John Proctor - a hero, or not?

As the protagonist of the Crucible, John Proctor is an intelligent and honorable man, but it is when the source of his downfall is uncovered, that John Proctor becomes a tragic hero. Throughout the play, John's righteous nature seeks out the truth and denounces those who abuse their given power. However, his one fatal flaw appears to be his lust for Abigail Williams, which ultimately led him to committing lechery - a serious crime in the Puritan village of Salem. Although John openly struggles to do good, his final decision of the play is perhaps what allows him to be considered a hero. On the morning of his hanging. John Proctor is offered a way out; if he confesses he would be pardoned, however this confession requires a signature that would degrade his dignity. This is exemplified when, in reply to Danforth's question as to why he will not sign, John says, "Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another!.....How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!" John thus knowingly consigns himself to execution. However, his ‘flaw’ is not his sin with Abigail but instead his inability to sacrifice something as seemingly small and insignificant as his name in return for his life and the lives of others. The tragedy lies, then, in the fact that John's good action, his only choice if he is to remain a good man, leads inevitably to his death.