John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse are both significant characters in Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible. In the upcoming paragraphs, their characters will be analyzed and compared, highlighting the similarities and differences. John Proctor, a diligent farmer, is highly regarded for his commitment to providing for his family, ensuring they have a home and sustenance. He is esteemed for his honesty, strong Christian faith, and ethical conduct. On the other hand, Rebecca Nurse, married to Francis Nurse and a mother of 11 children, is associated with her husband’s work as an unofficial judge.
Respected for their moral, truthful, and honest characters, she, Rebecca Nurse, and John Proctor are admired individuals in their community. They encountered the unfortunate fate of being falsely accused of witchcraft, which challenged their integrity. Their contrasting responses to the accusations are elaborated in the seventh paragraph. Overall, the townspeople hold a similar perception of John Proctor’s and Rebecca Nurse’s characters.
Both John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse present themselves as virtuous and devout individuals. Despite John Proctor’s absence from church, he is still regarded as a God-fearing man, abiding by the Ten Commandments. His strength lies in his masculinity, reinforcing his reputation for being honest and resolute. In contrast, Rebecca Nurse possesses a different type of strength, exemplifying goodness, compassion, and honesty in her character.
This passage highlights Rebecca Nurse’s unwavering commitment to telling the truth, even in the face of personal danger. In the later parts of the play, she remains resolute and unyielding, as she encourages John Proctor to also speak the truth. Rebecca exclaims, “It is a lie, it is a lie; how may I damn myself? I cannot, I cannot…Oh John God send his mercy on you.” Although both John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse share the value of honesty, they express it at different intensities.
Rebecca Nurse remained steady in her commitment to the truth, while John Proctor struggled to reveal his involvement in witchcraft. This difficulty became evident towards the play’s conclusion when he exclaimed, “Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I Live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave my name!” Unlike Rebecca Nurse, John Proctor was not without fault in his daily existence.
He had an affair with 17 year-old Abigail Williams, which demonstrates the contrasting strength of goodness exhibited by both characters. In the end, both Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor perished because they refused to accept the witchcraft accusations made against them, although John Proctor took some time before he ultimately embraced the truth. Ultimately, the comparison and contrast between Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor revolve around their character strength. This analysis has been presented in the preceding paragraphs.
