The Case of John Proctor

One situation that struck me in our readings in The Salem Witch Hunt, was the case of John Proctor. This case stuck with me for a number of reasons that I’d like to outline in the following few paragraphs.

First, Proctor’s case was unique as it was a trial in which a man was accused of being a witch as opposed to a woman. While women tended to be much more likely to be accused of witchcraft, our text notes that over 30 men were accused of being witches in 1692, and five out of the 19 individuals killed in Salem during the trials were men. In this sense, he was not the only man to be accused, but he still fell into the smaller category of men who were suspected of witchcraft.

Additionally, I believe that Proctor’s case reveals some of the key distinctions as to why men were accused as opposed to women. We learned in class that many of the women accused such as Bridget Bishop and Sarah Good were those that fell outside of the traditional social structure. The accused women, at least initially, were destitute, did not conform to society’s expectations, or did not have a traditional family structure to shield them from suspicion. Proctor, however, was a respected member of the community with an established household. He was also a successful farmer and businessman. In this sense, the elements that made women more likely to be accused of witchcraft did not apply to him.

Proctor, however, was vulnerable for other reasons. Women were targeted for their outspoken opinions and supposedly “immoral” behavior. Proctor, was also drawn into suspicion for these same issues. He was not afraid to conceal his doubt in the veracity of the afflicted girls’ claims or to voice his distaste for the trials. For these reasons, Proctor and his wife, Elizabeth were accused of practicing witchcraft. Additionally, his own financial success in Salem Town and Salem Village did not save him from being accused, but rather caused him to be a target of envy and suspicion.

Proctor’s case is also unique because of the reaction that his and his wife’s arrest drew from those in the community. In the course of his trial, his neighbors and friends drafted and signed a petition attesting to his and his wife’s innocence in relation to the charges of witchcraft that had been set against him. The first petition garnered 32 signatures from men, and the second petition had an additional 20 supporters.

These documents showed me how significant and well-liked the Proctors must have been, as neighbors were willing to risk their own reputations, and potentially even their lives to support the couple’s innocence. I would love to learn more about how these petitions were received by the court and the judges, and if they were taken into consideration during the trials. The documents also reveal to me the more humane side of the trials and how some fought to free their friends and neighbors from accusations.