Representation of Pride and Its Influence in the Play “The Crucible”
Encouragement can either result in a positive or negative impact on individuals. This overall affected many characters in the play. In the play “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller takes place in Salem Massachusetts in 1692. Pride ruins relationships among numerous individuals. Can leave you remarked with immorality. In order to gain high reputation pride plays a major role. Results in a false sense of ownership. Excessive pride exhibited through John Proctor and Judge Danforth placed them at risk of facing possible consequences among countless individuals from the town of Salem, which sequentially resulted in the destruction of trustworthiness in the town and therefore brought tragedy to Salem.
Both John Proctor and Judge Danforth similarly demonstrate the theme of pride through their actions which led them to face conflicts between others. At the beginning of the play, John Proctor finds himself having an affair with Abigail Williams. John Proctor accepts that he can oppose his assertion and contempt his wife, Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail substantiates their affair when she states, “ I know how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I come near! Or did I dream that? It’s she put me out, you cannot pretend it were you. I saw your face when she put me out, and you loved me then you do now”. It is evident that John Proctor’s affair with Abigail Williams was an outcome due to his pride. In order for John Proctor to free his wife, Elizabeth Proctor from being hanged he had to acknowledge his affair with Abigail Williams in court. John Proctor goes on and clarifies that Abigail Williams is making up practical lies about the alleged witchcraft event to make himself look legitimate in front of the judge. John Proctor states, “ I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my name”. When Judge Danforth asks his wife, Elizabeth declares that John Proctor is certainly honest of absolutely any misbehavior. As a consequence of Elizabeth’s deception causes proctor to seem as a perjurer. If they knew about the affair he had with Abigail Williams a woman John Proctor wouldn’t have been acknowledged by the people of Salem. Similarly, Judge Danforth shows excessive pride and this is evident in the play when Giles Corey struggles to commence his objection, Judge Danforth hushes him down arrogantly. “This is the highest court of the supreme government of this province” Danforth declares. He continues on and states, “and did you know near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn and upon my signature?” Here Judge Danforth proclaims his potential affirm and capability to censure people to death. His pride leads him to have an exceptional and high reputation in the town of Salem instead of being concerned. He presents the power that he contains over numerous areas of the land. Overall, redundant pride exhibited through John Proctor and Judge Danforth was because of the fact that they wanted an excellent reputation in the community.
Secondly, both John Proctor and Judge Danforth exhibit pride by not listening to other points of view and leaving a negative impression on their children. John Proctor’s children were considered an impression of his pride. He didn’t want to sign the paper because he knew that he was leaving his children. John Proctor did not want his children to become adults and have a last remarked with immorality. John Proctor displays his finest concern when he states, I have three children, how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, when I said my friends”. If it wasn’t for John Proctor’s pride he wouldn’t carry on with his life and obliterate the indictment others had opposed to him. Even though he has been given a way to escape the death penalty, but this would result in constituting any involved people of Salem. In the same way, Judge Danforth demonstrates his pride in the play when talking to John Proctor. When John Proctor comes in with proof that the girls are lying, Danforth hesitates when questioning Proctor on his consideration. Danforth is distressed on why Proctor considers to “underline this court” instead of saving his wife, Elizabeth’s life. Judge Danforth then goes on by saying arrogantly, “ but you must understand, sir, a person is either with this court or he must be continued against it, there be no road between” . This shws that Judge Danforth is an indubitable, prideful man who has a dominance, opposing, and audacious court. Judge Danforth conceives that the court is doing God’s work. Hence, if you are not with the court, that you are definitely not innocent because Judge Danforth believes that whatever the court decides is right. In summary, leaving behind loved ones is hard especially if their name is distinct with misconduct. Also, if you are considered guilty you are not with God, and it’s the courts' righteous responsibility to execute you.
Thirdly, pride contributed to the result of gaining a high reputation for yourself and your role in Salem. John Proctor maintains to achieve adherence and faith with his admired wife in order to grasp self-pride and to accomplish this John Proctor knew that he had to aim to reach contentment in his heart to live. This is evident when the court officials take Elizabeth. John Proctor was so riled by this incursion at his house. He ended up tearing the warrant and yelled at them to leave him alone. John Proctor declares, “I beg you, sir, I beg you - see her what she is. My wife, my dear good wife, took this girl soon after, sir, and put her high on the high road. And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it; I set myself entirely in your hands”. His pride was advocated due to the time period, his behavior was glared upon and he himself was guilty so conceding them was considered a deed to be proud of instead of not accepting it due to his own self-pride. In the end, the confession was too late. John Proctor ended up being blamed on for with craft and on the other hand his wife, Elizabeth Proctor lies to the court to defend Proctor's name. In the same way, Judge Danforth is anxious due to the imitated impressions about the cour being exposed and overthrown. Judge Danforth declares arrogantly, “I have been thirty-two at the bar” . He then goes on and asks Hale if he “doubts his justice.” This shows Judge Danforth’s pride because he does not want to admit that innocent lives were hung. He is in charge of the Salem witch trials. His only choice was to kill people who come with absolutely no proof opposing him. With no hesitation he lets the court know by saying, “If you are not with the court, you are against it”. This shows that Judge Danforth is uneducated on what the real evidence is, instead he wants others to decide whether they agree with him or not. As a result, of all this Danforth does not want to justify that pure lives were hung, as this would lose his high reputation. In summary, both John Proctor and Judge Danforth’s pride gave them a sense of what’s considered right and wrong.
In addition, related to the concept of pride can result in the loss of deceitful possessions. Many months after the trial had happened John Proctor battled between community and survival. John Proctor proclaims himself and gives a last accusation of the witch trials. He provided the convenience to acknowledge his capability in order to live. John Proctor bursts into tears when he says, “Because it is my name! I have my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet them not hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!”. At the end of the play, John Proctor denies to sign the confession because he knows that all he has left with him is his name. He has given everything he owns to the jurisdiction. First, he has given away his wife due to his deceitful imprisonment and his adulthood to the affair with Abigail Williams. Therefore, he is left with no choice other than to hang himself. On the contrary, Judge Danforth last shows pride in the final scene at the jail. Reverend Hale shows up and attempts to save virtuous lives, and Parris comes and joins to solicit for some agility on their favor. Hale comes to Danforth logically asking him to easily postpone the executions. Earlier in the play, Judge Danforth has the courage to say, “John Proctor, I’ve seen your power. You are combined with anti-christ, are you not? I have seen your power, you will not deny it! What say you, Mister?”. Judge Danforth never wants to acknowledge that he is incorrect or even could be considered incorrect by anyone. This led to Reverend Hale’s conclusion to leave the affair because he realizes that the handlings and lies that have been come about excluding absolutely anything that can help resolve charges of society. To conclude, both John Proctor and Judge Danforth result in great loss in the play which was provoked by the concept of pride.
Redundant pride presented by John Proctor and Judge Danforth led to face numerous, painful ramifications between close people of Salem which as a result brought tragedy to Salem. Inordinate pride resulted in immense fearlessness of their ego. Led then in disregard matter and differentiate between what is right. Pride adds further burden towards ambiguous relationships. Pride ruins their perception of being intelligent than many other people of Salem. All in all, as a result of excessive pride, interrupts many characters from making righteous judgments. Even the title of the play, “The Crucible” contributes to the theme of pride. It means serious tests. All though, in the play, the pride of John Proctor and Judge Danforth’s is put to deceitful experiments. Due to the deceitful experiments of pride that these characters faced is what led to the development of the play.
