John Proctor, in the view of theater critic Retta Blaney (15), is a man who does not tolerate a fool well. Knowing that he has sinned by consorting with a woman who was not his wife, Proctor refuses to allow his guilt over this sin to be compounded by whistleblowing on his neighbors who also have been accused of consorting with the devil. In this manner, an ordinary man who Miller (1, p. 132) maintains wants his life suddenly realizes that life without dignity is not tolerable.

Part of the problem that confronts the ordinary man known as John Proctor is that he cannot reconcile his guilt with his need to stand well in his community. When his wife, Elizabeth, is taken to stand trial for witchcraft, Proctor recognizes that what has occurred is the result of jealousy direct

Miller, Arthur. 1. The Crucible. New York: Bantam Books,

ed at his wife by the young woman with whom he has been involved. Proctor vows ôI will fall like an ocean on that port (Miller, 1, 75).ö

This process makes a fragile man into a noble man who admits that he is a lecher. John Proctor and his wife are ultimately caught in a trap from which only one of them will escape. The tragedy is that for Elizabeth Proctor to live, John Proctor must ultimately die. Ordinary men facing extraordinary circumstances often find that they have the courage to be heroes. It is this courage that separates the hero from the rest of mankind.

Still Relevant Today.ö National Catholic Reporter,