A representation of the true meaning of tragedy
Arthur Miller's
'The Crucible' is clearly a representation of the true meaning of
tragedy. John Proctor was, in fact, the medium, the
tool, of which Miller utilized to
convey a
universal depiction of tragedy. A broad
definition of a tragic hero is a
protagonist who,
through faults and flaws of his own and in the society in which he
exists, falters
in the grand scheme of things. This
mistake leads to suffering, which
ultimately leads
to a self-realization. Miller, himself,
has said, 'Tragedy, then, is the
consequence of a
man's total compulsion to evaluate
himself justly,' leading us to
believe that a
greater theme encompasses this downfall.
Miller, as well as many other
literary critics
seem to convey that tragedy revolves around two universal aspects: fear
and
freedom. 'The Crucible' is a direct
parallel to the multiple ideals of tragedy and thus
centers around
John Proctor's fear and freedom while he exists as a tragic hero.
The first stage
in the process of establishing the tragic hero for Miller was
relaying the
characteristics of John Proctor. It was
essential that Proctor be viewed as the
so called 'good
guy' in the plot, one who stands out or the audience can relate to. He is
described as a
'farmer in his middle thirties' with a ' powerful body' and a 'steady
manner', and is
already being established as the protagonist in which we sympathize
with.(p.19) Miller's choice to describe him in such a
fashion is very significant. By
describing the
tragic hero as a 'strong, steady, farmer' the dramatic effect is even greater.
Who else better
to fall victim to his own personal freedom and the fear of others but the
strong, stern
character? John Proctor's description
also provides another outlet to convey
the dynamic
nature of his character. While the
physical side of Proctor deteriorated
towards the
conclusion of the story a contrast is created.
John is said to be '...another
man, bearded,
filthy, his eyes misty as though webs had overgrown them, ' an obvious
discrepancy from
his initial condtion.(p.123) Thus,
John's physical delineation is an
apparent
parallel to the changes he emotionally undergoes making him a dynamic
character. Miller also establishes Proctor as the protagonist
by giving him qualities the
audience found
favor with. John went against the
normalities and conceptions of the
townsfolk. An aspect we can truly justify, especially in
America. Proctor's practical
nature is
indicated when he often does not attend Church.
He does not agree with Parris'
talk of hell,
exclaiming 'Can you speak one minute without we land in Hell again?' and
thus turns away
from the Church, clearly emphasizing that rebellious side.(p.28)
The second step
in creating the tragic hero is emphasizing the mistake or flaw
which brings
upon the character's descent. It is in
this stage that fear and freedom enter
as a major part
of John Proctor's actions.
'And if society
alone is responsible for the cramping of
our lives then the
protagonist must
needs be so pure and faultless as to force us to deny his validity
as a
character. From neither of these views
can tragedy derive, simply because
neither
represents a balanced concept of life.'(Miller)
It is this
balance between the internal and external that opens the door for fear and
freedom to
enter. Fear is society's tool. In Puritan New England paranoia was a common
aspect. The people lived in fear of the devil, a
physical devil that existed and walked
among them. When word spread, speaking of witchcraft in
Salem, that fear, that
paranoia emerged
ever so imminently and thus began the tragedy.
With the people's fear
came
rumors. Mrs. Putnam asked, 'How high did
she fly, how high?' of Betty clearly
exhibiting that
rumors of witchcraft were surfacing and spreading.(p.12) Subsequently,
from such rumors
came the accusations. It was the
accusations that proved most costly.
People turned
against each other saving themselves by accusing their neighbors. All of
these
consequences sprouted from fear in the hearts and minds of the people of Salem.
Fear, however,
only contributed to this tragedy.
John Proctor's
freedom within was the other half that completes the equation. It
was this freedom
that resulted in his mistakes, his flaws.
Proctor chose to have relations,
outside of his
marriage to Elizabeth with Abigail. In Act Two, John makes a determined
effort to please
Elizabeth. He kisses her perfunctoritly;
he lies in saying that her cooking
is well-seasoned
(perhaps a kind of irony on the lack of spice in Elizabeth) showing the
strain in their
relationship. (Murray, 46) Like all men
Proctor had his temptations yet his
freedom allowed
him to give in to them. Through his own
freedom John 'lusted with the
girl' and went
'against the law of God and Salem'
(Murray, 46) Freedom also existed
in
John's choice to
not attend Church. It was this choice
that also contributed to his
downfall, for it
did not put him in the best standings with the townspeople. The fear in
society and the
freedom of John Proctor both complement each other in that balance that
Miller spoke of
. Tragedy comes from what the
protagonist can, as well as cannot
control. This evidence clearly holds true to Miller's
definition of tragedy.
Suffering was a
major step in coaxing John to his realization.
He suffered
mentally and
emotionally because of his flaw, as the heat of the accusations intensified.
He witnessed his
wife Elizabeth go through the agony of being accused as a witch. he
suffers because
he too was accused of betraying God.
Their true suffering becomes
apparent when
Proctor confesses to adultery to pardon Elizabeth. Elizabeth lies in turn to
save her
husband's name. They endured this
torment for each other. They endured it
till
their day of
sentencing. This extreme anguish and
emotional stress which Miller creates
adds to the
sence of tragedy. It is this emphatical
grief which makes the conclusion of
The Crucible so
outstanding. Miller utilizes the sorrow
to make Proctor's all-important
realization that
much more spectacular. However, in the
Greek definition of tragedy this
suffering would
serve as pathos. Pathos is the element
of sympathy in the plot to evoke
pity. In the Greek tradition this was essential to
the plot. However, Miller does not see
his tragedy as
one that should include pity for the protagonist. 'The possibility of victory
must be there in
tragedy. Where pathos rules, where
pathos is finally derived, a character
has fought a
battle he could not have possible won.'(Miller) This statement demonstrates
the conflict in
belief. Miller feels the protagonist
must emerge victorious in some way
where the Greek
tradition relies on an emphasis of pity.
In Miller's view, how can we
have pity for
someone who has won? This is where the
conflict lies and as we see in
Proctor's
realization, ' The Crucible' will hold true to Miller's definition.
Proctor learns
something about himself and the world around him in his final
realization
before his execution. This is the
concluding step in the tragic plot. 'Tragedy
seems to me to
be an investigation of the possibilities of human freedom.'(Kerr) Again,
it is Proctor's
freedom that makes him a tragic hero.
'I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is a fraud, I am not that man. My
honesty is
broke, Elizabeth; I am no good man.
Nothing's spoiled by giving them
this lie that
were not rotten long before... I want my life... I will have my life...
Then who will
judge me? God in Heaven, what is John Proctor, what is John
Proctor? I think it is honest, I think so; I am no
saint.' (pp. 126-127)
These passages
indicate that Proctor has come to see the truth. He has the freedom now,
to not give in
to them, to let God judge him. 'I think
the tragic feeling is evoked in us
when we are in
the presence of a character who is ready to lay down his life, if need be-
to secure one
thing- his sense of personal dignity.'(Miller)
Miller's definition of tragedy
is a clear cut
example of Proctor's actions in 'The Crucible.'
Proctor realizes that his
confession to
these people violated his freedom. He
learned that we need to answer to
God and God only
for forgiveness. The confession revoked
Proctor's dignity and his
freedom. Miller says, 'Tragedy enlightens... in that
it points the heroic finger at the
enemy of man's
freedom.' Proctor sees this and points a heroic finger at those people
who tried to
take his freedom.
