Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible' is clearly a representation of the true meaning of tragedy. John Proctor was, in fact, the medium, the tool, of which Miller utilized to convey a universal depiction of tragedy. A broad definition of a tragic hero is a protagonist who, through faults and flaws of his own and in the society in which he exists, falters in the grand scheme of things. This mistake leads to suffering, which ultimately leads …showed first 75 words of 1436 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1436 total…of Proctor's actions in 'The Crucible.' Proctor realizes that his confession to these people violated his freedom. He learned that we need to answer to God and God only for forgiveness. The confession revoked Proctor's dignity and his freedom. Miller says, 'Tragedy enlightens... in that it points the heroic finger at the enemy of man's freedom.' Proctor sees this and points a heroic finger at those people who tried to take his freedom.