At the end of the play, Proctor refuses to slander himself by allowing the court to nail his false confession to the church door. Although the affair may give the readers a reason to look down on John, his decision to tell the court about his affair ironically demonstrates his goodness.

His best and most valuable possession is his name and throughout the play, he is driven to give that up for his wife Elizabeth Proctor. As stated before, John is seen as a dominant and leading figure in Salem and having sinned so immensely as John would not go over well with the community. This affair aids in his change because it breaks him. He and Elizabeth coming to terms with his affair and finally speaking on it, truthfully, is a turning point for both characters and aids in his change. During the play, he is at a constant battle with himself about his infidelity and the accusation of witchcraft only further drags him down. Throughout the play, both Elizabeth and John often underestimate their love for each other. When he is facing a hanging, he decides to save his wife. Although it is not clear, the reader can infer that something had occurred between both Abigail and John, which is why he has this internal conflict.Īs the play comes to an end, John has undergone a change. It is clear that he is fighting internal demons because he sees himself as fraudulent. It is shown that “he is a sinner, a sinner not only against the moral fashion of the time but against his own vision of decent conduct”. As his portrayal progresses, the readers quickly see that he is suffering through a huge internal battle. In one way or another, he can be seen as a tormented individual because he seems to put on this facade to the people in town but then has to go home to suffer through his thoughts.

The people of Salem respect John as shown when Giles Corey and Francis Nurse look to him for help when their wives are arrested. When John Proctor first enters the play, he is seen as a well-respected, leading figure of the community.

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