Answer and Explanation:
John Proctor is one of the characters in "The Crucible", a famous play by Arthur Miller.
I believe his last act was of honor rather than pride. Proctor knew he had never done what he had been accused of. He chose to be hanged instead of confessing to the crime he never committed and, to my mind, that takes a lot of courage and character. I dare say most of us would have done the opposite if it meant staying alive, after all survival is our most basic instinct. Thus, for someone to give up on that instinct consciously, to voluntarily give himself to death for the truth, it is an admirable act. Proctor was faithful to his values and principles, even if he was far from being a perfect man - a saint. Such faith, such courage is what makes him a hero.