False Confession In The Crucible
The Salem Witch trails took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. It was a time where reason and facts become cloudy by unreasonable desires to place the blame for society’s problems on others. Many innocent men and women were convicted of witchcraft, and were sent to be hanged. Others spent many months in jail waiting for trial. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller illustrates the power of false confession and effect of fear in Salem proving that mankind will say anything to save their own life, when their life is in danger. In Salem many people were accused of witchcraft. They were forced to tell lies to get a hold of their freedom. One of the individual that was accused was John Proctor. Proctor was not scared what his sins
would bring him. Proctor was accused of forcing his spirit on Mary Warren. Proctor had to make a choice. He can either confess to a crime he is innocent of to save himself from execution, or die proclaiming his innocence. He ends up choosing death by saying, “Because it’s my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign my self to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live with out my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Miller 143) He felt that a false confession would mean implicating other accused people, including his close friend Rebecca. Proctor does really say anything about Rebecca. Rebecca says a little to get Proctor thinking, “Why, it is a lie, it is a lie; how may I damn myself? I cannot, I cannot.” (Miller 140) Proctor feels that she is good and pure, unlike his disloyal self, and does not want to taint her good name and the names of his other innocent friends by calling them out. In the end he followed his conscience by telling the truth. Proctor die with a good conscience. Fear can influence people to act out it many different ways. Mary Warren feels like she can not talk with out being threaten or betrayed by the Salem girls. Mary Warren is a kind and basically honest girl who just gets caught in the Salem lies. Once Mary finds out that her friend Elizabeth Proctor is getting trial for witchcraft. She realizes that the accusations are mortally wrong and cruel. The trial is based on hatred and revenge, resulting in the condemning and execution of her innocent friend Elizabeth. Mary acknowledges the corruption in court. She is able to follow her truthful instincts by saying, "I cannot lie no more. I am with God, I am with God" (Miller 102). Previously Mary confesses to the court by saying, “It were only sport in the beginning, sir, but then the whole world cried spirits, spirits, and I-I promise you, Mr. Danforth, I only thought I saw them but I did not.” (Miller 107) Abigail denies the charges and convicts Mary of witchcraft. Mary is now faced with another grueling internal conflict to do what she knows is right and die for it, or to return to her old ways. Terribly frightened, Mary panics and rejoins Abigail's side. She is now left with
would bring him. Proctor was accused of forcing his spirit on Mary Warren. Proctor had to make a choice. He can either confess to a crime he is innocent of to save himself from execution, or die proclaiming his innocence. He ends up choosing death by saying, “Because it’s my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign my self to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live with out my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Miller 143) He felt that a false confession would mean implicating other accused people, including his close friend Rebecca. Proctor does really say anything about Rebecca. Rebecca says a little to get Proctor thinking, “Why, it is a lie, it is a lie; how may I damn myself? I cannot, I cannot.” (Miller 140) Proctor feels that she is good and pure, unlike his disloyal self, and does not want to taint her good name and the names of his other innocent friends by calling them out. In the end he followed his conscience by telling the truth. Proctor die with a good conscience. Fear can influence people to act out it many different ways. Mary Warren feels like she can not talk with out being threaten or betrayed by the Salem girls. Mary Warren is a kind and basically honest girl who just gets caught in the Salem lies. Once Mary finds out that her friend Elizabeth Proctor is getting trial for witchcraft. She realizes that the accusations are mortally wrong and cruel. The trial is based on hatred and revenge, resulting in the condemning and execution of her innocent friend Elizabeth. Mary acknowledges the corruption in court. She is able to follow her truthful instincts by saying, "I cannot lie no more. I am with God, I am with God" (Miller 102). Previously Mary confesses to the court by saying, “It were only sport in the beginning, sir, but then the whole world cried spirits, spirits, and I-I promise you, Mr. Danforth, I only thought I saw them but I did not.” (Miller 107) Abigail denies the charges and convicts Mary of witchcraft. Mary is now faced with another grueling internal conflict to do what she knows is right and die for it, or to return to her old ways. Terribly frightened, Mary panics and rejoins Abigail's side. She is now left with