When Proctor is tempted to confess, Elizabeth tells him that many people have confessed, this builds up pressure as to whether or not he will follow, then he hears that Rebecca has not, Elizabeth says to him that “She is one foot in heaven now; naught may hurt her more.” This creates more suspense as he then decides whether to confess; I think the news of Rebecca and what Elizabeth said about her helped build so much pressure on John that he cracked. He changes his mind because he thinks he would be selling his friends by saying he saw them with the Devil. He also believes he would be setting a bad example to his children. Also he says he has already given his soul but by signing the confession and handing it to them he is giving away his name and will have nothing else. He believes that God has seen his name and doesn’t need it nailed to the door of the church. He chooses his name over his life because once his name is gone he has no identity and his life doesn’t matter.
Miller builds up suspense by bringing the Proctors closer together which has more feeling when Proctor dies. He uses their emotions to make the scene more dramatic because it makes it harder for Proctor to come to his decision if he is leaving Elizabeth just when she starts to trust him, but if she couldn’t care if he was dead or alive it would make him feel unwanted and that his life is totally pointless because no one cares for him. When we first saw them together in scene two Proctor is being ignored by Elizabeth and she is putting him down, but in the final scene it is the other way round, Proctor is telling Elizabeth not to cry or show signs of fear and dishonour. The importance of that part of the scene is that Proctor kisses Elizabeth with great passion, unlike earlier in the play when she doesn’t kiss him back, their feelings for each other have grown fonder and they care so much more for each other which is a big change from earlier on in the play.
The news of Giles’ death came at a crucial point in the play as Proctor was deciding whether or not to confess or stay quiet. This is an important factor in the decision of Proctor; he now has a lot to live up to because Giles died heroically for his friends; and if Proctor confessed he would be seen as a villain compared with Giles and everyone would taunt him, this would make his life hell. So because Giles died heroically for his friends he thought he had not a lot of choice.
The language Miller uses in the final scene relates a lot to the bible for example, “Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang.” I think the link with the bible is that people are not worthy to wash Christ’s feet. Some of his language is very emotive, especially when Hale makes his ‘speech’ to Elizabeth. He uses a lot of metaphors like when Hale says “I came into this village like a bridegroom to his beloved”, Miller uses a few examples of irony, “courage man, courage” when Danforth talks to Proctor who quickly turned his head to the wall when Rebecca Nurse addresses him. To make it tense he uses a rapid exchange of dialogue, this is skilful in creating tension as it speeds up the tempo of the play. Miller also uses some sarcasm followed quickly by a sharp statement, “Why it is all simple. I come to do the Devil’s work. I come to counsel Christians they should belie themselves.”
Miller uses the social, cultural and historical background of the time, in the play to create a dramatic scene. He uses his knowledge that there was a widespread fear of witches and the devils disciples at that time, to try and bring the feelings of fear to life through the characters. It also gives the play truth and meaning; because it is based on the truth it adds another level of suspense, drama and feeling.
Miller also uses the fact that this community had been determined to begin a new life in a strange land in order to worship freely. This makes the characters feel even more angry when the ‘wrong’ spirit spreads through their village causing havoc.
The inhabitants of Salem were expected to avoid public disgrace, this may have made it even harder for Proctor to come to his decision over whether or not to confess because he would be publicly disgracing other members of his community.
The society was male dominated, so the females didn’t have a say which made the trials of the women a bit unfair and biased. The same went to the children so when the children gain control of the lives of some of the members of the community the power goes to their head and the men in the village get angry because they have lost control.