John Proctor’s Conflict Between Personal Identity and Public Image

friendship labels individuals to go through certain morals, values, and ideas that most a lot ar contradicted by what the individuals have self-image. In Arthur Millers novel The Crucible the hero , tail end proctor, is ch solelyenged by his desire to maintain his senior high social standing in the club even though he believes himself to be majorly flawed. illusion follow come throughs within a rigid, theocratic Puritan society which condemns miscreants. His necessity remainder was the difference between the images of his witness personal individuality and that which society produced.John reminder thought himself to be a art and therefore, believed he should non be held in much(prenominal) high social regard. The residential district looked up to him as an honest, full, hard-working man, in watch overs strawman a fool felt his craziness instantly(Miller20). Unfortunately , Proctors innate impulses caused he much internal turmoil, he is a sinner, a sinner no t exactly against the moral fashion of the time, just now against his own vision of decent conduct (Miller20). His extramarital affair with Abigail Williams, a seventeen yr old ex-servant, defiled his own moral code.It besmirched him in the eyes of God, his wife Elizabeth, and himself. Proctor lacks the capacity to forgive his transgressions because he cannot count to wash away his sins. Even though most of the heap around him visualize him in a positive light, he feels a strong sense of vice, ( Elizabeth to Proctor) I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you scarce a good man, John Proctor(Miller 55). Because of Proctors guilt over the sordid relationship between him and Abigail he deems his man image to a be facade.Living under this pretense causes him much harassment though out the account book. Proctor is averse(p) to give up his normal cultism and confess to his sins. Proctor pick outs that he is a charlatan but d oes not fatality to cheapen his identity. His greatest possession is the admiration and integrity associated with his good advert. In the judgeship room Proctor explains why he did not confess earlier that Abigail was a harlot Oh Francis, I wish you had virtually evil in you that you might know me To Danforth A man bequeath not cast away his good name. You sure know that(Miller110).Proctor dreads revealing his sin because the guilt and regret already overwhelms him. He believes that a public display of his wrongdoings will notwithstanding intensify the period of his sin, magnifying his guilt. In such a small community, if he were to call out his indecency, then it would perpetually disgrace his intact family. The guilt that would result from damming his family and himself would be immense. alternatively of letting the town know that the girls allegations are false, Proctor tries to down play the extent of the hysteria so that he whitethorn feel to a greater extent at eas e.Proctors result to Elizabeth when she informs him about the court and possible hangings is sc sullening, but not without conviction Ah, theyd never hang- (Miller52). Proctor envisions of every possible way he can think of to save his wife without condemning himself in the process but eventually realizes that the only way she will survive is by killing his image. Proctor eventually understands that personal identity is more important than a public image. not until the very end of the story does Proctors conflict between his personal identity and public image becomes resolved.John collide withs less significance in his public image and becomes more refer about his personal identity. Even though John has admitted to lechery, the public still holds him with a sense of elevated admiration. A prevalence of the people did not want to see Proctor hang even people who strongly disliked him like sacred Paris. If Proctor signs a written excuse stating he is a witch, then he would set f ree and able to live out the roost of his liveness in comfort with his family. A stipulation in signing the contract is that it will be posted in the town for all to see.Proctor is unable to allow that to happen because it destroys either dignity left he has. The rest of his life would be based off deception and sin. 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 junk on the feet of them that hang How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul leave my name (Miller143) Proctor was willing to spoil is public standing with the comprise that he may live among his family .But, he found himself unwillingly to sign over his personal identity to a lie. Because of this resistance, Proctor was hanged for a evil that he did not commit. Though he was wrongfully executed , Proctor died plot of land maintaining a sense of integrity and morality. Hale- Woman, affirm with him Woman It is prid e, it is vanity. Be his helper -What gelt him to bleed? Shall the dust praise him? Shall the worms withstand his truth? Go to him, suck his chagrin away Elizabeth-He have his integrity now. God forbid I take it from him (Miller 145) Proctor finally was able to clean away his facade that societal pressures determined upon him. He expelled his guilt and sin and was lastly able to gain back his virtue. John Proctors most demanding struggle was between who he believed himself to be and what society believed him to be. His sins caused tension skirt his outward appearance and his inward self. Millers book helps to illustrate how one overcomes the battle of such contention. Every human being has his or her own defects, but to develop into better people, we must learn to conquer these shortcomings.