Admitting your mistakes is one of the most difficult things to do. It is exposing yourself to ridicule and shame. It means that you are telling people to disregard your judgement, to put themselves above you. Admitting you are wrong surrenders all of your opinions and personal assertions.
John Proctor is by far one of the strongest characters in The Crucible. He has committed a pride-crippling sin of adultery that me most certainly regrets. Despite him knowing what revealing his secret will do to his name, he presents himself vulnerably before the court in efforts to reveal truth and save his friends. He puts his badge of integrity, the Proctor, on the line for his companions. In a sense, he sacrifices his life and future. Unfortunately, even with this heroic act, John Proctor is thwarted by the ravings of a power-thirsty adolescent girl. Another risk of admitting, is the possibility of absolute failure. In this case, the life of John Proctor was long lost. It was eaten away by the brutal hunger of greed and hysteria.
Admitting is always an issue early on in life. It is commonly seen in school, starting from as early as elementary school. Who vandalized the board? Who stole the teacher’s pencils? Who didn’t put their folder away? Each student is faced with a momentous decision as the dreaded statement unfurls from the teacher’s mouth: if nobody confesses, the whole class will be punished. Students are then faced to receive the infliction of “taking the blame”. Whether or not the student had actually done the punishable act, they must decide if their pride or the well-being of the class and their friends is best at stake. A cruel process that carries on through life and in John Proctor’s case, death.
A tough situation indeed. But as we all know, that kid who actually did it will not show himself, and then the "admitting quandary" (I came up with that :) ) will transfer to the witness. Does he tattle and save his skin? Or does he "play it cool" and keep his friends? In most cases, a minor issue like this will lead to the latter choice. However, when one's life is involved, any smart person will choose the first choice. John Proctor is brave, but ignorant about the workings of the world.
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