Essay: John Procter is at fault for the Salem witch trails (argumentative essay)

John Procter is at fault for the Salem witch trails because he was guilty of sin of pride, adultery, and he cared more about his reputation over his integrity. In the play the crucible written by Arthur Miller, was about the Salem witch trails that took place in the Massachusetts bay colony. In the play the characters in Salem are going crazy when the accusations of witch craft begin to spread all over the town. Everyone started to point fingers at each other. If you had been accused you would most likely end up being killed. The person I believe is responsible for the witch trails is John Proctor.
The first reason John proctor was responsible for the witch trials is because of his affair with Abigail. Abigail Williams was a 17 year-old girl who John proctor had an affair with before the trials began. When he tried to end the relationship between them things didn’t go as planned and Abigail went crazy. Causing Abigail to become so jealous that she accused John Proctors wife, Elizabeth, of being a witch and later on would do the same to John. If John wouldn’t of ever had the affair with Abigail, Elizabeth and him would have never been involved in the trials in the first place. The end of affair is what really got the witch trails going.
The second reason John Proctor was responsible for the witch trials is his guiltiness of the sin of pride. John let his arrogance get the best of him, causing him to alienate himself from the church which in turn made him make enemies of some of the towns people which in the end ruined his credibility ,making him and his wife an easy target. Also through his own personality and actions he made himself less likely to be believed when he finally did come forward. He went into court thinking he could out smart everyone in the room, which he had mistaken. In the end his ego made it very difficult if not impossible for him to stop the court from condemning the accused, his wife, and ultimately himself.
John Proctor definitely messed up his life the moment he began his affair with Abigail, but not everything is one sided. Abigail had just as much to do, if not more, with causing the trials as John did. She was just better at lying and playing things off. Abigail is a vengeful, manipulative, jealous, and over all just a bad person. Which brings her into being one of the other main causes of the trials. Of course John should have never gotten involved with her in the first place, but Abigail should have been a big enough person to respect him when he wanted to go back to his wife. Both of them together was a recipe for disaster.
Abigail’s part in this is a little more twisted than johns. Unlike John, Abigail actually was practicing witch craft and even went as far as to put a curse on Elizabeth. Abigail accused multiple people of witchcraft, but her herself was never found guilty of it. She was a very good liar and master manipulator who could get her way out of any situation thrown at her. Even when she was the main cause. John and Elizabeth were just a bump in the road for her. Abigail does not care for anyone but herself and seems to have the reputation of spreading lies and destruction where ever she goes.
The last and final reason John is to cause for the trials is because he prioritizes his reputation over his integrity. During the trials he wouldn’t admit the girls were lying, because then he would have to disclose information about his affair. He cared more about keeping his good name than clearing anyone else’s, until it was too late. He knows he’s a fraud but it’s important for him to keep his stamina so no one else will think of him that way. When John finally comes to terms with his integrity it is already too late, and the damage has been done. It isn’t until he gets to the gallows that he finds his pure ness and refuses to confess a lie to save his life. Maybe if he would’ve cared less about what others might say all of this trouble could’ve been avoided.
In conclusion John proctor is responsible for the outbreak of the trials because of his affair, his act of pride, and because he values his reputation more than his integrity. Overall causing the outbreak of the trails. Abigail should be considered a main cause as well for her acts of; selfishness, lies, and manipulation throughout the play. The two of them together acted upon their desires and their lack of empathy for anyone besides themselves.