In The Crucible, Tituba finally confesses to talking to the devil after being repeatedly accused of it. Two accused women confessed to being witches and were reprieved, but Tituba is shocked by Proctor’s actions and refuses to confess. Elizabeth Proctor is accused of witchcraft by Abigail Williams, who wants to marry her husband, John, with whom she had an affair while serving in the army. If these accused witches do not confess, they will be hanged. Proctor can confess to witchcraft under pressure from Hale and Parris, but under pressure from Hale and Parris, she confesses to witchcraft and accuses others to save herself.
The ritual of confession in the witch trials allows the expression of sentiments that could not otherwise be verbalized in repressive Salem. However, confession is not good for the soul, as King David says that confession is good for the soul. John Proctor, Martha Corey, and Rebecca witness the confession, and Elizabeth tells Proctor that almost one hundred people have confessed to witchcraft. Elizabeth relates that Giles Corey was killed by being pressed to death by large stones.
Confession is the only way to plea-bargain for one’s life, and Proctor is guilty of witchcraft because of his charge against Abigail and Mary Warren’s. Act 4 of The Crucible is set after the Salem Witch Trials, where those accused must confess or be hanged. Hale presses Danforth to pardon them when they refuse to confess, but Danforth will not relent. John Proctor is given an ultimatum—confess to witchcraft or be hanged.
The main conflict in The Crucible is the struggle between Proctor, Elizabeth, and Proctor, who ultimately decide to confess to their sins and face the consequences of their actions.
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Why does Tituba finally confess to witchcraft?
Tituba confesses to witchcraft as a means of receiving clemency, cognizant that her objections will be inconsequential as a slave. She is unable to substantiate her innocence, as the town’s female population is inclined to ascribe blame to her for their difficulties.
What happens after Proctor confesses?
Proctor signed a confession but subsequently destroyed it when the court announced its intention to post it on the church door. This action prompted the authorities to take him out of prison and towards the gallows.
Does Sarah Good confess to witchcraft in The Crucible?
Good, a prominent witch, accused Sarah Osborne of afflicting the girls after witnessing their fall down infits in the courtroom. This accusation was one of the first and strongest legitimizations of the witchcraft trials. Good was condemned to hang but was pardoned until the birth of her child, Dorcas, who was accused of witchery and imprisoned for over seven months. Good’s infant died in prison with her before Good was hanged on July 19, 1692. According to local tradition, Good was asked by Rev. Nicholas Noyes, assistant minister in the Salem church, to confess and save her immortal soul.
Good is often depicted as an old hag with whitehair and wrinkled skin, often claiming to be sixty or seventy years old. This misconception arises from her physical effects from her hard life, which made her appear extremely aged. Witches are often described in literature as being old wicked women, and Good was considered a marginal woman and an anuisance to her neighbors. However, the Salem trials were conducted unfairly, with a presumption of guilt and little evidence.
Marginality is not worthy of hanging, and Good was never proven to be a witch or confessed to be one. Good’s execution occurred on July 19, 1692, and her constant refusal to confess led her to the Gallows.
Does Abigail confess to witchcraft?
At the conclusion of Act I, Tituba, a slave of Rev. Parris, admits to engaging in witchcraft. Abigail, perceiving this as a potential avenue for extricating herself from her own predicament, makes a false confession regarding witchcraft, thereby seeking absolution for her involvement in casting spells with Tituba and her associates. This confession sets in motion a series of events that ultimately result in the demise of both Proctors.
What happens to those who confess to witchcraft in The Crucible?
Proctor is accused of witchcraft as a result of allegations made against Abigail and Mary Warren. He has two options: he may either refuse to plead guilty and thus face execution, or he may confess and thereby avoid execution. In the latter case, his confession would have to demonstrate repentance.
What happened to Tituba in real life?
Tituba, an enslaved woman accused of witchcraft in Salem, was released after spending over a year in jail. She was the first person to be accused of witchcraft in the town. Tituba’s testimony, which included a witch’s coven, a devil’s book, and evil spirits, sparked the Salem witch hunt. However, her story is as convoluted and potentially fictitious as any other part of the witch trials. Legends and rumors were common during the 1690s witch trials, leading to 20 deaths.
Historians only know about Tituba from her court testimony during the infamous trials, which is the only reliable information about her. The fate of Tituba remains unknown, leaving us to speculate on her true identity.
What is the punishment for witchcraft in The Crucible?
In 1692, a jury sentenced Bridget Bishop to be hanged as a witch on “Gallows Hill” west of Salem Town. Over the summer, 27 convictions were returned, with 19 people executed, five dying in prison, and one man “pressed to death”. Eight women were convicted but released, including Elizabeth Proctor, who was pregnant. Two of the accused women confessed to being witches and were reprieved, with one woman, Tituba, being sold back into slavery. Authorities began questioning the proceedings in 1693, leading to acts of contrition, shame, and official exoneration.
As late as 1957, the Massachusetts General Court officially absolved one of the women of the crime of witchcraft, but the country was in the midst of another witch hunt. The court records of the time are clear, but the reasons behind this event remain unknown three centuries later.
What were the consequences of being accused of witchcraft in Salem?
The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 involved over 200 people accused of practicing witchcraft, with twenty executed, most by hanging. The trial was the only state-sanctioned execution of its kind. Dozens suffered under inhumane conditions, including torture and imprisonment without trials. The tragedy of the trial is largely due to the failure of the court and laws during that time, which made visions, dreams, and spirits’ testimony permissible evidence.
The court accepted flimsy accusations, which would seem laughable today. The trials occurred just as Europe’s “witchcraft craze” from the 14th to 17th centuries was winding down, with an estimated tens of thousands of European witches, mostly women, executed.
What is ironic about calling the confessions of witchcraft coming to God?
The term “coming to God” is somewhat ironic when used in the context of witchcraft confessions, as these confessions are typically regarded as false and therefore considered sins against God.
Why does John confess to witchcraft?
In Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, John Proctor confesses to committing adultery with Abigail in an attempt to save the innocent victims of the Salem Witch Trials. This confession tarnished his reputation among the townspeople but was necessary to save the lives of the innocent. Proctor’s confession is a stark contrast to his reputation as a hard-working Christian man in Salem.
In The Crucible, Proctor must choose between preserving his reputation and upholding his integrity. He decides that the lives of the innocent people convicted were more significant than his own, and he confesses, knowing he will potentially face severe public scrutiny for his actions. This decision highlights the disparity between preserving one’s integrity and one’s reputation.
In the final confession of John Proctor, he must choose to maintain his integrity at great personal sacrifice. He must sign a confession that condemns himself and others convicted of witchcraft. Proctor initially agrees to sign the document due to his previous transgressions, but he knows it is wrong to lie even to save his life. He tears his confession in two, condemning himself to hang. Reverend Hale expresses shock at Proctor’s willingness to die to defend his honor, but Proctor proudly replies that he can.
In his crusade to maintain his integrity, Proctor decides to give up his own life rather than lie and condemn the innocent. In his final act, he decides to die with his honor rather than live in abasement. This decision illustrates the importance of maintaining integrity and the sacrifices that may be required to do what is right.
Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible portrays the importance of staying true to one’s moral compass and the dangers of succumbing to prevailing opinion. The Salem Witch Trials serve as an example of the dangers of succumbing to accepted opinion and not standing up for what one believes in. John Proctor’s story serves as a lesson for all, emphasizing the importance of standing up for what is fair and just.
Who is guilty of witchcraft in The Crucible?
John Proctor is convicted by the court after attempting to substantiate Abigail’s falsehoods. However, he can avoid further punishment by confessing to the charge of devil worship.
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