Sample #1: Proctor: That woman will never lie, Mr. Danforth .”

1. Sample #1: Proctor: That woman will never lie, Mr. Danforth.” Proctor’s statement, “That woman will never lie…” suggest his rigid belief in the idea that his wife, Elizabeth, will never tell a lie. Danforth had said that Proctor’s wife sent him a “claim in which she states that she is pregnant now,” (85). Proctor is legitimately ecstatic, because, it means that she will not be hanged, at least until the baby is born. Proctor’s statement is ironic because later on, Proctor admits to lechery with Abigail Williams, and that she had external motives for accusing Elizabeth of witchcraft. However, when Elizabeth is called out to be questioned on this, she reluctantly says that Proctor never engaged in lechery, in order to refrain from hindering his reputation. She is then taken out, and Proctor is taken for a liar. Therefore, while Proctor was trying to save Elizabeth’s life by admitting to his sin, she lies to save his reputation, in turn condemning herself.

2. Sample #2 The ironic quote that Reverend Parris says to Reverend Hale that “All innocent and Christian people are happy for the courts in Salem!” is significant because he says this even as people in jail are Christians and are discontent because they know they are innocent. Reverend Parris is saying this to Revernd Hale after he questions whether every defense in the court is an attack against it. This shows that Reverend Parris is extremely self righteous and is willing to do anything to save his career. His opinion doesn’t help bring out the truth, instead, it ends up condemning the people already in jail and infuriates Reverend Hale to the point where “[he] quit[s] the court.” (111) This quote just outlines Parris’s belief in the circle of girls and the credibility of the court on their judgement and the ‘evidence’ they are presented with.

3. Previously Abigail and the girls acted “possesed” by Mary because Mary confessed in Court that the witchcraft is a pretense. Then Danford threatens Mary Warren, “ …you Will confess yourself or you will hang..”. This demonstrates dramatic irony because the Readers know that Mary Warren is telling the truth because in Act 1, Abigail, the leader of the group admitted to Proctor that the girls were dancing in the woods just for fun. But The other characters in the play believe the girls were bewitched.