John Proctor: Hero or Stooge?

          In my opinion, John Proctor from "The Crucible" is a hero in the play. Maybe some may argue that he cannot be the hero if he has committed sins and ends up being hanged at the end, but those are easily refuted. 

          Prepare yourselves, I am about to talk about some cliche stuff. An individual is not defined by his mistakes, but by his triumphs against whatever and his good actions and morals, etc. Nobody is perfect obviously, including John Proctor. Yes, he committed adultery. Yes, he doesn't know all his commandments. Yes, he doesn't go to Church often. Yes, he hasn't baptized all of his children. But these things do not determine him to not be a hero. John Proctor throughout the entire play has a conflict with himself. He has so much guilt, judgement and hatred toward himself, that it affects him in his everyday life, especially with his wife. 

          Just when John had finished confessing to witchcraft, the officials asked him to name individuals that he had seen with the devil but he said no to all the names mentioned and refused to bring anyone down into his horrible situation. Reluctantly, the officials agreed to let him sign without John revealing anyone, but still John refuses to sign the testimony. John says he does not need to sign it because all in the room at that time were witnesses to his confession. The real reason he didn't want to sign the document was because he was ashamed that he had confessed (a lie) and that his signature would be hung on the church doors the same day that many others who were staying truthful were going to be hanged. He admits he will not sign it because it is a lie and he has had enough lies in his life, thus condemning himself to be hung.

          By doing this John is helping to end the chain of deaths by hanging and getting the towns people closer to sanity, peace, and everyday life. He is also resolving the conflict he had with himself. He has given up on lies, bad choices, and taking the easy way out for his own benefit. He saves the town while also saving his soul. He is at peace with himself when he dies, believing that the judgement of the town and its officials don't matter because God will give him a different one. And that is all that really matters to him.

          John Proctor (although not directly) saves many lives and can be a good role model (maybe not in this specific situation or sense but in the things he stands for and the motivation of his choices). That sounds like a hero to me.