Moreover, it is shown many times throughout the play how critical Horatio is for the play’s plot as a character with great importance to Hamlet, the truth, and the ending outcome of the whole play. First of all, Horatio is Hamlet’s best friend, which makes Horatio a valuable character to other characters in the play, mostly Hamlet. This is the first reason why Horatio’s role is important to the play, the fact that Horatio reveals Hamlet’s own identity and character to himself. Understanding the reasons why Hamlet holds Horatio in such high regard provides much insight into Hamlet’s disposition. We see Horatio always there listening to Hamlet’s plan to take action and kill his uncle, and always helping Hamlet out with anything he can.
Loyalty is also the willingness to make a personal sacrifice for what you believe in or for one you truly care for. Throughout the play, there are four main characters that demonstrate their loyalty through their actions and risk their own lives to fulfill the wishes of a person they loved and admired. These characters include Hamlet, Laertes, young Fortinbras and Horatio. One of the prime examples of loyalty in the play is the relationship between Hamlet and his father. Hamlet is presented as a devoted son to the memory of his father, King Hamlet.
Elizabeth sees his inner goodness shine when he refuses to lie about being involved in witchcraft, and she realizes how unfair she has been. John Proctor saves the lives of the others who are accused when he unselfishly declines to save his own. He acts as a martyr when he places others before himself. He would rather die an honorable death than live a dishonorable life, which is what precedes him to be the tragic hero of the play. John Proctor, being a very complex character stuck in a world full mischief, madness, and chaos shows a major change as the play unfolds.
Is John Proctor a tragic hero and is this play an example of a tragedy? John Proctor portrays the tragic hero in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.” Proctor, the protagonist of the piece, is revealed to the audience in his time of anguish and struggle, making his untimely death all the more unfortunate. In this tragedy, Proctor fights to save the town from insanity and chooses his death, rather than shame, in his struggle. The elements of a tragic hero are applied to Proctor in order for the audience to a feel sympathetic connection to a character who committed an unholy sin of adultery. John Proctor though not of high noble stature is, nonetheless, a good man and is highly regarded in Salem.
And you must needs have hear, how I am punished with a sore distraction. What I have done that might your nature, honor, and exception roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness. (5.2 243-246)” Here Hamlet apologized to Laertes saying that his madness was at fault for the murder of his father. A person who was insane would neither realize that he/she is mad nor would know that their actions were uncontrollable. Hamlet showed that he was sane when he was with specific characters, such as his best friend, Horatio.
In my opinion, Hamlet is a young man that deeply loves his father and is severely affected by his death. Even though Hamlet has learned the truth of his father’s death by his uncle, he is indecisive. He hesitates and cannot bring himself to kill Claudius. At the right moment in which Hamlet could have murdered Claudius he becomes doubtful. It is because Claudius is speaking his prayers to God and Hamlet is unsure if he should strike in fear that he will be sent to hell.
.“A damn'd defeat was made. Am I a coward?” Hamlet states about himself. A life without trust can lead to self destruction. Hamlet cannot trust his own mother because he believes she married the man who killed his father. He cannot trust his stepfather Claudius because Claudius is the murderer.
Due to his indecisiveness on making key decisions, Hamlet suffers from the tragic flaw of procrastination. Hamlet procrastinated with his revenge of his father’s death, prioritizing his love for Ophelia, and his decisions on deciding to make the kill. Hamlet was procrastinating with his revenge of his father’s death because he was too indecisive on when and how he was going to do it also whether or not the ghost was right. Prioritizing his love for Ophelia, Hamlet did not show his love to Ophelia until she was just a cold, dead corpse being put 6 feet under. Finally Hamlet had the perfect opportunity to get his revenge and yet again his indecisiveness is getting the best of him.
Explain the significance of John Proctors refusal to have the confession nailed to the church door. Do you believe this makes him heroic? John Proctor is a tormented individual. He believes his affair with Abigail irreparably damaged him in the eyes of God, his wife Elizabeth, and himself. True, Proctor did succumb to sin and commit adultery; however, he lacks the capacity to forgive himself.
Proctor's reason for attempting to avoid any involvement in the Salem Witch Trials is provoked by his earlier mistake of committing adultery with Abigail Williams. Proctor's guilt results in moral questions he must answer for himself in the midst of the town's hysteria, creating a wedge between him and his society. Miller displays this separation through the use of indirect characterization, internal conflict, and external conflict. Proctor's otherwise principled life is haunted by his mistake, eventually leading to his demise. Procter's guilt, stemming from his lechery, causes him to become hesitant to speak publicly because of his fear that he will reveal himself as an adulterer.