well off as he is economically and socially.
Role in the Play:
* He is accused of witchcraft by Abigail Williams and other young girls in
Salem.
* He tries to defend himself and to expose the truth about Abigail's
motivations, but he is ultimately unsuccessful.
* He is executed by hanging.
Significance:
* John Proctor is a tragic figure: a good man who is destroyed by the forces of
ignorance and superstition.
* He represents the voice of reason and sanity in a world gone mad.
* His death is a warning about the dangers of mass hysteria and the importance
of due process of the law.