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Act IV. I am John Proctor. You will not use me. . 1. What is wrong with Rev. Parris and why? 2. Why has Rev. Hale been speaking to the prisoners? 3. What has happened to Abigail since the end of Act Three? 4. What is the judges’ plan on how to avoid a riot in Salem?
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1. What is wrong with Rev. Parris and why? • 2. Why has Rev. Hale been speaking to the prisoners? • 3. What has happened to Abigail since the end of Act Three? • 4. What is the judges’ plan on how to avoid a riot in Salem? • 5. What happened in Andover to make the judges fear revenge? • 6. What did Rev. Parris find at his door to make him fear for his life? • 7. Why will Judge Danforth not delay the hangings?
The Act IV opens with a drunk Marshal Herrick moving Tituba and Sarah Good from their cell. • They are both waiting on the Devil • “We goin to Barbados, soon as the Devil gits here with the feathers and the wings.” • Since Proctor’s conviction, Hale has been going among the accused and praying with them before their execution. • Parris has also been seen praying with the prisoners. He is described as having “a mad look these days”
Hale has attempted to save the lives of Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey by asking them to confess. • “He bids them confess their crimes and save their lives.” • Most importantly, Abigail and the rest of the girls have vanished, stealing 31 pounds in the process. • Parris attempts to defend their disappearance, • “ I cannot think they would run off except they fear to keep in Salem anymore.”
Allusion to Andover • Andover accused about 50 people of witchcraft. Salem Village and the town of Salem combined accused 38 people of being witches. Also, Andover arrested more children for witchcraft than any other town. • More people confessed to witchcraft in Andover than any other town. • By the beginning of October, twenty-four people had died because of the Salem witchcraft trials. Nineteen people were hanged. Four accused of witchcraft died in prison. Two dogs were also killed for suspected witchcraft. • One man in his eighties was literally crushed to death by citizens of Salem. Giles Corey refused to stand trial for witchcraft and was subject to interrogation. The interrogators kept piling rocks on the elderly man until he suffocated. His punishment lasted two days. • The citizens of Andover helped end the Salem witch trials by beginning petitions in their town.
Hathorne claims that he sees “naught by high satisfaction in the town” with every execution • Parris points out that everyone until now had been obvious sinners, but Rebecca and John are respected throughout the community. • Parris has ask to postpone the executions to allow Hale to gather confessions. • “If he bring even one of these to God, that confession surely damns the others in the public eye. • By not confessing, the imprisoned people have raised doubts in the village about the legitimacy of the court. • Parris and the rest of the judges are attempting to cover up their pride and failures by finding one person that give evidence to the court’s rulings. • Furthermore, Parris is afraid for his life, since he found a dagger stuck into his door.
Hale claims “You must pardon them. They will not confess.” • Danforth pride will not allow him to release them. • “I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime.” • “Postponement now speaks floundering on my part… I should hang ten thousand that dared rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the statutes.” • The judges arrange to have Elizabeth meet with Proctor to attempt to convince him to confess.
Moral Debate Hale Elizabeth “I think that be the Devil’s argument.” • “cleave to no faith when faith brings blood..” • “life is God’s most precious gift; no principle, however glorious may justify the taking of it.”
Danforth believes Elizabeth is heartless; in fact, it a sign of her strength and defiance of their authority • Proctor has confessed that he has been tortured by his captives. • Elizabeth tells Proctor that many have confessed, but none of those that are scheduled to hang that day. • Proctor claims all that stayed his own confession were spite of his captives.
Elizabeth relates how Giles Corey dies. • He was pressed to death for failure to answer a plea of guilt or innocence, ensuring that his sons received his land. • John asks Elizabeth several times “What would you have me do?” • Proctor feels that he is not as worthy as those that he would be hung with that day. “(His) honesty is broke(n).” • Proctor thinks he should give them the lie to stay with his family.
Proctor asks for Elizabeth’s forgiveness • She claims it is not for her to forgive, if he cannot forgive himself. • Elizabeth states that she pushed Proctor to lechery by keeping “a cold house” and no honest love could come of her. • She finally states, “Do as you will. But let none be your judge. There is no greater judge under Heaven than Proctor is!” • Proctor is surprised by how happy everyone seems to be that he would confess that he is a witch.
As Proctor confesses his lie which he knows is “evil,” Rebecca Nurse is brought forth to see how she should confess. • Proctor refuses to give the name of anyone else that is accused of witchcraft. • Danforth points out to Proctor that he is not “empowered to trade his life for a lie,” • Proctor must prove the “whiteness” of his soul by pointing out all those who they suspect of evil
Proctor is reticent to “sign” the paper. He feels that his testimony should be enough. • He signs the paper but refuses to give it to Danforth • “Is there no good penitence but it be made public?” This is the same outlook as the McCarthy trials televised confessions. • Proctor points out that if they were truly after his salvation his confession should be enough.
Proctor’s reason for not signing, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life!” • Proctor tears the paper instead of giving it to them. • “I do think I see some goodness in John Proctor.” • Danforth- “He who weeps for these weeps for corruption.”
In the end, Parris himself pleads for Proctor to save himself. • Hale once again calls his actions vanity. “Shall the dust praise him? Shall the worms declare his truth?” • “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him.” Elizabeth points out Proctor redemption through his test.
I am John Proctor. • There is power in your name. • Note in the final passages of the Crucible Proctor refers to himself several times in the third person for the purpose of emphasizing his character. • “I do think I see some good in John Proctor. “
Faustian Bargain or the Devil’s Deal • Proctor is offered his freedom and that of his wife several times if we give up a piece of himself. • Proctor finds he cannot give up his name. His name becomes synonymous for his soul. He only has one in his life.
Danforth • Danforth becomes a symbol of absolute power • He is unwilling to hear evidence that runs counter to his beliefs • He threatens to kill those that stand in his way.
Foils • Characters that are foils of one another are the exact opposite • Abigail and Elizabeth are foils of one another • Abigail is liar and overly passionate. • Elizabeth is very honest and rarely passionate. • These characters may also be refer to as the ANTITHESIS (highlighting the opposing forces to show the extremity of the conflict) • Other examples include Proctor v Parris and Giles v Putnam
Tragedies • Harmatia- the hero’s tragic flaw • What is Proctor’s flaw? • In every tragedy the hero must have a flaw or hamartia that leads to their downfall. • In addition, in any tragedy the hero will fall moments after their enlightenment.
It’s Greek to Me • Anagnorsis- Often the protagonists in tragedy undergo a process of recognition, in which they see their own nature, and destiny, more clearly than before. • There IS a promise made in such sweat. • There be some good in Proctor yet
