page 128-145

"Proctor: Would you give them such a lie? Say it. Would you ever give them this? She cannot answer. You would not; if tongs of fire were singeing you you would not! It is evil. Good, then-it is evil, and I do it!" (138).

Proctor is torn weather or not to save himself by falsely confessing to witchcraft and give up his friends, or to be hanged. Proctor has been honest and truthful throughout the entire play, and now we see his honesty faltering. Of course he wants to live, especially for Elizabeth, his wife. However, because of Proctor's truthful and just heart, he cannot bear to falsely give up a confession and lie to live. To help him make his decision, he compares himself to what Elizabeth would do, and finds that since she would not lie to save herself, it must be an evil choice.




"Elizabeth, supporting herself from collapse, grips the bars of the window, and with a cry: He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!" (145).

Elizabeth will not convince Proctor to make a false confession even though she wants him to live. This shows how honest and truthful the Proctors are. Also, by not falsely confessing, it seems that Proctor is finally forgiving himself for everything that he as done wrong. Elizabeth knows that Proctor has always felt bad for his actions and now that it seems like doing the ultimate right thing allowed Proctor to forgive himself, and Elizabeth does not want to take that away from him.

1. Do those trying to convince Proctor to confess honestly believe he is a witch, or are they trying to make up for what they have done?
2. Does someone who confesses clear their name with the justice of the town of Salem, but not necessarily with God?