An Analysis of the Conflict Between John Proctor and John Hale in Miller’s The Crucible Essay Example

In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, conflicting leaders cause innocent deaths. In a small Puritan town in Salem, Massachusetts it is ironic that the leaders are the underlying problem. Their overly religious viewpoints and pride limit them and other individuals’ ability to recognize the truth. The main theme of the play is displayed through the characters of John Hale and John Proctor when they battle their internal conflicts for both their personal and greater good. Miller uses the characters of Proctor and Hale and their common conflict between the truth and reputation to convey that when the corruption of a town with prideful individuals turns hysterical, then one may make a courageous personal sacrifice to illuminate the truth.

John Proctor is a courageous character in the face of a conflict between reputation and the truth; initially, his immense pride and fear of the community’s opinion compells him to withhold a critical secret until he sacrifices his life in an attempt to uncover the truth. John Proctor contemplates confessing to lechery to the court knowing that it could ruin his reputation. 

After a poppet is found in the Proctor’s home, Elizabeth, Proctor’s wife, is accused of witchcraft, so Mr. Proctor forces Mary Waren to confess to the court: “hesitating, and with deep hatred of himself: Good. Then her saintliness is done with. Mary backs from him. We will slide together into our pit; you will tell the court what you know” (Miller 76). After Mr. Proctor’s initial hesitation he decides he would rather be damned and urges Mary to confess; his character is displayed as dynamic since he is not prioritizing his reputation and would rather save his wife with the truth. Furthermore, Proctor partially resolves his internal conflict by confessing to lechery to save his wife from being accused of witchcraft instead of attempting to maintain his reputation. After Abigail refuses to confess to the affair, Mr. Proctor’s frustration is apparent when he exclaims, “I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name- you will believe me, Mr. Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one!” (103). The exclamatory sentences illuminate Proctor’s frustration and confirms that he is devoted to seeking the truth so he can save his wife; he courageously sacrifices his own name when he attempts to save others with his confession. Moreover, Proctor struggles with his self-esteem since he feels guilty of not confessing to lechery in time to save the innocent people accused of witchcraft. While in jail, Elizabeth and Proctor discuss his goodness and the possibility of confessing to save his life: “I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is a fraud. I am not that man. She is silent. My honesty is broke, Elizabeth; I am no good man. Nothing’s spoiled by giving them this lie that were not rotten long before” (126). Miller utilizes a simile to illustrate Proctor’s despairing emotions when he claims he is not good enough to hang righteously due to his dishonesty; because Proctor repeats he is not a good man he does not believe he deserves to be hanged in comparison to the other innocent people. Likewise, Proctor concludes that he will not support a corrupt court system by sacrificing his name, and would rather preserve his legacy for his family. Proctor immediately diminishes Danforth’s power by repeatedly interrupting him and with redemption he expresses,  “with a cry of his whole soul: Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave my name!” (133). As a result of attempting to seek the truth, Proctor resolves his internal conflict when he bravely denies the accusations of witchcraft; in fact, to maintain his personal integrity he refuses to sign his name over to the court and will remain proud when he is hanged as a martyr. Ultimately, John Proctor bravely confesses to lechery, risking his life and reputation, in an attempt to uncover the truth in Salem so he can save innocent people’s lives, but he resolves his internal conflict and chooses self-integrity in the end.

Similarly, John Hale is a determinedly dynamic character when he faces a conflict between reputation and the truth; while initially, he is egotistical and only tries to preserve his reputation, eventually, he wishes to save innocent people’s lives after falsely accusing them. The citizens in Salem think highly of Hale and put their faith in him to cure Betty’s sickness while they wait to uncover the truth. Immediately when Hale arrives in Salem his pride is apparent and people begin to rely on him: “I’ve heard you to be a sensible man, Mr. Hale. I hope you’ll leave some of it in Salem” (35). Miller utilizes dramatic irony because at the moment the mood feels hopeful upon Hale’s arrival, yet according to the beginning of the play innocent people are still put to death. Additionally, Hale resolves his internal conflict when he decides to reveal the truth over preserving his reputation even though Judge Danforth’s dichotomous views of the church could put his life at risk. When Mr. Danforth disagrees with Hale’s judgment on Proctor, that he should be allowed to return to court with a lawyer, Hale justifies his argument hoping that the court will reconsider: “I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it” (92). In this ironic moment, Hale expresses that he will not accuse a person without significant proof even though he has previously signed death warrants out of emotion; however, Hale signifies a change in character since he does not choose his reputation over innocent lives. Moreover, Hale, feeling guilty since he prioritized his reputation, admits he did not take action to find the truth in the appropriate way. After Hale announces that witchcraft is a lie, he has a conversation with Elizabeth and expresses, “I come of my own, Goody Proctor. I would save your husband’s life, for if he is taken I count myself his murderer… Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook my own” (122). At this point, Miller distinguishes a pattern of Hale’s attempt at redemption; due to the guilt he feels after previously choosing his reputation over seeking the truth, he desperately tries to convince Elizabeth to negotiate with Proctor in order to save his life. Undoubtedly, John Hale is a dynamic character who eventually is not concerned about his reputation and wants to uncover the truth so he can save the innocent lives from being hanged after they were falsely accused. 

Ultimately, John Proctor’s and John Hale’s resolution of the conflict between reputation and truth illuminate their similarity of courageousness but also display the differences in their characters in the way they are resolved. Proctor is a more brave character since he gives up his life to preserve his family’s legacy while Hale risks his life and reputation to oppose the court after creating the hysteria. As a result of Proctor’s sacrifice, “He have his goodness now” and he can be hanged with his personal integrity intact (134). The juxtaposition of Proctor’s courageous sacrifice heightens the unsympathetic sacrifice of Hale’s since he acted in response to the hysteria he caused. According to Miller, when a corrupt town with prideful individuals turns hysterical, then one may make a selfless decision to enlighten the truth.