John Proctor was a main character in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.” He was a farmer in Salem, Massachusetts in the 1600’s. He was put to death when he would not admit to practicing witchcraft. Minister Dimmesdale was a main character in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter.” He fathered a child out of wedlock in a sinful relationship, and fell to his death when he couldn’t take the guilt any longer. John Proctor and Minister Dimmesdale had several things in common, but also had several differences.
Both John Proctor and Minister Dimmesdale were involved in sinful relationships. John Proctor had an affair with a young girl named Abigail Williams even though he was married to Elizabeth Proctor. Minister Dimmesdale fathered the child of Hester Prynne while she was married to Roger Chilling worth. Both men had relationships that were looked down upon by society.
Neither John Proctor nor Minister Dimmesdale wanted to admit to their sins at first. Elizabeth Proctor knew of John’s affair, but he did not admit it to the townspeople until Abigail Williams accused Elizabeth of witchcraft. John Proctor knew the only reason that Abigail had done this was because Elizabeth had fired her due to the affair. Minister Dimmesdale lived with his guilt for several years before he admitted to being the father of Pearl. Hester Prynne and Minister Dimmesdale were going to escape on a ship and live together as a family.
But, when this did not happen, Dimmesdale could no longer take the guilt. He stood on a scaffold with Hester and Pearl, admitted his sin, and fell to his death. Both John Proctor and Minister Dimmesdale waited before confessing to their sinful relationships. Both John Proctor and Minister Dimmesdale died by telling the truth. John Proctor could have admitted to being a witch and saved his own life. But, he chose to do the moral thing and stick to the truth.
The Essay on Turns To Mary Proctor John Court
For the scene in which John Proctor persuaded Mary Warren to go to the court and confess that the girls are lying, I have chosen to set it in Proctor's fields. There he will be working when Mary Warren approaches him. There she will say that she's sorry about Elizabeth and tries to comfort John. John is to appear almost overwhelmed by the previous night's events. Mary then slips up by saying "If ...
He told the truth, and died for what he believed in. Minister Dimmesdale also died by telling the truth. He lived for several years as the guilt continued to build up inside of him. He fell to his death on the scaffold after he told the townspeople he was indeed the father of Pearl. Both men’s lives ended when the truth was revealed. Although both men had sinful relationships, these relationships were also very different.
John Proctor had an affair with Abigail Williams. But, he did not love her. He was in love with his wife, Elizabeth. Minister Dimmesdale’s relationship was different.
He did love Hester, and Hester loved him. Under different circumstances, their relationship could have lasted a long time. They were both deeply in love with one another. Both men’s affairs were a factor in their death, but John Proctor did not die directly due to his affair with Abigail. Abigail accused Proctor of being a witch because he refused to be with her. Proctor later died when he would not admit to practicing witchcraft.
But, unlike Proctor, Dimmesdale died directly because of his sin. Minister Dimmesdale could not take the guilt he was faced with. The townspeople of Boston looked own upon him and what he did, and he could not deal with it. He fell off the scaffold and died. John Proctor and Minister Dimmesdale had affairs, which they did not want to admit, and died because of this. But, their relationships differed and played different roles in their deaths.
John Proctor and Minister Dimmesdale had several things in common, but also had several differences.
