Sep 11 2008
Proctor and Men, Victims of the Crucible
Proctor is an intellectual man who was caught up in the entire commotion of the chaotic society. He has clearly fallen victim to the events of the witch trials and is suspected to diabolical acts only due to the fact that he speaks the truth and what is morally and righteously just, “I may speak my heart” (I, 30, 24). The judgmental eyes of his wife Elizabeth, “John, if it were not Abigail that you must go to hurt, would you falter now? I think not” (II, 54, 13-15), and the sudden surge of power given to his servant and once affair Abigail has made his life a living nightmare; forced to face the deep emotions he tries to suppress. “But I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We Never touched, Abby” (I, 23, 20-21) Abby is constantly clinging on to Proctor and the past, not letting go to the little thing they had and is basically causing a disruption and annoyance. Also, the Putnams and the Church add to his displeasure, pointing fingers of hatred to his actions.
On the whole, the men have suffered much from the demeaning acts of the young women of the town, Abigail and those others, having their friends and family face unnecessary hardships due to such broad and without real proof accusations, “Why, she done it herself! I hope you’re not takin’ this for proof, Mister!” (II, 74, 26-27). What exactly have the men done to create such devastating chain of events in the village? Nothing, all they did was try to conceive a working society until those few girls decided to corrupt the system, “Is the accuser always holy now?” (II, 77, 6).
