John Proctor was a highly respected character, who could have however stopped the hysteria from arising Salem but didn’t as he would have had to admit to the town his affair with the main girl in the play Abigail Williams. This was a very theoretic town and this sin would go against the Ten Commandments, which would surely would have him out-cast from the town. It would also mean his name would be shamed. John Proctor tries to other throw the court when Abigail Williams names his wife as one of the people who she saw conversing with the devil. As Abigail wants John back from his wife the only way she is going to get John back is for Elizabeth Proctor, Johns wife to either leave him or to die as John will have nothing to do with Abigail
‘Abby I may think of you softly from time to time
But I cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you again.’
Abigail claims to have had a needle stabbed into her by Elizabeth Proctors spirit. This in turn enrages Proctor who tries to overthrow the court but fails and he, himself is accused by the maid, Mary that works for him and his wife. Mary accuses John because otherwise she will hang as she has turned against all the girls by trying to save Elizabeth Proctor. This fails and the girls begin to accuse Mary of witchery.
Ben Newman
Proctor himself is eventually hung when he will not confess to witchery. This shows Proctor his a strong man as he is prepared to die for what he believes in.
Danforth was one of the court representatives; this gave him power over the rest of Salem this meant he could have also stopped the hangings but he continued to execute people because if he didn’t this would make him look like people had been hung for
no reason and this would anger people. Danforth would not stop the executions as this would have made him an executioner of innocent people and his soul would have also been damned. Danforth would have also lost his position in the court. This shows that Danforth was also looking after his best interests also by continuing with the trials, also another major cause for the hysteria that took place.
Hathorne along with Danforth was also a member of the court he too could have stopped the hangings, but he also would not lose his place and anger the town by announcing that the court was to be abolished as to many people were being hung. This would anger people as people as this would void the whole court and make the girls liars, which they were.
‘That girl has always struck me false!’
Abigail was a very manipulative and forceful character, who had a lot to with the fear and escalation of witches in Salem. Abigail came to have so much power that she even accuses Danforth of is holiness and manages to fool the whole town with her and the other girls antics in the court. The girls cause peoples death, as they are not willing to admit to dancing and casting spells in the woods as this would surely mean that they would be cast out of the society for consorting with the devil.
‘And if she tell me, child, it were for harlotry, may
God spread his mercy on you!’
Thomas Putnam was a landowner in Salem, who was a very vain and greedy man who accused people of witchery so that he could profit by their death by buying their land.
Thomas Putnam could be also be blamed for the Salem witch trials, because of his greed innocent people were hanged. This also helped to cause hysteria
‘The proof is there! I have it from honest man who heard Putnam say it!
The day his daughter cried out on Jacobs, he said she’d
given him a fair gift of land.’
Reverend Hale, also a major character, is the first minister to come to Salem. Hale was considered an expert in the hunting of witchcraft and those involved. At first he also believes that there is a ‘witch’ loose in Salem yet as the drama begins to unfold he sees the girls and their lies for what they are and quits the court. Hale quits the court as he cannot bear to here the courts lies and the fact that the court won’t look to common sense i.e. when Proctor tries to prove his wife’s innocence when she is named falsely by Abigail. He announces to the court of his affair with Abigail. But the court dismisses his appeal. The court does this by making both Abigail and John face him and has Elizabeth Proctor brought into the court room behind them both, as John and Abigail are not facing her then she cannot be turned by any facial
Ben Newman.
Expressions etc. Judge Danforth then quizzes Elizabeth of John affair and why she threw Abigail (a previous maid) out of her house. Elizabeth explains how she had been sick for a while and she thought she saw John turning from her towards Abigail, yet when Danforth ask her the vital question whether she had an affair with John she denies it.
‘… Has John Proctor ever committed the crime of lechery!’
Elizabeth replies no as she thinks to save Johns name by telling a natural lie to protect her husband.
‘Excellency it is a natural lie to tell: I beg you stop now
Before another is condemned! I may shut my conscience to it no more…’
Hale also announces his distrust in Abigail
‘ I believe him! This girl has always struck me false! She has.’
Being restricted by the church meant that you could do very little in Salem without your actions being frowned upon. This also contributed to the Witch-hunt and hysteria, as people would accuse anyone for doing anything.
I feel that many different people are responsible for the deaths caused by the Salem witch trials. John Proctor could have stopped the court by announcing his affair with Abigail Williams and telling Danforth and by telling the court that Abigail had told him they were just dancing for sport and nothing more.
‘Oh posh! We were dancin’ in the woods last night, and
my uncle leaped in on us. She took fright is all.’
Abigail could have never lied about Tituba and never called witchery, she could have just taken her punishment and accepted it instead of the many hangings that took place.
Elizabeth proctor could have also told the courts what John had said to her about Abigail. Hathorne and Danforth could also have stopped the hangings but refused to as they would have had to admit to being wrong and condemning innocent people to hang. Overall I think the whole of Salem was very fickle and would not say no to the hangings for the fear of themselves being named. I feel Arthur Miller shows in great alikeness the parallels between the Salem society and the McCarthy era.