Prompt: IS Proctors decision at the end of the book right or wrong?
Sunset
The situation of life or death does not morally obligate Proctor to choose one way or the other. It is not a moral decision because it does not deprive other individuals of their free will. The Crucible begins with all the towns people accusing each other of being in allegiance with the devil, an action that society considers worthy of hanging. To save themselves from hanging, one could confess to the charge and accuse others of frolicking with the devil, or cone could hang to refrain from lying and violating one’s principles. When the court prompts John to confess, he pleads guilty to his own “crime”, however when they ask him to report others, he refuses. It is unknown at this point whether John believes it is right of wrong to not confess, however he publicly announces that he will not accuse others because people “think to go like saints. I like not to spoil their names” (Miller 130). He thinks people, who plead innocent and will not lie to save their lives, die like saints. Rebecca Nurse is charged for witch craft, the elderly, most respectable, faithful, and honest woman in the town. John thinks that those like her will do what she will because even she will die like a saint. Also, he confesses his own “crime”, however he believes to report others for their crimes is not in his place. After John Proctor orally confesses to the charge, the court asks him to sign a paper for proof. They tell him it is a necessity for it to be signed for his confession, in order to set an example for others not to deal with the Devil. However, almost never has an accused person been asked to sign a confession which will later become public for everyone to see. The court explains to John to sign it already if he wishes to live after sunrise. John reacts exclaiming there is a huge difference between the two and “what others say and what I sign to is not the same!” (Miller 132). Procter sets with the thought that when one orally confesses, the effects entirely differ than when a signed confession is put up publicly. When people talk about it, each will change the story, because of hearing it differently. Proof will always live, while gossip dies. In addition, because the story will keep changing perhaps if he chooses not to sign it, and that would be allowed, then his families reputation would not be as disgraced. Because choosing to live or to die is not a moral decision it thus then becomes a personal decision. The Crucible revolves around Proctor’s desire to keep his reputation clean and straight. He undergoes decisions which have lasting consequences, such as worrying if an action will hurt others and whether or not the decision is right. For example, he admits to adultery with Abigail in court to sacrifice himself for his wife. However this problem is already solved for Proctor because his decision solely bases on himself. As his character changes so too do his decisions. At the beginning John appears to believe in the church, but eventually he comes to make decisions on his own. The first major one includes not signing the confession paper “because [he] lie[s] and sign[s] [himself] to lies! Because [he believes he is] not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang” (Miller 133). The symbolism of a lie is that most confessions in Salem are all lies for people to save themselves from dying. John is sick of all these lies, because first he lies about doing the crime, and then to sign the confession would be signing himself to another lie. As a result John proctor does not wish to lie to himself any more even if that is only way to save his life. Also the dust on them that hang represents those who stood silent in order not to lie. Proctor going against their actions would be putting dust on the innocent. This signifies lies and wrong choices piling over the right choices until right choices exist no more. As long as John Proctor’s reputation is blank he still longs to live. However, if his reputation is dirty, he sees no reason to continue living. Everyday John Proctor strives to save his name and this time would definitely be no exception “because [he] cannot have another in my life! (…) Ho may [he] live without [his] name? [He] gives [society his] soul; leave [him his] name” (Miller 133). At his last attempts to save his reputation he strives to save his name. He claims that he already gives the court his confession, which symbolically is giving them his soul, and the last thing he wants is for them to take is his name along with it. If taken his name it would follow to be blackened. Either way Proctor realizes that his reputation will be ruined, thus now giving him no personal reason to sign the confession and continue to live.
Proctor is not morally obligated to make a decision one way or the other because his decision does not deprive anyone of their free will. Because he is not morally obligated, a decision that is made based on his own beliefs rather than those of the church is better than one which simply follows what society desires. Those like Proctor who make personal choices realize that decisions, regardless of any other principles but their own, consequently are right for them. Proctor thus makes the right decision.