The first reason is that because Abigail Williams is extremely manipulative and vindictive. Abigail tries to get Procter to pity her saying, “You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet! John, pity me, pity me!” (Miller 22). Abigail wants Procter to pity and give her what she wants, regardless that his wife caught them once and can catch them again. Another reason their relationship is dangerous is that if John Procter were to prosecute against Abigail Williams saying that she is in fact a witch, Abigail Williams could very easily tell the entire town that she and Procter have been having an affair to get revenge on him.
Abigail tries to get him to come back to her constantly, but John gives his love to his wife Elizabeth Proctor and shuts Abigail away. This leads John to the conclusion that the reason Abigail lies about witchcraft in Salem is because she wants Elizabeth Proctor dead to be with John
When Proctor had to go to the court to get his wife out of being accused of upholding witchcraft he eventually confess to his sins he committed. Talking to Danforth, Proctors says “I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweet. But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it; I set myself entirely in your hands” (page 49 act three) confessing to the crime he did. He realizes what he did was wrong which was why he tried to hide it for so long. But the only way for
Proctors wife has been convicted of being a witch by Abigal and the towns men are about to take her away and Proctor stands in front of them and says ,“Youl’ll leave her out of sight and out of mind mister!”(202) Also when he is in the court house trying to save his wife and admits to having an affair with Abigal ruining hiss own name to save his wife. “I have known her sir!...God help me I lusted” (miller 221). Proctor throws his reputation away to save his wife. In Act five John Proctor threw everything that’s happened becomes a noble man. When he’s talking to his wife and makes the decision for himself “John Proctor: what should I do woman!”... “I’m sorry John it is not my decision John” (Miller 239).
Also, Abby accuses Mrs. Proctor of witchcraft for her own self-interest. She wanted Mrs. Proctor to be killed so she could have Mr. Proctor to herself. Lastly, Arthur Miller underscores the magnitude of personal indiscretion in influencing social upheaval. During the witch trials, people were afraid of their own sins being exposed and they tried anything they could to keep it a secret. John Proctor tried to keep his affair with Abigail from the court as long as possible until he pretty much had to break down and confess it.
When john takes Mary to the court so she can testify against the girls they think it’s a bit suspicious. When the girls are brought into the court they accuse Mary of bewitching them. John gets fed up and he confesses to his affair with Abigail to prove that she is not a goodly person and that she is jealous of his wife. Elizabeth is brought to the court to prove of what john is saying is true but because of her kindness and her love for her husband she lies to protect his name. Abigail and the girls pretend Mary is bewitching them again which make Mary breakdown and accuse john of being a witch.
When the witch trials begin, Reverend Hale questions John and asks him to recite the Ten Commandments and misses one Commandment (ironically, the Commandment regarding adultery), and thus begins Proctor’s quest to prove himself not to be of the devil. Later on in the play, Proctor makes a false confession to save his life, however, he tears it up stating “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another name in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies!” (Miller 143). The previous quote is important to Proctor’s crucible because it proves that he has failed his quest and has given in rather than continuing to try and prove he is not an associate of the
Then, Elizabeth realizes, he must have lied to her the first time he told the story. Irritated, he says he won’t have her suspicion anymore. She tells him he should try not to earn it, then. They continue on this conversation. It becomes clear that Proctor wants her to forget Abigail as he has.
When she leaves the house “- mark this - I could pray again!” When he realises that because of him her wife is accused he comes to court and produces ninety-one signatures which say that Martha isn’t a witch. This causes all names to be accused of witchcraft. This starts to show how naming names can cause the problems to worsen. When Giles Corey has a chance to save his wife, he has a witness that can prove the innocence of his wife but he dare not speak that name because he would be accused and wouldn’t save his wife either. Later Giles performs heroic act to redeem himself from the accusation of Martha, and gives up his life when is forced to speak the name of his alibi, by pressing stones on his chest, he’s final words were “more weight”.
He wants to get rid of the devil in Salem and be the savior of the town (pg. 848). When Hale discovered that Abigail and the girls were lying he try to convince Danforth to stop before another person is condemned. He realized that the people accuse their neighbors for revenge and that he can’t do anything about it. (pg.