Character Analysis of John Proctor During the mid 1950’s, Senator Joe McCarthy led a campaign to expose alleged Communists in the State Department. Many called it a witch-hunt. In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, the small town of Salem is engulfed in hysteria due to the accusations of children that many of the townspeople partook in witchcraft. Among the accused is John Proctor, a strong, steadfast farmer. Proctor is the tragic hero of the story. Even though he tries to become a hero but ends up being one of the accused. Proctor tries to remain a tragic hero through his efforts to save hi