Crucible Paper 2- Redemption

Macda Gerard
AP English 11: Mr. George
December 4, 2008
Crucible Paper 2- Redemption

What if one lived in a world where a man was defined by his mistakes, and an unforgiving society rarely created opportunities for redemption? John Proctor was living this reality. He commits the initial sin of adultery with Abigail, which leads him on a misguided search for redemption. Proctor searches for forgiveness through Elizabeth and the townspeople until he is confronted by his empathetic realization that true judgment solely comes from God.

Proctor informs Elizabeth of his adulterous act in hopes of being forgiven. Despite Proctor’s best efforts in abiding by his morality of truth, he is met with Elizabeth’s unwillingness to warmly accept his faults: “Spoke or silent, a promise is surely made” (61). Trust had vanished within the relationship making it difficult for Elizabeth to act in the hospitable way that she had before. Elizabeth’s emotional abandonment elucidates her inability to truly forgive Proctor because she is beset by her own internal conflict, thus pushing Proctor toward other means of obtaining exoneration.

Proctor, a revered man in Salem, is faced with a dilemma that coerces him into seeking redemption from the townspeople in the court. Throughout the chaos and disorder of the town, Abigail’s deception could only be brought to a standstill if Proctor confessed his sin of adultery. He was faced with two options: either sully his name to save innocent people and possibly be forgiven or uphold his reputation and allow Abigail to carry on with her dishonesty. Aware of the fact that his reputation was in danger, Proctor contritely confesses his sin to the court in anticipation of being absolved. Nonetheless, he is blinded by the truth that the townspeople were also guilty of sin, making them unable to truly forgive. Not fully acknowledging the fact that his pleas were directed toward completely flawed human beings, Proctor shouts in frustration, “I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name—you will believe me, Mr. Danforth!” (111). By upholding his values, Proctor tarnishes his name for justice in hopes of obtaining redemption, however, he is unjustly condemned to death and faced with the reality that flawed beings certainly cannot free him of his sin.

Elizabeth’s influence became more apparent as Proctor’s search for forgiveness proceeded. Faced with lying to save his own life or dying as an unmerited martyr, Proctor pleads with his wife to give him insight on this decision. His moral compass is grappling with the two choices and simultaneously still seeking forgiveness from his wife. Elizabeth, aware of her own sins, simply replies, “I cannot judge you, John, I cannot” (138). She enforces the mentality that God is the only judge. Elizabeth certainly influences Proctor to not seek absolution from conflicted human beings, but to look within himself, thus ultimately finding the answer from God.

Proctor’s misguided search comes to an end when he discovers with whom his answers truly lie. Proctor falsely confesses in belief that there was “no ritual for the washing away of sins,” and that confession would simply compound his sins (20). However, Proctor’s epiphany manifests itself following Hale telling him that he cannot hang. Proctor simply replies, “I can. And there’s your first marvel, that I can” (144). He comes to the conclusion that in order to be forgiven by God, he must not search for it through others, but look within himself.

It is evident that fair judgment and forgiveness cannot be obtained from people plagued by their own internal conflicts. Throughout the moral corruption of this society, Proctor’s clouded morality makes him guilty of searching for amnesty from sinful townspeople. Initially, he is unable to attain redemption, however, through his order of events he discovers where it is found. Ultimately in his redemption, Proctor ceases to seek forgiveness from others and realizes the conflict is between himself and God.