Proctor: Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched Abby. (Act 1, page 18)
This relationship between Proctor and Abigail is dramatic irony because only three characters in the play have any knowledge about it. We find out that Abigail used to work for the Proctors but when Proctor wife, Elizabeth finds out about the affair, she kicks her out.
The relationship between Proctor and Abigail’s uncle, Reverend Samuel Parris is also made clear. Proctor does not like Proctor for a number of reasons. One reason being is that Proctor believes that Parris doesn’t mention god in church enough any more. Evidence of this is in a remark that Proctor makes while arguing with Putnam.
Proctor: I have trouble enough without I come five miles to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation. Take it to heart, Mr Parris. There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention god any more. (Act 1, Page 23)
He also mentions that many other people don’t come to church because of Parris. This suggests that many other people do not think highly of him. Another reason why Proctor doesn’t like Parris is because he believes that Parris is a ‘greedy’ minister. Proctor: Mr Parris, you are the first minister ever did demand the deed to this house. This tells us that Proctor is an upright man and does not like hypocrites. The argument there are having at this moment is about why Parris summoned for Reverend John Hale of Beverly. Proctor is angry with him because he didn’t inform anyone before making the decision. Hale is an ‘expert’ in the ‘demonic arts’ and Parris believes that he may be able to ‘drive the devil out’ of Salem.
Proctor’s relationship with his wife Elizabeth has been badly damaged as a result of his affair. We can see evidence of this in a long conversation that they have in the first half of part two. Elizabeth asks Proctor to go to Salem and tell that court that the children’s sickness has nothing to do with witchcraft and that Abigail is a fraud. But as the topic of Abigail develops, we begin to see the distance in their marriage. Proctor says that he will think before he charges fraud on Abigail, but Elizabeth takes it the wrong way and when Proctor tells Elizabeth that he was alone in a room with Abigail, she looses all faith in him. Elizabeth (quietly-she has suddenly lost all faith in him): Do as you wish then. (She starts to turn) After their argument, Mary Warren returns to their house, and brings them grave news. She informs the Proctors that thirty-nine women have been arrested and that Goody Osborn will hang. Mary: Goody Osborn –will hang! Proctor’s reaction to this is one of bewilderment and shock. Proctor: Hang? (He calls into her face.) Hang y’say? She also tells them that Elizabeth has been accused, but she does not say by whom. But Elizabeth knows that it was Abigail that accused her, and she realises that Abigail wants to replace her.
Elizabeth: Spoke or silent, a promise is surely made. And she may dote on it now-I’m sure she does-and thinks to kill me, then take my place. (Act 2, Page 50)
Suddenly, Hale appears in the doorway, Proctor and Elizabeth are both startled. He comes to inform the Proctors that Elizabeth has been accused, and Proctor tells Hale that Mary has already told them. Then, Hale starts asking them some question about the Christian character of their house. He asks why Proctor rarely comes to church. Proctor replies truthfully and tells Hale that he does not like Parris. Then he asks why only two out of three of his children are baptised. Again Proctor replies truthfully with the same answer. Then, Hale asks Elizabeth if she knows her commandments. Elizabeth eagerly tells Hale that she does. Next he asks Proctor, he is asked to repeat them. Proctor is a bit nervous and starts off to a shaky start. He says all of them but forgets the commandment of adultery. This is dramatic irony because he forgot them very one that he disobeyed and he says it in the presence of Hale. Elizabeth tells Proctor the one he forgot, and he feels the shame in is heart. Proctor (as though a secret arrow has pained his heart): Aye. Hale leaves it at this and begins to leave, when Proctor, decides to tell Hale the truth about the goings on in Salem. Hale is perplexed at this new evidence and asks Proctor if he would testify to this in court. Hale is astonished to find out that the dancing in the woods had nothing to do with witchcraft and that Abigail is a fraud.
Proctor finally makes up his mind and decides to go to the court and tell the court the truth. He also convinces Mary to give a statement against Abigail and the girls. So they go to the court along with Francis Nurse and Giles Corey. Proctor starts off by introducing himself and the others. He asks Mary to give Judge Danforth her deposition. Mary is terrified and cannot speak a word. So Proctor decides to do all the talking. He tells Danforth that Mary saw no spirits attacking her in the court and nor did the other girls. Danforth is amazed by this and starts asking Mary questions. He then calls in the girls to ask them if it is true. They deny it. Suddenly, Abigail and the girls begin to ‘see’ Mary’s spirit coming at them and they start to scream and run. Mary is terrified now, so much, that she changes sides and turns on Proctor. She tells Danforth that Proctor threatened her into testifying in court. Proctor now realises that it has gotten out of hand and decides to take drastic measures.
He tells the judges that he had an affair with Abigail and that she is not to be trusted. Proctor (trembling, his life collapsing about him): I have known her sir. I have known her. Danforth is astounded by this new evidence and ask Abigail if this is true. She of course denies it. Proctor tells Danforth that Elizabeth knew that she was a harlot and kicked her out of their service. So Danforth decides to call Elizabeth to verify the accusation. Proctor and Abigail are told to turn around and not turn to face Elizabeth when she is brought in. They do as they are told. When Elizabeth enters she is told not to look at either of the other two, only at him. He begins by asking her why she dismissed Abigail from their service. Elizabeth tells them that Abigail dissatisfied her, and that also she thought that her husband was turning from her and began to like Abigail. Elizabeth: I came to think he fancied her. And so one night I lost my wits, I think, and put her out on the highroad. But she does not tell the judges that Proctor committed the crime of adultery. At this point Elizabeth doesn’t know how much trouble she has got her husband into and this is dramatic irony because we know that Elizabeth must tell the truth of Proctor crimes in order to save his life but she doesn’t know that. So, naturally, she tells the judges a lie, thinking she is actually saving his life. This is one of the biggest ironies of the play and affects the whole outcome of it. Danforth is now convinced that Proctor was lying. He is given a chance to confess to his ‘crimes’ and free himself from the devil. Proctor, being a man of honour and truth, refuses to confess to something he didn’t do. Proctor had a chance to save his life but didn’t take it. Instead, in his rage and anger, he shouts out Proctor: I-I say god is dead! This tells us that Proctor cares more about his name than his life. Danforth then arrests Proctor for contempt of court and of being a witch.
Many days pass since the fiasco at the court. On the morning of the day of Proctor’s hanging, Proctor is given a last and final chance to confess to his crimes. Elizabeth is brought out to try and convince her husband to confess. There seems to be some hope when Proctor half heartedly agrees to the terms. Proctor: I want my life. But then, Proctor is asked to sign his name on a paper to prove his confession. This is to be stuck all over the village, but his guilt and shame to confessing to false charges overwhelm him and he withdraws. He asks if he could just orally say his confession, but Danforth wants him to sign it as proof. Proctor does not want to sign away his name on a contract.
Proctor (with a cry of his whole soul): Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life. Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (Act 4, Page 115)
Again, here he could have easily saved his life but Proctor is extremely cautious of what others think of him, and believes that if he did sign, people would begin to call him a traitor. Elizabeth fully understands his decision and says her final farewells.
The parallels between Proctor and Miller, and the two periods in time, are evident in the last scene. Proctor refused to give names of people to Danforth just as Miller did when he was asked for the names of those who may be a threat to America. Also, all of the allegations made on the both of them were false. These times were of hysteria and suspicion. People were willing to believe in anything that promised peace and calm afterwards. So Danforth had the edge in his time, just as McCarthy did in his.
Proctor had many chances to save his life in the play, but he never took the chance, and he paid for it dearly. There were many routes he could have taken in order to save his life or even get revenge on Abigail. The main one being that he could have signed the confession and get it over with. But as I said, he did not want to sign his name away, or be freed, only to be hated by his neighbours. He could have, and did in the end, taken the stand against the evil in the village and use himself as an example to others. Also he could have shown that the deaths in Salem only happened for the selfish desires of people like Danforth and the Putnams. Last of all, he could have got himself hanged to get revenge on Abigail. If she loved Proctor, then she would be in deep sorry if Proctor was killed. But this is one of the more strange reasons.
Personally, I think that he could have saved his life by signing the paper and confessing. If he loved his family as much as he says he does, then he should have done it just so he could be with his family again. Then again, there are some disadvantages to this. Firstly his neighbours won’t like him because he was once accused of being a witch. People will point the finger at him and his family for not saving their friends lives. But for them, that is not much of a problem seeing as their house is outside of Salem.
All in all, Proctor could have saved his life but didn’t only because of his pride and vanity. He never wanted to be thought unpleasantly of in the village, and for his own selfish reason, got himself hung, and I believe that he was wrong to do so.