a lie and believed he defied authority. Although, John Proctor did not truly defy authority in that scene of the play, for he told the truth and his wife lied, he challenged control in many other aspects. John Proctor exposed pride through his hate of Reverend Parris. John Proctor proclaimed that he did not go to Church, an act the court and townspeople viewed as a revolt on the supremacy of God, because the Reverend Parris was corrupt. Parris was materialistic and cared more about the sake of his reputation than the health of his own daughter. Proctor resented the Church because Parris ran it. In the eyes of officials, this casual negligence of God turned Proctor into an unchristian, sinful rebel. Though Proctors reasons for disregarding the Church were quite reasonable, people did not accept them in the particular time period. Near the end of The Crucible, Proctor believed that he had lost the battle of witchcraft. He felt there was no longer any hope that the court would free him from execution, and he panicked. A person can be strong for his entire life, but when the moment of death comes, he will crack. If given a choice between life, but by lying, or death, but through honor, the decision is made more difficultly through the hysteria experienced. At first, John Proctor chose life, though he knew this meant a life of regret and dishonesty. Proctor did, however, realize his mistake in choosing this sort of life over an honorable death before it was too late. Proctors decision to ultimately choose a death of honor over a life of shame was the major reversal of the play. John Proctors recognition was his discovery that he contains goodness. For now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. When Proctor believed that he was a man of no decency, he chose to live by confessing witchcraft, since this lie fit his personality. Through Elizabeths support, this tragic hero saw the goodness he possessed and act...
