The Crucible: John Proctor A Victim Or Villain?

Thesis Statement
John Proctor is both the victim and the villain. Although he committed adultery and hid it from his wife, he also confessed to it. Instead of confessing to everyone that would lead him to ruining his reputation yet living, he decided to die as an innocent man.

Outline
I. Villain
A. He is cheating on his wife with Abigail
B. He is hiding the fact that he is cheating on his wife for seven months
II. Victim
A. Abigail is coming between his marriage
B. He is getting hung for something he didn't do

Hernandez 1
John Proctor: Villain or Victim?
In the play The Crucible there is a man by the name of John Proctor. John Proctor is married to a woman by the name of Elizabeth Proctor and has two sons. They…show more content…
That way once Elizabeth is out of the picture Abigail can be with John once again. Elizabeth was taken into court and John confessed to the jury that he had relations with Abigail, that’s why Abigail is accusing Elizabeth of doing witchcraft on her. After John has admitted to cheating on Elizabeth, he is told he must be hanged for committing adultery, but will be shown to the people that he is being hanged for witchcraft. Instead of him surviving and having a bad reputation, he’d rather be hanged as an innocent man. “PROCTOR: Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Galan’s 969).
Coming to the conclusion that John Proctor is in fact the villain and victim.

Hernandez 3
Works Cited
Galen's , David. The Crucible. 3. Detroit: 1998. 120-140. eBook.

Moss, Joyce, and George Wilson. Literature and its Times: profiles of 300 notable literary works and the historical events that influenced them. 1. Detroit: 1997. 78-86. eBook.

Saari, Peggy, and Elizabeth Shaw. Witchcraft in America. Detroit: 2001. 203-211.