John Proctor example essay topic
John's sexual relations with Abigail started the issue of witchcraft in Salem and began a cycle of accusations in instances of revenge. To avenge wrongs or disputes, some would claim witchery to condemn people. After finding that Mary Warren's statement was not convincing, Proctor had to give himself in exchange for the life of his wife. He exposed his faults, yet for that he received nothing of value. His wife and he were condemned and imprisoned. This is ironic because in all attempts he sought freedom for Elizabeth and himself but ended up in bondage.
There is resemblance in the Proctors story to that of early American colonists. Upon arrival, colonists thought that they had escaped persecution of religion and politics. After stabilizing and creating permanent settlements, England stripped the Americans of all freedom they had acquired. In the case of John and Elizabeth Proctor of Salem, the family that had come to America for freedom of strict religious regulations and political justice.
Instead, they received death sentences for their desires. John lost his life because of another mans decision based on lack of evidence. The Proctors had found that justice in Salem. It was inevitable that nothing good would ever come from British intervention in the witch trials.
Danforth's attempts at ridding Salem of witches were in the accuracy of "Modern day science". In his perspective, there were no faults in his thinking. The only reason that we see his errors today is because of the Great Awakening. John's emotions were supported by his deductions of the evidence.
If there was proof he would believe in what it supported. His emotions did not get in the way of the truth. His ability to show his contempt for the lack of reasoning in the part of Danforth showed Reverend Hale that he was genuine. This is where the story relates to the great awakening in the United States of America.
Hales saw the reality in the situation after looking past the principal of Christian religion. The affair with Abigail corresponds with the smuggling that was rampant in the colonies. This was a link to the pompous of Americans while they lived under tyranny. His affair was the wrongs done in the colonies against the very person who had enslaved them. He understood, much as the people of the colonies began to while England ruined their lives. Proctor had the motivations of colonial leaders.
When the truth became a lie and lies were more believable than the truth, John attempted to follow the path of the masses. This is much like the attempts of the colonies to amend the Parliaments acts. The personality that John portrayed was an extreme patriot who became a martyr for the rights he wanted. In all his grievances, he remained motivated to make every issue, as it should have been. He wanted his wife to live, this is like New Englanders underlying goal of supporting their family in a healthy environment.
John's devotion to his mind is much like the transformation from a theologically inclined civilization to that of a deist nation. John was a representative for colonial transformation at his point of rebelling against the court in order to save an innocent life. Americans fought the British to save a philosophy that all men are equal. The life of John Proctor was the revolution in eighteenth century colonial America. While John's character was directly based on the trials and tribulations of colonial America, his story was based on the Great Awakening and revolutionary war.
In his death, he was Jesus of the Bible. He toiled over wrong and let good prevail.