The Changing Temper of John Proctor in The Crucible, a Play by Arthur Miller

“Never do something when you are in a temper, for you will do everything wrong.” -Baltasar Gracian. Anger is one particular of the strongest feelings and can cause a single to do and say items drastically out of character. The events that take spot in The Crucible by Arthur Miller are fueled with worry and temper. Following lying about what occurred in the forest at the beginning of the book, Abigail threatens to kill the other girls if they inform what really happened. Later, John Proctor’s temper compels him to assault Mary Warren and there are numerous a lot more situations of what temper does to the individuals of Salem throughout the play. In The Crucible, as the early events of the Salem Witch Trials take spot, John proctors character changes from calm, to frustrated, to angry, and lastly to violent.

To commence with in Act II of The Crucible, John Proctor’s attitude is seemingly irritable and slightly frustrated. At the extremely starting of the Act Proctor becomes frustrated when his wife, Elizabeth, tells him that their residence servant has gone into Salem, against their wishes. “It is a fault, it is a fault, Elizabeth – you are the mistress right here, not Mary Warren.” – John Proctor. In this scene Miller describes him as attempting not to harshly condemn his wife for enabling Mary Warren to leave. Shortly after, John proctor is again frustrated as his wife concerns him about Abigail and tries to get him to speak out against her. All through this conversation, Miller notes how Proctor’s anger and frustration is rising despite his attempts to conceal these emotions. Certainty, nonetheless, anger is impossible to hide forever.

Moreover, John Proctor’s temper continues to be tested when Reverend Hale stops by his home to speak to him and Elizabeth. After Reverend Hale queries John and Elizabeth on no matter whether or not he believes witches are actual Elizabeth begins to get defensive, as does Hale and John is unable to handle the circumstance. His temper is additional provoked as Giles Corey and Francis Nurse enter and inform him Rebecca Nurse was arrested for employing witchcraft to murder Goody Putnam’s kids. “How could such a lady murder kids?”- John Proctor angry with disbelief. Ultimately, his temper comes to a head when Cheever enters and announces that he has an arrest warrant for his wife. He becomes instantly indignant and rips the arrest warrant, defying the court. He then refuses to let them take him wife, at a single point even pushing Cheever’s arm. At some point, Goody Proctor is taken, absolutely everyone else leaves the house, and John is left with his children and Mary Warren.

Consequently, following Abigail however once again lies, Goody Proctor is arrested on suspicious of witchcraft. Abigail claims that Elizabeth utilized witchcraft to stab her by way of a doll she sewed. When Cheever finds the doll in the Proctor property, he also discovers there is a needle in it exactly where Abigail was stabbed. Mary Warren enters and tells everyone in the house that she sewed the doll that day in court and that it was her needle not Elizabeth’s even so Elizabeth is nonetheless taken to jail. As soon as, alone Mary Warren explains to John that Abigail desires his wife dead in revenge which is why she accused her. She also claims that she can not tell the court this out of worry of what Abigail will do to her. “She’ll kill me for sayin’ that! Proctor continues toward her. Abby’ll charge lechery on you, Mr. Proctor!” – Mary Warren. At this point, John is so angry and distraught that he violently attacks Mary Warren and chokes her hopping to make her agree to inform the truth. In the end Mary Warren still stands firm that she cannot tell and John throws her to the floor and angrily leaves the space.

In short, in Act II of The Crucible, John Proctor’s temper get the best of him and causes him to act irrationally. Act I of the play portrayed John as a quiet man firm in his beliefs. He refused to let Parris or Abigail sway him from what he wanted or what he believed was true. In contrast Act II portrays John as a secretive man, whose temper is very easily provoked. It can be effortlessly assumed that John will suffer from the repercussions of his actions in Act III. Temper is a effective point, when controlled it can be a strength but when uncontrolled it is a weakness. In John’s case his temper is not only his weakness but a component of his downfall.