John Proctor Hero Or Stooge?

During the Salem witch trials of 1692 many innocent people were accused of witchcraft and some were even hanged. Among one of these innocent people was John Proctor, a respected man of Salem. He was arrested on the sudden exclamation of his name as a servant of the devil by Mary Warren. His wife, Elizabeth Proctor, was also accused by Abigail but unlike her husband she was given pardon because she had two boys and was expecting another baby.

The only way that Proctor could save his life was to confess to practicing witchcraft. If he did not he would be hanged. Although confessing seems the like the sensible thing to do, admitting to witchcraft on Salem on 1692 is not the wisest thing to do. Even though John Proctor would not be hanged his reputation and his family name would be destroyed, his family and himself would not be able to go anywhere without being judged or mobbed.

All of this is on Proctor's mind as he is given a last chance to confess, and with his wife's words, he admits to witchery and signs a confession. As he is about to return it to the minister, he begs that they would not tarnish his name by posting that confession on the church's door. When the minister tells him that its not possible to let him live without announcing that he practiced witchcraft, John Proctor rips the confession and is next hanged.

By choosing death, John Proctor actually gave his family a chance to live. Also this reveals much about the character of Proctor, he would not lie just to save his skin, he would rather die for the truth than live by the lie, so to say that John Proctor is a stooge, a person who serves merely to support or assist others by doing unpleasant work is simply unreasonable. John Proctor was a hero who died for his family, and for what he  believed in.