2. What is John Proctor’s tragic flaw?
   Topic sentence: John Proctor’s tragic flaw is… (finish sentence)
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John Proctor’s tragic flaw is his deep-seated pride intertwined with a paralyzing guilt over his past sins.

In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, Proctor grapples with the moral consequences of his secret affair with Abigail Williams. His inner conflict is brought to the surface during key moments of confrontation with the community’s hysteria and his own conscience, ultimately exposing the vulnerability behind his pride.

For example, when Proctor exclaims,

he reveals an internal struggle that hints at both self-awareness and self-condemnation.

This moment is significant because it underscores the internal battle within Proctor—a battle between his desire to be morally righteous and the weight of his past transgressions. His pride initially prevents him from openly acknowledging his failings, yet it is precisely this same pride that later forces him to face the bitter truth about himself when the stakes are at their highest.

Moreover, the interplay of pride and guilt in Proctor’s character is a microcosm of the broader themes in the play. His tragic flaw not only leads him to make decisions that compromise his integrity but also mirrors the destructive consequences of selfishness and secrecy that pervade Salem. Ultimately, this internal conflict propels his journey towards redemption, even though it comes at the cost of his personal downfall.

In the end, John Proctor’s tragic flaw—his inability to fully overcome his pride and guilt—shapes his path to both self-destruction and, ultimately, moral redemption.