How Arthur Miller Effectively Illustrates the Strength of John Proctor, a Character in His Play, the Crucible
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In the text, 'The Crucible', with the use of several different examples Arthur Miller represents the extent of his character, John Proctor's strength.
Arthur Miller begins the play with an example which immediately indicates the strength of John Proctor to the reader of the play, this early introduction implies how Proctor's strength may prove to be a vital part of the play or a necessity in his character. In this example he states, "This predilection for minding other people's business was time-honoured among the people of Salem, and it undoubtedly created many of the suspicions which were to feed the coming madness. It was also, in my opinion, one of the things that a John Proctor would rebel against, for the time of the armed camp had almost passed, and since the country was reasonably-although not wholly- safe, the old disciplines were beginning to rankle." Clearly this means that although vain enjoyment in minding other people's business was a fairly common practice in Salem at the time, John Proctor had the strength to oppose it. It also states that in it's desire to modernize the theocratic society of Salem was having to watch some of it's "old disciplines" disappear through the rebellion of such John Proctors. Miller continues this idea by saying "Simply it was this: for good purposes, even higher purposes, the people of Salem developed a theocracy, a combine of state and religious power whose function was to keep the community together, and to prevent any kind of disunity that might open it to destruction by material or ideological enemies." This once again simply states the main aim of the society. Nowhere in the above explanation is it mentioned that these practices, which are set up in order to protect the people, may be opposed if found faulty, nor does it specifically mention anything about how, if an opposition were to arise how they may rebel in an orderly fashion. This strength, the one required to oppose a whole society and it's foundation is...
Arthur Miller begins the play with an example which immediately indicates the strength of John Proctor to the reader of the play, this early introduction implies how Proctor's strength may prove to be a vital part of the play or a necessity in his character. In this example he states, "This predilection for minding other people's business was time-honoured among the people of Salem, and it undoubtedly created many of the suspicions which were to feed the coming madness. It was also, in my opinion, one of the things that a John Proctor would rebel against, for the time of the armed camp had almost passed, and since the country was reasonably-although not wholly- safe, the old disciplines were beginning to rankle." Clearly this means that although vain enjoyment in minding other people's business was a fairly common practice in Salem at the time, John Proctor had the strength to oppose it. It also states that in it's desire to modernize the theocratic society of Salem was having to watch some of it's "old disciplines" disappear through the rebellion of such John Proctors. Miller continues this idea by saying "Simply it was this: for good purposes, even higher purposes, the people of Salem developed a theocracy, a combine of state and religious power whose function was to keep the community together, and to prevent any kind of disunity that might open it to destruction by material or ideological enemies." This once again simply states the main aim of the society. Nowhere in the above explanation is it mentioned that these practices, which are set up in order to protect the people, may be opposed if found faulty, nor does it specifically mention anything about how, if an opposition were to arise how they may rebel in an orderly fashion. This strength, the one required to oppose a whole society and it's foundation is...