Choose one of the following lines from Act Four of The Crucible. Explain what is happening when the character says this line and what he/she means. Begin your paragraph:

Question

In Act Four of Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, John Proctor says,…

p. 136: JOHN PROCTOR: I cannot mount the gibbet (gallows) like a saint. It is a fraud. I am not that man. My honest is broke, Elizabeth; I am no good man. Nothing’s spoiled giving them this lie that we not rotten long before.”

Answer 1

In Act Four of Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, John Proctor says, “I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is a fraud. I am not that man. My honesty is broke, Elizabeth; I am no good man. Nothing’s spoiled giving them this lie that we not rotten long before.” At this moment, Proctor is grappling with his internal struggle between maintaining his integrity and protecting his life. He has been offered a chance to save himself by confessing to witchcraft, a lie that would ultimately tarnish not only his name but also the memory of those who have truly stood for justice. Proctor acknowledges his own moral failures, admitting that he has committed sins that disqualify him from being a martyr or a “saint.” He sees the act of falsely confessing as a betrayal of his own principles, realizing that the only way to prove his worth is through authenticity, rather than deceit. Proctor feels that surrendering to a false narrative would only reinforce the pervasive corruption in Salem, and by recognizing his own past faults, he is ultimately prepared to face his death with honesty, rejecting the façade of virtue imposed by the hysteria around him. This line encapsulates his deep conflict and illustrates his journey toward redemption, revealing that true integrity lies not in the appearance of goodness but in the acceptance of one’s flawed humanity.