Why does proctor refuse to sign a confession

So in the end it is clear to see that John Proctor still is a good man despite his short-lived affair with Abigail. He was an honest, good-hearted man who wished for nothing more than to live a good life with his wife and children.

He knows what is right and wrong but one example has been haunting him in his life. Now in a Puritan society, sin had to have been confessed publicly and they must bear their shame.

This however goes against what the Word actually says and this is what created Arthur Dimmesdale as a character. Its believable because he knows it was the right thing to do. Proctor can barely handle the thought of signing his name in a permanent lie that will affect him forever.

The act of ripping up the thing that will save his life is also very believable because he wants to prove to elizabeth that he regrets his affair. John can never forgive himself for what he did to Elizabeth so he feel that when he rips the paper Elizabeth with truly forgive him.

The impact of Poor Behavior is exhibited throughout The Crucible. Most of the characters act badly. Only later in his life will he feel anything other than relief from his parents deaths, and even then he still feels apathetic towards.

After speaking with Elizabeth, John decides that he wants to live and signs a confession. However, his immense pride wants him to save his name.

Proctor decides to tell the truth that he is not a witch and rips up the written confession. He preserves his pride and dignity and declares the truth at the same time, dying as a man with flaws yet a good man, allowing the readers the ability to categorize him as a tragic hero.

Proctor 's downfall in the play is caused by human error, which qualifies him to be the tragic hero. First Name. Last Name. Email Address. Opt-in to important GradeSaver updates! Have an Account? John is a man of integrity or rather a man that desperately seeks integrity. A verbal confession under extreme duress is one thing but the physical writing of his name represents who he is as a man.

Proctor can not sign the confession. I have given you my soul; leave me my name! Proctor knows that signing the confession is lying, and this sacrifice of honor is the hardest for him to bear. His desire to remain honest and his desire to preserve his family tear him in two. Proctor believes that God will forgive him if he confesses, because, as Hale states, "life is God's most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it.

Proctor does not consider himself righteous, in fact he recoils from the idea that he is compared to individuals like Rebecca Nurse who are innocent of any wrongdoing. Of course Proctor has not practiced witchcraft; however, according to himself he is a fallen man, one who has sinned against his wife and himself. He is willing to sacrifice his honor — which he has already done by admitting to adultery — and he can live with the knowledge that others will view him differently if he confesses.

However, Proctor cannot bear the shame of having his confession nailed to the church door. Because confessing will save his life, he can live with that idea, but he believes nailing his confession to the church door constitutes a betrayal of everyone who refuses to confess.

A public display of his false confession — especially at a church that is supposed to uphold truth — would insult those who choose to die to preserve their honor.