Proctor’s Redemption
How would it feel to suffer with your sins without reconciliation for your entire life? This is exactly how John Proctor feels in “The Crucible”. This is because in the theocracy of Salem there was “no ritual for the washing away of sins” (Miller 20). Proctor commits the deplorable sin of adultery and feels mortified with this mistake. He then goes about seeking redemption, through forgiveness of this sin. He first confesses to his wife, hoping for mercy, but is met only with suspicion. He then confesses to the entire town, and is condemned to death. Finally, he realizes that he must first seek forgiveness from God in order for him to feel truly forgiven.
After Proctor sins he feels unbearable guilt, so he attempts to confess to his wife, Elizabeth, to relieve himself. Unfortunately this does not go as he expected. His confession only leads Elizabeth to aroused suspicion of lechery, and a judgmental attitude. It is impossible for her to truly forgive him because she was directly harmed by his sin. He is constantly reminded of her distrust toward him with her foul comments and her cold, unloving attitude. Proctor’s sin distances him from Elizabeth, and their love is no longer the same. His miserable situation is demonstrated when he says, “I cannot speak but I am doubted, every moment judged for lies, as though I come into a court when I come into this house!” (55). He feels Elizabeth judges him as if he is in court. When Proctor does go to the court, he is further judged, and is still unforgiven.
In an attempt to set the situation right and still searching for absolution, Proctor confesses his sin to the court. This was a very difficult thing for Proctor to do, but it was necessary for him to try and stop the evil rampage of Abigail that was also a result of his sin. It was nearly impossible for him to confess in front of the court because it would ruin his name and cause him to be accused. Also, Proctor saw the negative results that confessing to Elizabeth brought, so he was even more reluctant to admit to his sin in front of the entire court. However, Proctor’s main goal was still to receive forgiveness, so he confesses despite the consequences. Once he musters the strength to confess, things go horribly wrong and Proctor is condemned to death. The court, like Elizabeth, was unable to offer Proctor his desperately sought after redemption. This is because the court was under the control of Abigail, an evil girl, who they perceived to be doing the work of God. Both times Proctor tries to confess, it is impossible for him to accomplish his goal of receiving forgiveness because he has not yet realized that he can only feel true redemption from God.
Proctor is not redeemed until he seeks forgiveness from God. After he is condemned to die, he cannot believe that things were not set right even after he confessed to the whole town. Proctor is infuriated because he lived by his motto from the Bible, which stated, “Do that which is good, and no harm shall come to thee” (95). He is doing the right thing by confessing, but he is still being harmed, so Proctor cannot comprehend the situation. This disbelief at the hopelessness of his situation is shown when he says, “God is dead!” (119). He thinks that God is dead because he cannot receive forgiveness from anyone. It is only at the end of the play does he realize that he must seek forgiveness from God and not others. The words of the other characters help him to understand this.
On the day of Proctor’s execution, he still does not feel redeemed, but a series of events takes place that changes this. First, Danforth and Hale try to convince Proctor to confess, and they let Elizabeth speak with him. Elizabeth tells him that, “I cannot judge you, John, I cannot!” (138). At that moment Proctor realizes that only God can offer true forgiveness when he says, “Then who will judge me? Suddenly clasping his hands: God in Heaven who is John Proctor, what is John Proctor?” (138). This is his first time he mentions God as his judge, and Elizabeth helps him to understand this. Then, John also sees Rebecca’s disappointment in him when she sees he is about to sign the false confession. Finally, when Proctor rips up the confession, and Hale says that he cannot hang, Proctor responds, “I can. And there’s your first marvel, that I can. You have made your magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor” (144). At that very moment Proctor was able to forgive himself. This is because Elizabeth and Rebecca helped him to realize the God is the only judge. By understanding this, and offering his sin up to God, Proctor was able to forgive himself and die a redeemed man.
Proctor’s desperate search for redemption could only conclude when he let God and not others judge him. Elizabeth could not forgive him because she was hurt by his sin. The town could not forgive him because Abigail was controlling it. Only God was able to forgive Proctor, and he only realizes this with help From Elizabeth and Rebecca. After he places his sin in God’s judgment, he is able to finally forgive himself and is redeemed. Once he is finally absolved from his sin, he gains the courage to die for it, and as a martyr, and he does.
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