Crucible 5: 68-83

1) Proctor: "If she is innocent! Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser holy now? Were they born this morning as clean as God's fingers? I'll tell you what's walking in Salem—vengeance is walking in Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! This warrant's vengeance! I'll not give my wife to vengeance!" (77).

This quote perfectly describes what is happening in the plot. None of the characters had the courage to state this truth except for Proctor because he became enraged at the accusation of his wife. He knows that Abigail is desperately trying to frame his wife, so she can be with him. She does this out of vengeance. This is also the cause for many of the other accusations. When a person in Salem wants revenge over another, all they need to do is cry witchcraft to get it. Proctor realizes that the situation is ridiculous, and he seems to be the voice of reason so far. He also brings up the point that certain people will confess anything just to save themselves, but he does not think that confessing should absolve them of their sins. He has no faith in the court to make just decisions, and this is a good judgment because it is being corrupted by the lies of Abigail and false confessions of others.

Will Proctor get into trouble with the court because of all the things he said in defense of his wife in front of Hale and Cheever? Will he be the next one accused?

2) Proctor: "Good. Then her saintliness is done with. We will slide together into our pit; you will tell the court what you know" (80).

Proctor says this in response to Mary telling him that Abigail will ruin him with the story of his adultery. He thinks this would be a good thing if she tells the story because it will make herself look worse. However, as we have seen so far, whoever confesses will suddenly be forgiven of everything they have done, and all the blame will shift to the accused. It would be much wiser for Proctor himself to confess, instead of letting Abigail get away with another sin just because she confessed first. This happened earlier in the play when she confessed to dancing in the woods and all the blame went to Tituba, no one even realized that Abigail sinned too. So far confession leads to immediate forgiveness without penalty. Confessing should not lead to absolution, this is illogical. 

Will Proctor be able to confess after suffering from all the negative affects of confessing to his wife? Will Abigail confess first and get away yet again?