Why Does Parris Want John To Confess: The Crucible’S Power Struggle

In Act IV of *The Crucible*, Parris hopes that Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor will confess. He believes their confessions will validate the trials and executions, even though he knows they are innocent.

Parris is deeply concerned about the public’s perception of the trials and executions. He fears that the growing doubt and skepticism towards the court could lead to a backlash against him and the other officials. He sees the confessions of Rebecca and John, two respected members of the community, as a way to silence dissent and restore the court’s legitimacy.

Parris’s desire for confessions also stems from his own fear of losing power. He has been instrumental in fueling the witch hunt, and he knows that if the trials unravel, he will be held accountable. He hopes that by convincing Rebecca and John to confess, he can maintain his position of authority and avoid being blamed for the injustices that have occurred.

The pressure on Parris to maintain the court’s legitimacy is immense. He is facing mounting opposition, and he desperately seeks to restore order. The confessions of Rebecca and John would be a powerful tool in his arsenal, allowing him to silence his critics and solidify his position of power. However, his actions are ultimately motivated by self-preservation rather than justice, further highlighting the corruption at the heart of the Salem witch trials.

Parris is desperate for John Proctor’s confession. He believes that John’s confession will help save his own life and clear his name.

Let’s delve deeper into this scene. Parris is a deeply flawed character, driven by self-preservation and a desire for power. The witch trials have become a source of chaos and fear, and Parris fears for his own safety. He sees John Proctor as a powerful figure, someone who can potentially sway public opinion and turn the tide against him.

Elizabeth Proctor, John’s wife, has a deep understanding of her husband’s character. She believes John is a good man, despite his flaws. She knows he has a strong sense of integrity and would never confess to something he didn’t do. Elizabeth knows that a false confession would be a betrayal of his principles and would ultimately make him feel like a lesser person.

Parris, however, is blinded by his own desperation. He sees the confession as a way to escape the growing turmoil and regain control. He believes that John’s confession will prove his innocence and silence his critics.

In essence, Parris is using Elizabeth’s love for her husband and her faith in his character to manipulate her into convincing him to confess. He is trying to use John’s confession as a bargaining chip to save himself, even if it means sacrificing John’s integrity and self-respect.

In *The Crucible*, John Proctor confesses to having an affair with Abigail Williams. He does this to try and weaken her reputation and undermine her character. John believes that if he admits to the affair, it will make Abigail appear less credible, especially since she’s accusing his wife Elizabeth of witchcraft.

Unfortunately, this plan backfires. When Elizabeth is asked if John had an affair with Abigail, she lies to protect him and says that he did not. She believes that by protecting John, she will protect him from Abigail’s accusations. However, her lie makes John look untruthful and ultimately weakens his own position.

John’s confession was a desperate attempt to save his wife and himself from the accusations of witchcraft. He believed that by admitting to the affair, he would expose Abigail’s manipulative nature and her desire for revenge. He felt that if he confessed, it would be seen as a sign of weakness and would ultimately lead to Abigail’s downfall. He thought he was making a sacrifice to protect his family.

This shows how the power dynamics in Salem, fueled by fear and suspicion, were creating a web of lies and betrayals. The characters were caught in a cycle of manipulation and deceit, and each action they took, no matter how well-intentioned, had unforeseen consequences.

Proctor confesses to save the lives of the innocent people convicted. He knows this will mean facing public scrutiny, but he ultimately decides it’s worth it.

Proctor’s confession in *The Crucible* is a complex and deeply personal decision. He faces a difficult choice: confess to witchcraft, a crime he did not commit, and live, or stand by his truth and face execution. His decision is driven by a powerful sense of responsibility for the innocent lives that are being lost. He is horrified by the extent of the witch trials and the injustice being perpetrated. He sees his confession as an act of mercy, a way to stop the madness and save lives. This isn’t just about his own life, but about protecting his wife, Elizabeth, and the others who are falsely accused. He believes his confession will be a small price to pay to stop the suffering.

Proctor’s decision is also fueled by his own sense of guilt and shame. He had an affair with Abigail Williams, and he feels responsible for her accusations and the chaos they have caused. He wants to atone for his past actions, and he sees confessing as a way to do that. By acknowledging his own failings, he hopes to bring an end to the witch hunt.

Although Proctor ultimately decides to confess, it is a deeply painful and difficult decision. He knows that his confession will be a public humiliation, and he is deeply ashamed of having to lie. But he chooses to do it for the greater good, to save the lives of the innocent. His act of defiance comes when he refuses to sign his name to the confession, refusing to lie in writing. Proctor’s final act is one of courage and integrity. He dies with his conscience clear, knowing he did the right thing.

Parris and Hale desperately try to convince John Proctor to confess, hoping to spare him from the death penalty. John initially agrees to confess, but ultimately tears up his confession, unwilling to sacrifice his integrity. Danforth, despite the pleas of others, carries out the hanging.

Why did Parris want John to confess?

Let’s dive a little deeper into Parris’s motivations. Parris was a deeply flawed character, driven by a potent mix of fear and self-preservation. The accusations of witchcraft, which started with his own daughter, had thrown his community into chaos, and he was desperate to restore order. Parris feared the judgment of his congregation and the potential loss of his position, especially after the accusations of his own daughter. He saw John Proctor’s confession as a way to bring an end to the turmoil, silencing his critics and reasserting his authority.

Parris’s focus on the confession also highlighted his concern for his own reputation. He believed that by securing a confession, he could prove that he had handled the situation effectively and that he was not responsible for the escalation of the events. He even went as far as suggesting that if Proctor confessed, it would strengthen the court’s authority and validate the trials.

Ultimately, Parris’s motivation boiled down to a desperate desire to protect himself. He believed that John Proctor’s confession would save him from the consequences of the trials and restore his standing within the community. His desire to secure this confession, however, came at the cost of John Proctor’s integrity and ultimately his life.

In Act IV of *The Crucible*, Reverend Parris desperately wants Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor to confess because their confessions would validate the trials and executions that have been happening in Salem.

Parris, at this point, is deeply concerned for his own safety and reputation. He’s facing increasing doubt about the legitimacy of the trials, and many people are questioning his role in the events. He believes that if two respected figures like Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor confess, it will prove that the accusations and trials were justified.

Think of it this way: Parris wants to maintain control and authority. He needs to convince everyone that the trials were just, even if they weren’t. By having Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor confess, he can silence his critics and save himself from further scrutiny.

The trials have become a huge mess, and Parris is desperate to salvage the situation. He is convinced that these confessions are the key to restoring order and his own standing in the community. He believes that if he can get these two prominent figures to confess, the accusations and the executions will be seen as legitimate. This is his desperate attempt to maintain control in a chaotic situation.

Why do Danforth and Parris both desire John to confess? They want to see an end to the witchcraft trials in Salem. They have also heard about rebellions against the trials in Andover.

Danforth is the Deputy Governor of Massachusetts and the presiding judge of the Salem witch trials. He is determined to maintain order and uphold the law. He believes that the trials are necessary to rid Salem of witchcraft and believes that John’s confession would solidify the trials’ legitimacy. He wants to preserve the court’s reputation and authority. He also feels a sense of responsibility for the lives of those who have been convicted. By convincing John to confess, Danforth believes he can save innocent lives and prevent further unrest.

Parris, the minister of Salem, is also eager for John to confess. He has been a controversial figure throughout the trials and has been accused of exploiting the situation for his own gain. He is deeply concerned about his own reputation and fears that the rebellion in Andover could spread to Salem. A confession from John would help to silence his critics and restore order to the community. Additionally, Parris is concerned about the power of John, who is a respected member of the community. A confession would weaken John’s influence and solidify Parris’s own position. Parris also fears that if the trials are overturned, he may lose his position in the community. He wants to see the trials continue, and he believes that John’s confession will be a powerful tool in achieving this goal.

John Proctor doesn’t hate Parris, but he definitely doesn’t like him. Proctor criticizes Parris for preaching about money rather than God. Putnam, Proctor, and Giles Corey argue with Parris about his salary and his expectations as the minister of Salem. They feel that Parris is more interested in his own wealth than in the spiritual needs of the community. This is a common theme throughout the play, and it highlights the tension between the material world and the spiritual world.

John Proctor is a farmer, and he is very grounded in the practicalities of life. He sees Parris as a man who is obsessed with appearances and with the things of this world. Proctor, on the other hand, is more concerned with the things of the soul. This difference in worldview is one of the main sources of tension between them. Parris is also seen as a weak leader, and Proctor is disgusted by his lack of courage and conviction. He feels that Parris is willing to sacrifice the truth and the welfare of his parishioners in order to protect himself. This is another reason why Proctor has such a low opinion of Parris.

Parris’s focus on money also demonstrates his obsession with power. He believes that his position as the minister gives him a great deal of power, and he uses it to try to control the community. This is a very different approach than Proctor’s, who is more concerned with living a good life and contributing to the community. Their different approaches to life create a deep divide between them. In the end, John Proctor’s disdain for Parris leads him to stand up against the hypocrisy and corruption of the Salem witch trials. He is willing to sacrifice his own life for what he believes in, even if it means standing alone. It is this courage that makes John Proctor a hero, and it is this courage that ultimately leads to his downfall.

Elizabeth understands that John needs to make his own decision about confessing. She believes he must face his own conscience and make his own decision. John wants to be courageous like Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey. He admires their strength and integrity in the face of accusations.

John’s decision to tear up his confession stems from a deep sense of moral conviction. He believes that confessing to a crime he didn’t commit would be a betrayal of his own conscience and the truth. He has witnessed the trials and executions of innocent people, and he doesn’t want to become another victim of the court’s injustice. His admiration for Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey, who both refused to confess despite the consequences, strengthens his resolve.

John’s desire to maintain his integrity is a powerful motivator. He sees confessing as a form of surrender to the court’s authority, even if it means saving his life. He would rather face the consequences of his stand than compromise his principles. John’s decision reflects a profound belief in the importance of truth and justice, even in the face of overwhelming pressure.

Parris tells the men that Hale wants to persuade the prisoners to confess to save themselves. He explains that Abigail and Mercy have left Salem after stealing from him. Hale arrives, looking tired and sad. He asks the men to pardon the prisoners because they won’t confess.

Parris’s plea for the prisoners’ pardon comes from a place of desperation. The trials have taken a toll on Salem, and the town is divided. The accusations have spread like wildfire, and many innocent people have been imprisoned. Hale, a respected minister, has come to Salem to help, but he’s realized that the trials are out of control. He’s seen firsthand the cruelty and injustice of the accusations. The prisoners, facing death, refuse to confess to crimes they didn’t commit. Their refusal to confess shows the strength of their convictions and the deep flaws in the trials. Hale knows the prisoners are innocent, and he wants to spare them from the gallows. He believes that the only way to stop the madness is to put an end to the trials. Hale’s plea represents a shift in the narrative of the play. It marks a turning point where the truth starts to emerge, and the darkness of the witch trials is exposed.

In Arthur Miller’s *The Crucible*, Reverend Parris harbors a deep-seated fear of John Proctor. Parris is a man consumed by his own self-preservation, and Proctor’s influence in the community poses a threat to Parris’ authority. Parris sees Proctor as a formidable opponent who could easily undermine his position. Proctor is a respected farmer with a strong moral compass, and his skepticism toward the witchcraft accusations directly challenges Parris’ claims.

Parris’ fear of Proctor stems from the fact that Proctor is not afraid to speak truth to power. Proctor is willing to challenge Parris and the other officials in Salem, exposing their hypocrisy and the dangers of the witch trials. Proctor’s courage and integrity pose a significant threat to Parris’ desire to maintain control. Parris fears that Proctor could rally the community against him, potentially stripping him of his power and position.

Parris’s fear is further fueled by the fact that Proctor is a threat to his reputation. Parris is already facing criticism for his lack of leadership and his failure to stop the spread of hysteria. Proctor’s accusations of Parris’ greed and his involvement in the witch trials only serve to exacerbate this situation. Proctor sees Parris as a man motivated by power and self-interest rather than the true needs of the community.

This conflict between Parris and Proctor is a central element of *The Crucible*. It highlights the dangers of fear, the importance of standing up for what is right, and the corrupting influence of power. Proctor’s courage in the face of adversity ultimately leads to his downfall, but his legacy as a symbol of truth and integrity lives on.

Parris has already received a death threat, a dagger wedged in his doorway. He advises postponing the hangings and continuing to push for confessions, but Danforth refuses. Danforth is concerned about his reputation and believes that granting confessions would make him appear weak. Hale arrives and informs Danforth that he hasn’t yet extracted any confessions.

Danforth’s refusal to grant confessions is rooted in his desire to uphold the court’s authority and legitimacy. He firmly believes in the validity of the trials and the accusations made against the accused. Danforth sees confessions as a way to strengthen the court’s stance and validate their actions. He views the trials as a means of purging the community of witchcraft and restoring order. Danforth is driven by a sense of duty to uphold the law and believes that granting confessions would undermine the integrity of the court. He fears that it would send a message of weakness and encourage further dissent.

Danforth’s actions demonstrate his inflexible nature and his unwavering commitment to the court’s decisions. He is unwilling to question the validity of the trials, even in the face of growing doubts and pleas for mercy. His refusal to grant confessions highlights the tragic consequences of unchecked power and the dangers of rigid adherence to authority.

In Act 4 of *The Crucible*, John Proctor chooses to confess to witchcraft but refuses to sign a written confession. Why? Because signing would mean his confession would be nailed to the church door, a public act that would disgrace his family. John may be facing death, but he still values his reputation. He would rather die with his good name than live with the shame of a public confession.

John’s refusal to sign stems from his deep sense of honor and integrity. Even though he is being pressured to lie and save his life, he realizes that signing a false confession would be a betrayal of his true self. He believes that his good name is more valuable than his life. This refusal reflects his strong commitment to truth and his unwillingness to compromise his principles, even in the face of death.

Proctor’s refusal also reflects the power of social shaming in the Puritan society depicted in the play. The community’s obsession with good names and the fear of public disgrace is a driving force behind many of the characters’ actions. By refusing to sign, Proctor challenges this societal pressure and demonstrates his own moral courage.

It’s important to understand that Proctor’s refusal is not just a personal decision; it’s a statement about the nature of truth and justice. He is standing up for what he believes in, even if it means sacrificing his life.

In The Crucible, why do Parris and Hale want John to confess to …

Quick answer: In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, both Reverend Parris and Reverend Hale want John Proctor to confess to witchcraft for different reasons. Parris fears a rebellion as… eNotes.com

In The Crucible Act 4, why does John Proctor confess but refuse

Quick answer: In act 4 of The Crucible, John Proctor decides to confess but refuses to sign a written confession because it will be nailed to a church door, a very eNotes.com

The Crucible Act 4 Summary & Analysis | LitCharts

Danforth does wonder, however, if they might be able to get Proctor to confess, since Elizabeth is now well along in her pregnancy. As Marshal Herrick goes to get Elizabeth, LitCharts

Best Crucible Act 4 Summary – PrepScholar

Parris and Hale beg Elizabeth to convince John to reconsider as John and Rebecca are led off to the gallows. Elizabeth refuses; she realizes that this is what John needs to PrepScholar

Act 4 of The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Summary, Themes & Quotes

The main conflict in The Crucible Act 4 is that Danforth, Parris, and Hale all want John Proctor to confess so that he will not be hanged. Each of the men has a Study.com

The Crucible: Questions & Answers | SparkNotes

She hates John Parris, who was cruel to her, and she uses her confession to scare him by telling him that the Devil told her “Mr. Parris no goodly man.” In her confession, SparkNotes

What is the conflict between John Proctor and Reverend Parris in

Quick answer: The conflict between John Proctor and Reverend Parris in The Crucible is that Proctor believes Parris is greedy, disregards God, and abuses eNotes.com

The Crucible Act Four Summary and Analysis | GradeSaver

Contrasting considerations of self-interest lead Danforth and Parris to beg John Proctor to confess to witchcraft. While Parris fears for his physical safety, Deputy Governor GradeSaver

Scene 2 – CliffsNotes

Parris summons Danforth and Hathorne and informs them that Hale is attempting to convince the prisoners to confess their crimes. Parris also tells Danforth that Abigail CliffsNotes