Is John Proctor Worth It Essay

Was it Worth it? John Proctor learned that maybe it’s okay to tell a white lie, in order to keep your life. Proctor was a tragic hero in the sense that he tried to save his wife and many others, even if that meant ruining his name in the town. He also refused to admit to being a witch in order for his kids to able to keep his land. John was sure to stay very quiet about his affair with Abigail Williams. After she started making false accusations he knew that something had to be done so that no other person had to lose their lives. Once he found out that Abigail had accused his wife, Elizabeth, of being a witch and stabbing her with a needle using a poppet, he knew enough was enough. He had Mary Warren confess to have been the one to make the doll and that she never saw any spirits of the other accused people. After Abigail started accusing Mary of witchcraft, Proctor called out Abigail, stating “How do you call Heaven! Whore! Whore” (Miller, 1206). Being the time period and the religion that they are, making a statement like that was a big deal. John wanted to put a stop to all of the madness even though it meant tarnishing his name.
In order to do that, he made the decision to have men with an abundance of land, accused of being a witch. Giles Corey was accused and instead of confessing to being a witch he didn’t say anything at all. If he were to have confessed, after he was hanged his land would’ve been given up for auction and Putnam would’ve bought it as quickly as it was released. John was asked to confess to witchcraft, and instead of confessing to save his life, he wouldn’t agree. He was sentenced to hang and his wife would be hanged soon after their baby were born, his children would get the land and Thomas Putnam wouldn’t win. John Proctor was a tragic hero, and didn’t deserve to die. He risked his life to make sure the truth about witches came