ACT 4 – Scene 4

Summary

Proctor hopes that if he makes an oral confession in Court, that will be sufficient for his Judges, but they require it in writing and it will be posted on the Church door.  He cannot face this and, therefore, retracts his confession.  He would rather die, and preserve his good name.

He asks himself, “God in heaven, what is John Proctor, what is John Proctor?”

He is lead out and hanged.

Interpretation

Proctor is also in a dilemma over his confession, but the Court want their pound of flesh and his confession must be in the form of a signed written testimony that will be hung on the Church door.

What undermines Proctor’s position is the fact that Rebecca Nurse will not confess, and she is shocked when Proctor does. Also, Elizabeth has not confessed either although she has a year to live and time is not so important. There is no doubt that if need be she would probably confess at the last minute if her husband is still alive.  She holds out with the hope that the Trials will end as they have in Andover, and she will be released without making a confession.

Proctor has already performed one great lie in his life, that being his affair with Abigail. He does not wish to make another lie.  A small one he could have lived with, but the fact that a large written lie in plain view of everyone was required, is unthinkable.

The crux of the matter, therefore, is that if his written confession were to appear on the Church door, he would be betraying all those who have refused to confess.  There would be no honour in this and he would end up a broken man with no name.