Who was a real hero by mistake in the crucible?

I suppose John Proctor comes out of this reluctant hero. He is a flawed man who tries to come to grips with his personal demons and sins. In the end he is forced to admit to "sins" that did not happen. Proctor struggles to cleanse himself of his own transgressions while, at the same time, grapple with imaginary transgressions put upon him by the witch court. Proctor becomes his own paradox. He refuses to give his name up to the hysteria. He screams out that he has is "his name". At the same time, by not signing, he condemns people (including himself and his wife) to death. This, is in the end, is his final act of heroism.