1.The important information that John finally reveals to Reverend Hale was that Abigail told Proctor that what the girls were doing was not witchcraft. Hale does not believe what John says because he does not think Abigail would tell him that. Proctor said on page 68 “But I know the children’s sickness had naught to do with witchcraft.” After Hale asks him who told you this, John responds with Abigail Williams. John at first asks him why did he keep this from everyone and John says how he didn’t know it was so big. Reverend Hale wants John to confess in court that Abigail told him this. He wants John to testify against Abigail in court. He asked John on page 69 “And you would you testify to this in court?” He wanted him to come clean and confess …show more content…
Mr. Cheever had gone to the Proctors house to check Goody Proctors belongings. The court sent him for Elizabeth because she was suspected of having poppets. Elizabeth had no idea what they were talking about but they soon found a poppet that belonged to Mary. They found a needle in that poppet so they thought that Elizabeth has something to do with what happened to Abigail. Abigail fell to the floor while eating dinner and started screaming intensely. In page 74 it states “And he goes to save her, and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out.” Since Parris found a needle in Abigail and there was a needle in the poppet they suspected Elizabeth did this. John is pissed off and thinks this is absolute chaos. He doesn’t believe anything that they are saying. He knows that his wife did nothing to Abigail and he tells her that she is not going anywhere. Reverend Hale, on the other hand, is pretty calm about the situation because he knows that Elizabeth did not do what they are saying she did. He was telling John or trying to tell him that if she is innocent nothing will happen. John is probably scared of Abigail though because everyone seems to believe her lies. Elizabeth herself said that Abigail does not like her and wants her gone so she can be back with
Reverend John Hale and John Proctor are the first to realize that the girls who started the accusations should be punished for their actions. Reverend Hale starts to change his belief when Mary Warren tells reveals that there is no witchcraft, and when the girls hear about this they start to turn against her. In the scene when John Proctor and Giles Corey are taken away into custody Hale says "I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!". Hale has now crossed a line between his old self who put all his faith into the court, to a man who has absolutely no respect for it. At first Reverend Hale leaves Salem, but returns to try and save as many of the accused as possible. While doing so, Hale tries to convince Elizabeth Proctor to get John Proctor To confess so that John doesn't die. Hale doesn't know yet but anyone who confesses will he sent to be
Elizabeth and John start to feel the tension when Elizabeth tries to convince John about going to court and persecuting Abigail but he refuses. When he disputes with his wife he argues, “you will judge me no more Elizabeth I have good reason to charge fraud on Abigail and I will think on it” (193). Proctor is not completely satisfied about throwing Abigail under the bus because he doesn’t want to initially hurt her and he would lose his respect in the town if he did. So he isn’t convinced about the fact that his wife is trying to get him to charge fraud at this point of the play. Soon afterward Mary the proctor’s servant comes home with news that Elizabeth has been convicted of witchcraft as well and was arrested by the sheriff in town to be brought to the trials.
When the play sets in to action, John has had a past affair with his servant Abigail Williams. His wife, Elizabeth Proctor is very forgiving of his sin, but John has his mind set that he will not confess to anyone else, in fear of ruining his good name, and reputation. The affair between John and Abigail caused the start of chaotic witchery and accusation. After the affair, Abigail became horribly jealous of Elizabeth Proctor. Proctor realizes there is only one way to stop all the witch hysteria in Salem, and that would be to confess his sin of adultery. Although he knows he should, he continues to be determined not to confess. Also in the beginning Reverend Paris is new to town, and John insist continually that he is only speaking of hell, and hardly ever of God, as Proctor goes on to say to Parris, "Can you speak one minute without we land in Hell again? I am sick of Hell!" (Miller 30). In the drama, Mary Warren places a needle in a poppet she gave to Elizabeth; John firmly demands that Mary Warren tell the courts that she really put the needle in the poppet that day. Proctor says to her, "You're coming to the court with me, Mary. You will tell it in the court." (Miller 80). Furthermore, at the end of the play Proctor is persistent by saying that no matter what anyone says to convince him differently, he would rather die an honest man and save his name. John Proctor took pride in his thoughts, feelings, values, and his name. It took persistency to make his intent clear to others.
Arguing with Hale, Proctor uses common logic to point out the flaw in Hale's argument when he states, "Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this morning as clean as God's fingers?" (1283). Proctor is still using more logical questions to turn Hale, for the most part Proctor is correct just because Abigail is acusing does not make her the holy or devine one it only makes her the accuser. Some of the people in the town starts to notice that refer to the scene in court from Francise's view " Excellency, we have proof for your eyes; God forbid you shut them to it. The girls, sir, the girls are frauds. Danforth goes on to say "What's that!?" Francis "Excellency, I have never thought to say it to such a weighty judge, but you are decieved". This clearly starts to chop down on Abigails roll as an honest accuser. after Abigail's acusings continue the town is scared
He was the only one who knew that everything Abigail was doing, was in fact to get him to lover her and nothing she said about the witches was true. Along side John Proctor was Mr. Hale who also knew the girls were lying and this led him to quit the court because he knew it was controlled by the Devil her self Abigail. In the end John Proctor gave his own life so the hundreds of other people sitting in jail would get another truthful chance and Proctor himself would have his goodness now.
While questioning John and Elizabeth Proctor at their house, John asks Hale if he is seriously believing the word of several children, and if he has ever considered the possibility that citizens are only confessing to witchcraft to avoid being hanged. Reverend Hale responds, “I have I have indeed. [It is his own suspicion, but he resists it]”(69). This is a key moment in the development of John Hale’s character, it illustrates that he may be starting to doubt the authenticity of the witch trials. It is also foreshadows his eventual decision to criticize the court and his own past judgements. During this portion of the play, Reverend Hale struggles with doing the right thing and following his
After Mr. Proctor confesses to lechery with Abigail, to which she won’t respond to the charge, Hale is certain that she is a liar. Soon after, Elizabeth Proctor (John Proctor’s wife) is brought into the court and is told that she is forbidden to even look at her husband. During the questioning with Mrs. Proctor, she lies to protect Mr. Proctor, saying that the affair between John and Abigail never happened. Hale then instantly jumps to Elizabeth’s defense, saying, “...Excellency, it is a natural lie to tell; I beg you, stop now before another is condemned! I may shut my conscience to it no more--private vengeance is working through this testimony!" At the end of Act 3, as Giles Corey and John Proctor are arrested and taken away to jail, through Abigail’s manifested machinations, Hale’s confidence is destroyed and, in anger, says, “I denounce these proceedings, I quit this
Elizabeth believes that John is a good man because he has bared her sins and would rather die being truthful than be saved and alive with lies.
The Crucible was a rather strong book, it had battles both internal and external, there were also betrayals and vendettas… but a few stuck strong to their morals of what was wrong, and what was right. After the girl’s acts were, undoubtedly, in the eyes of the law, seen as entirely real, people who would not otherwise have been accused of witchcraft were now eligible to be under Satan’s spell. One John Proctor, saw himself above the nonsense, that witches could not exist in Salem, his wife, his children nor him; But, when Mary Warren said to the court that he used his spirit to drag her into court to testify against the girls, the judges deemed her word more truthful than his. After actively and repeatedly denying the claims, he was sentenced to death, for only a witch could lie in the face of god.
“ABIGAIL, with a bitter anger: Oh, I marvel how such a strong man may let such a sickly wife be(act 1 pg 205) relation to prompt .Though Abigail pretends she’s angry at Elizabeth Proctor for damaging her reputation, the more powerful emotion is envy of Elizabeth for her marriage to John Proctor. Here she resorts to petty name-calling in order to cast doubt in John’s mind. “ELIZABETH, She’d dare not call out such a farmer’s wife but there be monstrous profit in it. She thinks to take my place, John. Elizabeth points out that Abigail’s behavior, and her sudden accusation of Elizabeth, is motivated by jealousy and the possible benefit she might gain if Elizabeth dies. Proctor has a hard time coming around to see the truth of this
John Proctor faces many decisions in response to his moral dilemma to try to save his life. One of the difficult decisions John makes is to reveal that he had an affair with Abigail Williams and thereby has committed adultery. If the local court convicts him of this crime, he faces being jailed. Also by admitting this crime, John reveals a weakness in his character. This flaw in his personality will make it harder for him to stand up in the community as an honorable and believable person. In trying to convince others that witchcraft does not exist John’s dishonesty with his wife will make him less convincing to the community.
He asked John Proctor if he believed in the people that are being accused are real witches. “Hale: (quietly-it has impressed him) ...It’s said you hold no belief that there may even be witches in the world. Is that true, sir?” (Miller 73). John Proctor can either answer true or false to this question if he answer true than Hale may think he is a witch. If he answers falsely then he will also think he is a witch. No matter what you answer the person can still be right is called a gotcha question. Hale is now doubting his former convictions. “Hale: But it does not follow that everyone accused is part of it,” (Miller 103). Hale is starting to believe that the girls are being hypocrites and is faking the witch-hunt. So far, several women and men went to jail because of the accusations that were being made. Hale now believes John Proctor after he states that he has committed adultery because John Proctor wants to save his name and wouldn’t tell anyone. “Hale: I believe him!...This girl has always struck me false! She has- (Abigail...screams up to the ceiling.)” (Miller 119). He now believes that the witch accusers is all fake and made up so the group of girls can have attention on them. Abigail told them that if they go to the judge and tell them the truth then “...I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you…” (Miller 20). Hale has chosen that Proctor is telling the truth and the group of girls including Mary Warren, who is the Proctor’s servant, is lying about the people in Salem being
When asked by Reverend Hale, why John thinks it's a scam, John simply said " And why not, if they must hang for denyin' it? there are them that will swear to anything before they'll hang; have you never thought of that?"(Miller. 1173. John Proctor.) this statement was a turning point on the outlook of witchcraft in Salem. Not long after this statement was said, other men began to question the idea of witchcraft when their wives where convicted for witchcraft. As the accusations went on, many men believed that the accusations were a way to get to other peoples’ land from neighbors by simply accusing them to get them hung. It's amazing how a simple statement can become the turning point of an entire town. Not only is the statement incredible but also the person who asked the question. Why, you ask, because it means that John Proctor is using his mind to think of what caused the sudden outburst of witchcraft. John also you one of the girls close to Abigail Williams to learn that the girls are simply pretending to have seen the devil, to help Abigail Williams get rid of Elizabeth Proctor. When John Proctor hear of this plan his mind immediately went into protection mode for his wife, thus making him want to do anything in the world to save his wife from the gallows. Even if it means getting himself into
Elizabeth tries to convince John to expose Abigail as a fraud; he refuses, and she becomes jealous, then accusing him of still suppressing feelings for her. Their servant and one of Abigail’s circle, Mary Warren returns from Salem with the news that Elizabeth has been accused of witchcraft, but the court didn't pursue the claim. John and Elizabeth continue their argument once they sent Mary to bed, only to be interrupted by Reverend Hale. Giles Corey and Francis Nurse come to the Proctor home with the news that their wives have been arrested. Officers of the court suddenly arrive and arrest Elizabeth. After they have taken her, Proctor threatens Mary, telling her that she must go to Salem and expose Abigail and the other girls as frauds. The next day, Proctor brings Mary to court to testify that the girls are lying. Judge Danforth is suspicious of Proctor’s motives. Proctor insists in his charge, convincing Danforth to allow Mary to testify. Mary tells the court that the girls are lying. When the girls are brought in, they turn the tables by accusing Mary of bewitching them. Proctor, furious, confesses his affair with Abigail and accuses her of being motivated by jealousy. To test Proctor’s claim, Danforth summons Elizabeth and asks her if Proctor has been unfaithful to her. Despite her usually being honest, she lies to
Proctor: Abigail Williams. ”(Page 68-69). Originally, Hale only provided evidence that witchcraft was occurring in the town. Now that he has visited the Proctor’s home, he finds more support for his suspicion of the girls’ claims as he finds truth in the words of John Proctor.