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Question: The Crucible: How does John Proctor's great dilemma change during the play!?
Explain!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


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Ok, I read it almost a year ago so I'll try to remember and not leave things out!. XD

His 'great dilemna' is a moral one!.

At the beginning, he is determined to keep his affair with Abigail a secret from the public to protect his reputation!. As the play continues, it is apparent that by admitting to the affair he can stop the malarkey the girls are causing by explain the reason [i!.e, Abigail wants Elizabeth locked up because she believes she can then be with John], so this hinders him from revealing her motives for callling witchcraft for the sake of defending his honour!.

And at the end, his dilemna is again because of his name, pride and honour!. When he makes his speech about signing the confession and it being posted publicly, he says he cannot sign his name to a lie, and will not let his children carry on that name!. So he can either, sign it, and return to his life as a liar and a 'fraud', or he can die and take his name with him, which of course, he does!.

Sorry I couldn't be of any more help, my memory of the Proctor dilemna is a bit hazy!Www@QuestionHome@Com

When his wife was sick in the beginning, his dilemma was that since she was sick, she could not have sex with him and (in doing so keep him from straying)!. So since he could not do it with his wife, he turned to the servant girl, Abigail Williams!. This adultery later will come back to harm John (with trust issues with his wife)!. Another dilemma is that he is trying to fight the courts (to save his wife) against the madness of the girls, who are crying that everyone is a witch! He eventually gets hung, trying to save the loved ones and do what is right!. In my opinion his troubles first start off with just two people (wife and Abagail, then it grows to everyone that is accused by the great "pretenders"!. It is especially important for John to fight against courts because he is a very prominent figure in town!. I hope this helps, if you need more try Spark notes or something along those line!. =)Www@QuestionHome@Com

Originally he is fighting for common sense by pointing out how ludicrous the whole witch hysteria is, then he is fighting for his wife, and in so doing he has to admit to being a witch!.

One dilemma that does not change is that he sees himself as an honest and truthful man, but is not honest (cheats, then lies)!.Www@QuestionHome@Com