John Proctor

Similar Character: Richard Nixon

John Proctor, a good man at heart, a stable member of the community,good provider, and husband, like Nixon lost credibility through his scandals. Nixon and Proctor though both good men engaged in scandal and betrayal and consequently lose trust and credibility. Just as the watergate scandal dominates the Nixon legacy, Proctors affair dominates his legacy. Though both had great accomplishments, they are constantly plagued by their bad decisions.

Charachters Analysis

DESCRIPTION: "Proctor was a farmer in his middle thirties. He need not have been a partisan of any faction in the town, but there is evidence to suggest that he had a sharp and biting way with hypocrites. He was the kind of man—powerful of body, even-tempered, and not easily led—who cannot refuse support to partisans without drawing their deepest resentment. In Proctor’s presence a fool felt his foolishness instantly-and a Proctor is always marked for calumny therefore. But as we shall see, the steady manner he displays does not spring from an untroubled soul. He is a sinner, a sinner not only against the moral fashion of the time, but against his own vision of decent conduct."(Miller 41)

Quote 1: "Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby."(Miller 43).

ANALYSIS: John Proctor is ashamed of himself due to his affair with Abigail and will try his best to not make the same mistake twice. His adamant nature toward putting the situation to sleep is upsetting to Abigail. Proctor's reputation and marriage is highly important to him and he will do anything at this point to retain it.

Quote 2: "I mean it solemnly, Rebecca; I like not the smell of this “authority.”".

ANALYSIS: Proctor unlike most characters so far displays a tendency toward thought and reason rather than tradition and authority. This foreshadows future conflict between the church and Proctor.