INTRODUCTION
Speaker 1:
In 7th year we watched the Film Good Night and Good Luck (set in America in the 50s) which refers to the “witch hunt” against Communists, and this led us to do research and learn about an earlier episode in American history connected to this.
Early in the year 1692, in Salem, Massachusetts in Salem, an extremely Puritan town where some girls were found dancing in the woods. In order to avoid punishment, the girls started blaming spirits for their actions. In this extremely religious New England town frightening or surprising occurrences were often attributed to the devil. The Massachusetts government and judicial system, heavily influenced by religion, sent people to jail on charges of witchcraft. By August 1692, nineteen people (and two dogs) had been convicted and hanged for witchcraft.
Speaker 2:
More than two centuries later, Arthur Miller was born in New York City on October 17, 1915.
He produced his first great success, All My Sons, in 1947. Two years later, in 1949, Miller wrote Death of a Salesman, which won the Pulitzer Prize and transformed Miller into a national sensation.
Drawing on research on the witch trials he had conducted while an undergraduate, Miller composed The Crucible in the early 1950s. This was the time of the first tense years of the Cold War. Miller wrote the play during the brief ascendancy of Senator Joseph McCarthy, whose anti-Communism led to lunacy. Led by McCarthy, special congressional committees conducted highly controversial investigations intended to root out Communist sympathizers in the United States. In the same way as with the alleged witches of Salem, suspected Communists were encouraged to confess and to identify other Red sympathizers as means of escaping punishment. The policy resulted in a whirlwind of accusations. As people began to realize that they might be condemned as Communists regardless of their innocence, many “cooperated,” attempting to save themselves through false confessions, creating the image that the United States was overrun with Communists and perpetuating the hysteria.
Miller was one of the targets of these “witch hunts”. Some cooperated; others, like Miller, refused to give in to questioning. Those who were said to be Communists, and those who refused to incriminate their friends, saw their careers suffer, as they were blacklisted from potential jobs for many years afterward.
Speaker 3: The Characters:
John Proctor: a local farmer. He hates hypocrisy and he’s willing to risk everything in order to keep his good name.
Abigail Williams: a smart young girl, a good liar.
Judge Danforth: The Deputy Governor of Massachusetts and the presiding judge at the witch trials. Danforth is convinced that he is doing right in rooting out witchcraft.
Judge Hathorne: a judge who presides, along with Danforth, the witch trials.
Mr. Parris: the minister on Salem’s church. He’s paranoid and he’s afraid to lose his power. Many people distrust him.
Mr. Hale: a young minister, an expert on witchcraft.
Giles Corey: an elderly farmer in Salem. He and his wife are accused of witchcraft.
Martha Corey: Guile’s wife.
Francis Nurse: A wealthy, influential man in Salem. Nurse is well respected by most people in Salem, but is an enemy of Thomas Putnam and his wife.
Thomas Putnam: A wealthy, influential citizen of Salem. He uses the witch trials to increase his own wealth by accusing people of witchcraft and then buying up their land.
Mary Warren: a servant in John Proctor’s house. A member of Abigail’s group. Although at some moment she strives to tell the truth she is very easily influenced by the other girls.
THE CRUCIBLE (ACT THREE)
The vestry room of the Salem meeting house, now serving as the anteroom of the General Court.
As the curtain rises, the room is empty, but for sunlight pouring through two high windows in the back wall. The room is solemn, even forbidding. Heavy beams jut out, boards of random widths make up the walls. At the right are two doors leading into the meeting house proper, where the court is being held. At the left another door leads outside. There is a plain bench at the left, and another at the right. In the center a rather long meeting table, with stools and a considerable armchair snugged up to it.
Through the partitioning wall at the right we hear a prosecutor’s voice, Judge Hathorne’s, asking a question; then a woman’s voice, Martha Corey’s, replaying.
HATHORNE: Now, Martha Corey, there is abundant evidence in our hands to show that you have given yourself to the reading of fortunes. Do you deny it?
HATHORNE: How do you know, then, that you are not a witch?
MARTHA COREY: If you were, I would know it.
Voices of townspeople rise in excitement
Enter Giles Corey from left. All turn to see as he beckons in Mary Warren with Proctor. Mary is keeping her eyes to the ground; Proctor has her elbow as though she were near collapse.
A roaring goes up from the people
The doors opens and Giles is half carried into the vestry room by Herrick.
Enter Hale from the Court
HALE: Pray be calm a moment
Judge Hathorne enters. He is in his sixties, a bitter, remorseless Salem judge.
DANFORTH: Do you take it upon yourself to determine what this court shall believe and what it shall set aside?
GILES: Your Excellency, we mean no disrespect for…
DANFORTH: Disrespect indeed! It is disruption, Mister. This is the highest court of the supreme government of this province, do your know it?
HARTHORNE: This is contempt, sir, contempt!
DANFORTH: Who is this?
Giles: This is Mary Warren! .She has been strivin’ with her soul all week, Your Honor, she comes now to tell the truth of this to you.
PARRIS: Beware this man, Your Excellency, this man is mischief
HALE: (excitedly) I think you must hear the girl, sir, she…
DANFORTH: (has become very interested in Mary Warren and only raises a hand toward Hale)
Peace. What would you tell us Mary Warren?
Proctor looks at her, but she cannot speak
PROCTOR: She never saw no spirits, sir.
DANFORTH: (With great alarm and surprise to Mary) Never saw no spirits, sir!
GILES: (eagerly) Never.
PROCTOR: (reaching into his jacket) She has signed a deposition sir…
DANFORTH: (Instantly) No, no, I accept no depositions
(He is rapidly calculating this; he turns from her to Proctor)
DANFORTH: (thinks, staring at proctor, then turns to Mary Warren) And you, Mary Warren, how came you to cry out people for sending their spirits against you?
MARY WARREN: It were pretense, sir.
DANFORTH: Ah? And the other girls? Susanna Walcott, and… the others? They are also pretending?
MARY WARREN: Aye, sir.
DANFORTH: (wide-eyed) Indeed
(Pause. He is baffled by this. He turns to study Proctor’s face)
PARRIS: (in a sweat) Excellency, you are surely cannot think to let so vile a lie be spread in open court!
DANFORTH: Indeed not, but it strike hard upon me that she will dare come here with such a tale. Now Mr. Proctor, before I decide whether I shall hear you or not, it is my duty to tell you this. We burn a hot fire here, it melts down all concealment.
PROCTOR: I know that, sir.
DANFORTH: (He keeps watching Proctor who tries to meet his gaze). I tell you straight, Mister. I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them stuck by pins and slashed by daggers. I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me. Do you understand my meaning?
PROCTOR: Excellency, does it not strike upon you that so many of these women have lived so long with such upright reputation, and…
PARRIS: you should surely know that Cain were an upright man, and yet he did kill Abel.
Danforth considers then beckons Hathorne to him. Hathorne leans in, and he speaks in his ear. Hathorne nods.
DANFORTH: (With a sudden briskness of manner) I am ready to hear your evidence.
PROCTOR: I come not hurt the court; I only…
DANFORTH: (It is the reflection on himself he resents) Now, what deposition do you have for us, Mr. Proctor? And I beg you be clear, open as the sky, and honest.
PROCTOR: (As he takes out several papers) I am not lawyer, so I’ll…
DANFORTH: The pure in heart need no lawyers. Proceed as your will
PROCTOR: (Handing Danforth a paper) Will you read this first, sir? It’s a sort of testament. The people signing it declare their good opinion of Rebecca, and my wife, and Martha Corey
FRANCIS: (trembling with anger) Mr. Danforth, I gave them all my word no harm would come to them for signing this
PARRIS: This is clear attack upon the court!
HALE: (to Parris, trying to contain himself) Is every defense an attack upon the court? Can no one…?
PARRIS: All innocent and Christian people are happy for the courts in Salem! These people are gloomy for it.
(To Proctor) Now, Mister, what other information do you have for us? (Francis is still standing, horrified) You may sit, Mr. Nurse
FRANCIS: I have brought trouble on these people; I have…
DANFORTH: No old man, you have not hurt these people if they are a good conscience. But you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between. This is a sharp time, now, a precise time… we live no longer in the dusky afternoon when evil mixed itself with good and befuddled the world. Now, by God’s grace, the shinning sun is up, and them that fear not light will surely praise it. I hope you will be one of those.
(Mary Warren suddenly sobs) She is not hearty, I see.
PROCTOR: No, she’s not, sir.
(To Mary, bending to her, holding her hand, quietly) Now remember what the angel Raphael said to the boy Tobias. Remember it.
MARY WARREN: (Hardly audible) Aye
GILES: John, my deposition, give him mine
PROCTOR: Aye (He hands Danforth another paper) This is Mr. Corey’s deposition
DANFORTH: Oh?
(He looks down at it. Now Hathorne comes behind him and reads with him)
DANFORTH: Mr. Putnam, I have here an accusation by Mr. Corey against you. He states that you coldly prompted your daughter to cry witchery upon George Jacobs that is now in jail.
PUTNAM: It is a lie
DANFORTH: (Turning to Giles) Mr. Putnam states your charge is a lie. What say you to that?
GILES: (Furious, his fists clenched) A fart on Thomas Putnam, that is what I say to that.
DANFORTH: What proof do you submit for your charge, sir?
GILES: My proof is there! (Pointing to the paper) If Jacobs hangs for a witch he forfeit up his property… that’s law! And there is none but Putnam with the coin to buy so great a piece. This man is killing his neighbors for their land!
DANFORTH: But proof, sir, proof.
GILES: (Pointing at his deposition) The proof is there! I have it from an honest man who heard Putnam say it! The day his daughter cried out on Jacobs, he said she’d given him a fair gift of land.
HATHORNE: And the name of this man?
GILES: (taken aback) What name?
HATHORNE: The man that give you this information
GILES: (Hesitates, then) Why, I… I cannot give you his name
HATHORNE: And why not?
GILES: (Hesitates, then bursts out) You know well why not! He’ll lay in jail if I give his name!
HATHORNE: This is contempt of the court, Mr. Danforth!
DANFORTH: (To avoid that) You will surely tell us the name
GILES: I will not give you no name. I mentioned my wife’s name once and I’ll burn in hell long enough for that. I stand mute.
DANFORTH: In that case, I have no choice but to arrest you for contempt of this court, do you know that?
GILES: (Faltering)I cannot give you no name, sir, I cannot
PROCTOR: (breaking in…) Your Honor… he has the story in confidence, sir, and he…
PARRIS: The Devil lives on such confidences!
(To Danforth) Without confidences there could be no conspiracy, Your Honor!
HATHORNE: I think it must be broken, sir
DANFORTH: (to Giles) Old man, if your informant tells the truth let him come here openly like a decent man. But if he hide in anonymity I must know why. Now sir, the government and central church demand of you the name of him who reported Mr. Thomas Putnam a common murderer.
HALE: Excellency…
DANFORTH: Mr. Hale
HALE: We cannot blink it more. There is a prodigious fear of this court in country….
DANFORTH: Then there is a prodigious guilt in the country. You afraid to be questioned here?
HALE: I may only fear the Lord, sir, but there is fear in the country nevertheless
DANFORTH: (angered now) Reproach me not with the fear in the country; there is fear in the country because there is a moving plot to topple the authority.
HALE: But it does not follow that everyone accused is part of it.
DANFORTH: No uncorrupted man may fear this court, Mr. Hale! None!
(To Giles) You are under arrest in contempt of this court. Now sit you down and take counsel with yourself, or you will set in the jail until you decide to answer all questions
Giles Corey makes a rush for Putnam. Proctor lunges and holds him
PROCTOR: No, Giles!
GILES: (over Proctor’s shoulder at Putnam) NO
PROCTOR: (Forcing him into a chair) Peace, Giles, peace (Releasing him) We’ll prove ourselves. Now we will. (He starts to turn to Danforth
GILES: Say nothin’ more, John. (Pointing at Danforth) He’s only playin’ you! You means to hang us all!
Mary Warren bursts into sobs
DANFORTH: This is a court of law, Mister. I’ll have no effrontery here!
PROCTOR: Forgive him, sir, for his old age. Peace, Giles, we’ll prove it all now. (He lifts up Mary’s chin) You cannot weep. Mary. Remember the angel
(Mary quiets. He takes out a paper and turn to Danforth) This is Mary Warren’s deposition. I… I would ask you remember, while you read it, that until two weeks ago she were no different than the other children are today (He is speaking reasonably, restraining all his fears, his anger, his anxiety) You saw her scream, she howled, she swore familiar spirits choked her; she even testified that Satan, in the form of woman now in jail, tried to win her soul away, and then when she refused…
DANFORTH: We know all this
PROCTOR: Aye, sir. She swears now that she never saw Satan; nor any spirit, vague or clear, that Satan may have sent to hurt her. And she declares her friends are lying now.
Proctor starts to hand Danforth the deposition, and Hale comes up to Danforth in a trembling state
HALE: Excellency, a moment. I think this goes to the heart of the matter
DANFORTH: Mr. Hale, believe me; for man of such terrible learning you are most bewildered… I hope you will forgive me. I have been thirty-two year at the bar, sir, and I should be confounded were I called upon to defend these people. Let you consider, now…
(To Proctor and the others) And I bid you all do likewise. In an ordinary crime, how does one defend the accused? One calls up witnesses to prove his innocence. But witchcraft is ipso facto, on its face and by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not? Therefore, who may possibly be witness to it? The witch will accused herself; granted? Therefore, we must rely upon her victims… and they do testify, the children certainly do testify. As for the witches, none will deny that we are most eager for all their confessions. Therefore what is left for a lawyer to bring out? I think I have made my point. Have I not?
HALE: But this child claims the girls are not truthful and if they are not…
DANFORTH: That is precisely what I am about to consider, sir what more may you ask of me? Unless you doubt my probity?
HALE: (Defeated) I surely do not, sir. Let you consider it, then.
DANFORTH: And let you put your heart to rest. Her deposition, Mr. Proctor.
Proctor hands it to him. Hathorne rises, goes beside Danforth, and starts reading. Parris comes to his other side. Danforth looks at John Proctor, then proceeds to read. Hale gets up, finds position near the judge, reads too. Proctor glances at Giles. Francis prays silently, hands pressed together. Cheever waits placidly; the sublime official, dutiful. Mary Warren sobs once. John Proctor touches her head reassuringly. Presently Danforth lifts his eyes stands up, takes out a kerchief and blows his nose. The others stand aside as he moves in thought toward the window.
Will you go into the court and bring the children here? (to Parris)
Cheever gets up and goes out upstage
(Danforth now turns to Mary) Mary Warren, how come you to this turnabout? Has Mr. Proctor threatened you for this deposition?
MARY WARREN: No, sir
DANFORTH: Then you tell me that you sat in my court, callously lying, when you knew that people would hang by your evidence?
(She does not answer) Answer me!
MARY WARREN: (almost inaudibly) I did, sir
DANFORTH: How were you instructed in your life? Do you not know that God damns all liars? (She cannot speak) Or is it now that you lie?
MARY WARREN: No, sir… I am with God now
DANFORTH: You are with God now
MARY WARREN: Aye, sir
DANFORTH: (containing himself) I will tell you this… you are either lying now, or you were lying in the court, and in either case you have committed perjury and you will go to jail for it. You cannot lightly say you lied, Mary. Do you know that?
MARY WARREN: I cannot lie no more. I am with God, I am with God
But she breaks into sobs at the thought of it, and the right door opens, and enter Susanna Walcott, Mercy Lewis, Betty Paris, and finally Abigail. Cheever comes to Danforth.
DANFORTH:
(Pause, looking at the girls, ) Abigail Williams, rise (Abigail slowly rise) Is there any truth in this, child?
ABIGAIL: No, sir
PROCTOR: It is not a child.
DANFORTH: Quiet man
PROCTOR: Mary. Now tell the Governor how you danced in the woods.
DANFORTH: In a moment, sir. (To Mary Warren, sternly, and surprised) What is this dancing?
MARY WARREN: I… (She glances at Abigail, who is staring down at her remorselessly. Then appealing to Proctor) Mr. Proctor…
PROCTOR: (taking it right up) Abigail leads the girl to the woods, Your Honor, and they have danced there naked.
PARRIS: Your Honor, this…
PROCTOR: (at once) Mr. Parris discovered them himself in the dead of night! There’s the “child” she is!
Danforth, as though with new eyes, looks at Abigail
HATHORNE: (with a gleam of victory) when people accused of witchery confronted you in court, you would faint, saying their spirits came out of their bodies and choked you…
MARY WARREN: That were pretense, sir.
DANFORTH: I cannot hear you
MARY WARREN: Pretense, sir
PARRIS: But you did turn cold, did you not? I myself picked you up many times, and your skin were icy. Mr. Danforth, you…
DANFORTH: I saw that many times.
PROCTOR: She only pretended to faint, Your Excellency. They all marvelous pretenders.
MARY WARREN: I never saw no spirits. It was pretense, sir.
PARRIS: Then you will confess, will you not? It were attacking spirits made your faint!
MARY WARREN: No, sir, I…
PARRIS: Your Excellency, this is a trick to blind the court!
Danforth peers at her
DANFORTH: (turning worriedly to Abigail) Abigail, I bid you now search your heart and tell me this…Is it possible, child, that the spirits you have seen are illusion only, some deception that may cross your mind when…
ABIGAIL: I have been hurt, Mr. Danforth; I have seen my blood runnin’ out! I have been near to murdered every day because I done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people… and this is my reward? To be mistrusted, denied, questioned like a…
(Suddenly, from an accusatory attitude, her face turns, looking into the air above… it is truly frightened)
DANFORTH: (apprehensively) What is it, child?
ABIGAIL: (looking about in the air, clasping her arms about her as though cold) I… I know not. A wind, a cold wind, has come (her eyes fall on Mary Warren)
MARY WARREN: (terrified, pleading) Abby!
MERCY LEWIS: (Shivering) Your Honor, I freeze!
PROCTOR: They’re pretending!
HATHORNE: (touching Abigail’s hand) She is cold, Your Honor, touch her!
MERCY LEWIS: (through chattering teeth) Mary, do you send this shadow on me?
MARY WARREN: Lord, save me!
SUSANNA WALCOTT: I freeze, I freeze!
ABIGAIL: (Shivering visibly) It is a wind, a wind!
MARY WARREN: Abby, don’t do that!
DANFORTH: (himself engaged and entered by Abigail) Mary Warren, I say to you, do you send your spirit out?
With a hysterical cry Mary Warren starts to run. Proctor catches her.
MARY WARREN: (almost collapsing) Let me go, Mr. Proctor I cannot, I cannot …
Without warning or hesitation, Proctor leaps at Abigail and grabbing her by the hair, pulls her to her feet. She screams in pain. Danforth, astonished, cries, “What are you about?” and Hathorne and Parris call, “Take your hands off her!” and out of it all comes Proctor’s roaring voice.
MERCY LEWIS: (pointing) It’s there!
DANFORTH: (looking up) Where?
ABIGAIL: Why…? (She gulps) Why do you come, yellow bird?
PROCTOR: Where’s a bird? I see no bird!
PROCTOR: Mr. Hale…
DANFORTH: Be quiet!
PROCTOR: (to Hale) Do you see a bird?
DANFORTH: Be quiet!
MARY WARREN: (on her feet with a spring, and horrified, pleading) Abby!
ABIGAIL: (unperturbed, continuing to the “bird”) Oh, Mary, this a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth, it’s God’s work I do.
MARY WARREN: Abby, I’m here!
PROCTOR: (frantically) They’re pretending, Mr. Danforth!
ABIGAIL: (now she takes a backward step, as though in fear the bird will swoop down momentarily) Oh, please, Mary! Don’t come down.
SUSANA WALCOTT: Her claws, she’s stretching her claws!
PROCTOR: Lies, lies.
ABIGAIL: (backing further, eyes still fixed above) Mary, please don’t hurt me!
MARY WARREN: (to Danforth) I’m not hurting her!
DANFORTH: (to Mary Warren) Why does she see this vision?
MARY WARREN: She sees nothin’!
ABIGAIL: (now staring full front as though hypnotized, and mimicking the exact tone of Mary Warren’s cry) She sees nothin’!
MARY WARREN: (pleading) Abby, you mustn’t!
ABIGAIL AND ALL THE GIRLS: (all transfixed) Abby, you mustn’t!
MARY WARREN: (to all the girls) I’m here, I’m here!
GIRLS: I’m here, I’m here!
DANFORTH: (horrified) Mary Warren! Draw back your spirit out of them!
MARY WARREN: Mr. Danforth!
GIRLS: (cutting her off) Mr. Danforth!
DANFORTH: Have you ever compacted with the Devil? Have you?
MARY WARREN: Never, never!
GIRLS: Never, never!
DANFORTH: (growing hysterical) Why can they only repeat you?
MARY WARREN: Mr. Danforth!
MARY WARREN: They’re sporting. They…!
GIRLS: They’re sporting!
MARY WARREN: (turning of them all hysterically and stamping her feet) Abby, stop it!
GIRLS: (stamping their feet) Abby, stop it!
MARY WARREN: Stop it!
GIRLS: Stop it!
MARY WARREN: (screaming it out at the top of her lungs, and raising her fists) Stop it!
GIRLS: (raising their fists) Stop it!
Mary Warren, utterly confounded, and becoming overwhelmed by Abigail’s… and the girl’s… utter conviction, starts to whimper, hands half raised, powerless, and all the girls begin whimpering exactly as she does.
DANFORTH: A little while ago you were afflicted. Now it seems you afflict others; where did you find this power?
MARY WARREN: (staring at Abigail) I… have no power!
GIRLS: I have no power!
PROCTOR: They’re gulling you, Mister!
DANFORTH: Why did you turn about this past two weeks? You have seen the Devil, have you not?
HALE: (indicating Abigail and the girls) You cannot believe them!
MARY WARREN: I…
PROCTOR: (sensing her weakening) Mary, God damns all liars!
DANFORTH: (pounding it into her) Have you see the Devil, ?
PROCTOR: God damns liars Mary!
Mary utters something unintelligible, staring at Abigail, who keeps watching the “bird” above.
DANFORTH: I cannot hear you. What do you say? (Mary utters again unintelligibly) You will confess yourself or you will hang! (He turns her roughly to face him) Do you know who I am? I say you will hang if you do not open with me!
PROCTOR: Mary, remember the angel Raphael… do that which is good and…
ABIGAIL: (pointing upward) The wings! Her wings are spreading! Mary, please, don’t, don’t - !
HALE: I see nothing, Your honor!
DANFORTH: Do you confess this power? He is an inch from her face. Speak!
ABIGAIL: She’s going to come down!
DANFORTH: Will you speak!
MARY WARREN: (staring in horror) I cannot!
GIRLS: I cannot!
ABIGAIL: (looking up) Look up! She’s coming down!
She and all the girls run to one wall, shielding their eyes. And now, as though cornered, they let out a gigantic scream, and Mary as though infected, opens her mouth and screams with them. Gradually Abigail and the girls leave off, until only Mary is left there, staring up at the “bird”, screaming madly. All what her horrified by this evident fit. Proctor strides to her.
PROCTOR: Mary, tell the Governor what they… (He has hardly got a word out, when, seeing him coming for her, she rushes out of his reach, screaming in horror)
MARY WARREN: Don’t touch me… don’t touch me! At which the girls halt the door.
PROCTOR: (astonished) Mary
MARY WARREN: (pointing at Proctor) You’re the Devil’s man!
He is stopped in his track.
PARRIS: Praise God!
GIRLS: Praise God!
PROCTOR: (numbed) Mary, how…?
MARY WARREN: I’ll not hang with you! I love God, I love God.
DANFORTH: (to Mary) He bid you do the Devil’s work?
MARY WARREN: (hysterically, indicating Proctor) He come at me at night …
DANFORTH: Sign what?
PROCTOR: (turning, appealing to Hale) Mr. Hale!
MARY WARREN: (her sobs beginning) He wake me every night, his eyes were like coals and his fingers claw my neck, and I sign, I sign...
HALE: Excellency, this child’s gone wild!
PROCTOR: (as Danforth’s wide eyes pour on him) Mary, Mary!
MARY WARREN: (screaming at him) No I love God; I go your way no more. I love God, I bless God, I bless God. (Sobbing, she rushes to Abigail) Abby, Abby, I’ll never hurt you more! (They all watch, as Abigail, out of her infinite charity, reaches out and draws the sobbing Mary to her, and then looks up to Danforth)
HALE: Excellency… I denounce these proceedings!
DANFORTH: I will have nothing from you, Mr. Hale! Take Proctor and Corey with him to the jail!
(To Proctor) Will you confess yourself before you’re taken to court? If you confess you will be set free.
Proctor: I will not confess. My soul is all I have left!
Danforth: You either give me your honest confession or I cannot keep you from the rope…
Proctor: I will not confess! I will not plead! I will keep my name!!
Speaker 1:
In a way, then, The Crucible is best read apart from an allegory for anti-Communism, or as a faithful account of the Salem trials, but as a powerful and timeless depiction of how intolerance and hysteria can destroy a community.
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