Ballinas 1

Alejandro Ballinas

Osman

English 3P, Period 1

16 November 2018

Perception of Proctor

How do the events in this Act affect readers perception of the situation in which Proctor finds

himself?

Proctors situation was presented through Act I, however it did not really bring

consequences to the character until Act II. It was made clear to the reader that Proctor had an

affair with Abigail, without his wife's knowledge. This further leads to complications, on

Proctors fault because Abigail becomes lustful and wants to get rid of his wife so she can have

him all to herself. Proctor is a farmer in his mid 30s, and he was described as an even tempered

kind man in the beginning of the play. However, we notice a shift on the audience's’ perspective

on his character, as he is seen to confront his wife about the affair. Proctor says to Elizabeth, “

Spare me! You forget nothin’ and forgive nothin’. Learn charity, woman. I have gone tiptoe in

this house…. I have

not moved from there to there without I think to please you, and still an everlasting funeral

marches round your heart” ( Act II. 201-208). Proctor tries to justify his behavior by saying that

he has done so much for her and he comes home to accusations of adultery. He feels as if all

these good deeds will make up for cheating, but the readers thinks otherwise. The character traits

used to describe him in the above text, are no longer applicable to him anymore. As the
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sympathy for Elizabeth is gained from the reader the “respect” for Proctor turns into hatred.

Elizabeth states to Proctor, “ then go tell her she’s a whore! Whatever promise she may sense-

break it” (Act II. 517- 519). Elizabeth feels as his husband has made a pact with Abigail, and she

feels betrayed by her cheating husband. Proctor has a difficult way of handling the situation as he

says he will confront her but not for the reasons his wife stated. Proctor is seen to the readers as

unfaithful, not being to own up to what he did, and a coward. These thoughts run through the

mind of the readers because he is letting Elizabeth fall for his mistakes, as she is arrested for the

charge of witchcraft, because Abigail accused her of such an act. At the end of the play he seems

to be determined to tell the congregation of his adultery, but who knows if he will confess, or

continue to be the unfaithful coward the readers think he is.

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Works Cited

Miller, Arthur. “ The Crucible.” California Connections. Sacramento: Houghton Mifflin

Harcourt

Publishing Company, 2010. 458- 539. Print.