John Proctor 
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Character Representation:
Relationships
Diction
Purpose Questions
Physical/Emotional Description
Syntax
Why does the author give information about John Proctor’s personality and his dislikes?
“He was the kind of man-powerful of body, even-tempered, and not easily led” (Miller 175).
“Proctor was a farmer in his middle thirties...he had a sharp and biting way with hypocrites” (Miller 176).
Proctor is describes as a man in his prime. He detested hypocrites and this shows that he valued honesty.
In this introduction to Proctor’s character, Proctor’s physical strength and stature is shown along with his mental fortitude.
Proctor. “I mean it solemnly, Rebecca; I like not the smell of this ‘authority’” (Miller 181).
“[Proctor] is a sinner, a sinner not only against the moral fashion of the time, but against his own vision of decent conduct” (Miller 175).
As the character of Proctor states, he is against the establishment heavily tied to religion that controls their lives, but still clearly has a sense of religion. This represents the Americans in the 1950s who were not necessarily communist, but did not agree with the tactics of McCarthyism and the Second Red Scare.
With Miller’s inclusion of how Proctor has his own moral standards that he holds dear to himself and does hold himself to, he is shown to be similar to many dissenters of Puritans who were against the relaxation of moral strictness seen in Puritan society some years after the migration to Salem.
Proctor. “We vote by name in this society, not by acreage,”(Miller 180).
Proctor. “Abby, I never give you hope to wait for me,” “Abby, you’ll put it out of mind,” “We never touched, Abby” (Miller 177).
This is an example of an appositive phrase at the end of a sentence that includes a hint of mockery or disdain which follows with Proctor’s spitefulness.
With the repeated use of an endearing form of Abigail’s name, he softens his harsh and potentially painful statements due to his sustained care for Abigail.
Proctor. “Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I’ll reach out to you again. Wipe it out of your mind. We never touched, Abby” (Miller 177).
Proctor. “I may speak my heart, I think!” (Miller 180).
Proctor talks to Abigail about their relationship. He does not want to have a relationship with Abigail because he would be committing adultery. This shows that he cares about his reputation and his name.
A majority of Proctor’s dialect is how he truly feels about the subject matter. A belief in Puritanism is to is to speak in the name of God, and only God during religious meetings. However, Proctor goes against this belief, revealing his stance on the Puritans as a whole.
Proctor. “Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I’ll reach out to you again. Wipe it out of your mind. We never touched, Abby” (Miller 177).
Proctor. “I’ve heard you to be a sensible man, Mr. Hale. I hope you’ll leave some of it in Salem. (Proctor goes. Hale stands embarrassed for an instant)” (Miller 185).
This quote indicates that an affair happened between Proctor and Abigail. Proctor clearly states that he wants nothing to do with Abigail anymore, explaining that their relationship should be kept distant.
What is the purpose of including John Proctor’s affair with Abigail?
Why may the playwright mention John Proctor’s self-loathing and high morality, and what impact does it have or will it have on his actions?
Proctor’s opinion on not just the other characters within the story, but on all of Salem is expressed. He states that the city of Salem and its people have no sense, which directly correlates to his relationship with the characters.
What is the purpose of Arthur Miller including Proctor’s disapproval for the extreme rules of Puritan Society?