Act 4

I have failed, I came to free those wrongly accused of witchcraft but instead I ended up in jail. I should have stayed far away from Abigail and remained faithful to my wife.  I should have listened to Elizabeth and gone to the court with what Abigail originally told me. I should be home, discussing the birth of my fourth child and my future with Elizabeth. I should not be in jail now.

I saw Elizabeth today. It should have been a jubilant and blissful moment, but she revealed many depressing things.  She told me that almost one hundred people have confessed to witchcraft. Giles Corey was also killed, despite never pleading guilty or not guilty to the charges against him. I know he made the right decision not to say anything to the court, but I still could not believe the absurdities going on in.  I asked Elizabeth if she thought I should confess. I just want the persecutors to feel the weight of guilt when they see they hanged me, an innocent man. Nevertheless, it is the right decision to confess and hopefully regain Elizabeth’s trust. Elizabeth refused to judge my resolution. I was in the middle of making my confession, when Rebecca Nurse entered. Danforth began asking me questions regarding Rebecca Nurse’s sins, but I refused to speak of anything but my own sins. Under the pressure of Danforth I finally signed the confession, but hesitated to hand it to him. At that moment, I decided that enough people witnessed my suspected crime and there was no need to give the document to Danforth. I tore the confession in two. Danforth immediately called for the Marshal, as Parris and Hale tried to convince me to change my mind.

My mind was already made up. I refused to lie, and for that I gave up my life. I want my children to remember me as I was subsequent to this scandal, an honest man.  

John Proctor