Explain John Proctors Struggle with his Conscience :: Salem Witch Trials The Crucible Essays

Explain hindquarters Proctors Struggle with his ConscienceConscienceThe conscience, the knowledge of right and wrong that affects actionsand behaviour the senses of guilt or virtue thusly by actions,behaviour etc. An innermost thought. (PH English dictionary)John Proctor has a terrible struggle with his conscience, particularlytowards the end of the play. John proctors conscience is enounce him thathe shouldnt give into the pressure of the court, that he should standproud and not tell the court lies. His conscience is telling him heshouldnt lie or hold out the court and then his death, hanging from thenoose, can be a proud one, accepted with honour after making his loveand more significantly his ataraxis with God.However his natural instinct, given to him upon his birth is tellinghim to lie. That he should lose his good visit, confess to dealing withwitchcraft. Telling him to lose some, perhaps all the delight in peoplehave for him but to keep his life. To lose his gravitas b ut to keep hislife. To live to see his children grow up, to see his unborn child beborn, to watch his wife grow old with him. But most importantly tolive, and to be free, and not to experience death till he is older.Live and lie, losing your dignity and all the respect youve earned,or die, but keep your good name, and let your children grow up with agood name. Leaving your life with an unblemished name.John chose death, although before he chose death he was prepared tochoose life, he wanted to live, yet more than this he wanted anunblemished name. More importantly than this he wanted his children,and their children, and their childrens children to have a name to beproud of. Proctor. He did not want them to be left with the name of awitch.Because it is my name (The Crucible, Act 4)John Proctor says the above quote, which simply reinforces everythingI wrote earlier. John does not want to give up his name he cannothave other in this life. Better to have one unblemished name. Thanto ha ve hundreds of names all tainted in one way or another. John doesnot want to give up his good name he would rather give up his life,which we see in the rather gruesome and sudden termination of the play.This shows John Proctors personal struggle with himself. He wanted tolive, yet he also wanted to keep his good name. He couldnt do bothand in the end he chose his name. He was fighting with himself right