John Proctor: Hero or Stooge?

John Proctor changes throughout The Crucible. We first see him as a man who has sinned and only cares about himself and his wife. We later know he cares about his friends, the truth, and justice. At the end of the play, John Proctor is hanged for taking back his confession or dealing with the Devil, even if it was really all lies. So the question is: Was John Proctor a hero? Or a stooge? I believe John Proctor was a hero; someone who was noble and honest, even when death was staring at him in the face.

John Proctor was a sinner, who committed adultery and only his wife, Abigail, and he knew of this. With his wife's life on the line, he confessed to the court. He could have remained silent, and kept a good image, but in order to prove that Abigail had also committed adultery, and thus showing she was capable of lying, he confessed. At first, it seemed he had doomed himself, but also Abigail, and there was hope she would no longer be believed. Unfortunately, this backfired when Elizabeth, John Proctor's wife, lied and said she knew nothing of John and Abigail, showing that Elizabeth was a liar, and making John look dubious. To confess to adultery in a Puritan town for the greater good is heroic act, and quite selfless.

Towards the end of the play, John Proctor falsely confesses to “signing the Devil’s book”, but takes it back, leading to his execution. Since he had already confessed, and was already considered a sinner, he could have kept to his confession and been allowed to live, but he knew it was a lie, and he couldn’t about this just so he could be kept alive. John Proctor had to be honest, and be on the side of justice. He had found his “good” and even though he knew he had sinned before, he still did not want to betray the Lord once more.

A number of people had falsely confessed at this time just so that they may continue living their lives, but John Proctor, and others, stayed truthful and faithful. Considering the views of the town, this isn’t foolish, but an act of righteousness. These people were heroes, not stooges.