Why does danforth want confessions

He wants him to sign his name to the confession, so that it can be hung up for everyone in town to see. Why does Proctor confess and then retracts his confession? Putnam has had many children die in childbirth, while Rebecca Nurse has had no problem bearing children. Ultimately, this leads to the accusation of Rebecca Nurse for witchcraft, for which she is sentenced and hanged. When his daughter goes into an apparent trance, Parris refuses to leap to the conclusion that witchcraft is to blame because… he fears his congregation with think him corrupt.

Irony is when the outcome is different than what is expected. They do not want to, and ultimately cannot, admit that they made a mistake in signing the death warrants of the nineteen convicted, so they hope for confessions from the remaining prisoners to insulate them from accusations of mistaken verdicts. Danforth prioritizes a bizarre, abstract notion of equality over the tangible reality of potential innocence. Clearly, the most important issue for the officials of the court is the preservation of their reputations and the integrity of the court.

As a theocratic institution, the court represents divine, as well as secular, justice. To admit to twelve mistaken hangings would be to question divine justice and the very foundations of the state and of human life.

The integrity of the court would be shattered, and the reputations of court officials would fall with it. Danforth and Hathorne would rather preserve the appearance of justice than threaten the religious and political order of Salem.

More important, however, Proctor fixates on his name and on how it will be destroyed if he signs the confession. Now, however, he has finally come to a true understanding of what a good reputation means, and his defense of his name, in the form of not signing the confession, enables him to muster the courage to die heroically.

His goodness and honesty, lost during his affair with Abigail, are recovered. SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. Why is the play called The Crucible? What is a crucible? Did the girls really see the Devil or witches? Why did Tituba confess to dancing with the Devil? Was John still in love with Abigail? What causes tension between John and Elizabeth Proctor? Why is Rebecca Nurse accused of witchcraft? Why is Elizabeth Proctor accused of witchcraft? What happens when Mary Warren tells the court the truth about the girls acting bewitched?

Why does Reverend Hale change his mind about the witch trials? Summary Act IV—Epilogue. I have given you my soul; leave me my name! Proctor signs his name to the confession, but destroys the document when he learns the court will post it on the church door. The authorities of the court take Proctor out of the prison toward the gallows. Hale pleads with Elizabeth to convince Proctor to change his mind.

Elizabeth refuses. She sees that he is now at peace with himself. When Proctor tells Elizabeth that he will confess, she understands that he is doing so because he wants them to go home and reestablish their family. Note that neither Proctor nor Elizabeth considers Elizabeth's situation. The court has delayed her execution until she gives birth to the child, but she is still scheduled to hang. If Proctor confesses and gains release, Elizabeth will still remain in jail.

Proctor realizes that Elizabeth will not confess, but agrees to confess anyway. The play suggests, but does not confirm, two possible solutions for Elizabeth. First, she may decide that, although lying is a sin, lying to save her life and protect her family justifies the sin — especially since she already lied in the courtroom.