The Crucible: Act 4

Act 4 takes place in a Salem jail cell. Danforth walks in and asks when Hale is going to arrive. Herrick informs Danforth that, at the command of Parris, Hale prays with the inmates who are sentenced to hang. Parris admits that Abigail has fled Salem with Mercy Lewis. He thinks that they boarded a ship and Abigail stole 30 pounds from him. Parris begins to defend the accused people. He says that Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor are good people and do not deserve to hang. Elizabeth is brought in and is asked to convince John to confess to the crimes he has been accused of in order to spare his life. She insists that she will promise nothing. John is brought in to see Elizabeth. John asks Elizabeth if he should confess, and she tells him that she will not tell him what he should do. Elizabeth tells John that she cannot judge John's sins, because she feels as though the affair was partially her fault for acting so coldly toward him. Of course she wants him to live, but she cannot make this decision for him. John decides to confess, but when Danforth tries to make him sign a paper confirming his statement, John refuses. This is where John's morals are exposed. He has enough self respect to not give into the court. He will not let others take away his pride and ruin his name over a mere, false accusation. He would rather die with his morals and his principles than to live as someone he is not. He is not a criminal. He is not a bad person, and he will not let the court pose him as one. This shows great strength that is admirable and courageous.