The Crucible Article

In Salem, Massachusetts today, three more people were hanged at dawn. John Proctor, Martha Corey, and Rebecca Nurse lost their lives after not confessing about their apparent engagement in witchcraft. Accused by the word of the girls who were once their house helpers, and who have now become officials of the court, they each stood before hundreds of people of the town who witnessed the three. Each one standing in front of a rope as they recited the prayer in unison, and were hanged one after the other.

John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Martha Corey and Elizabeth Proctor, who was with child, remained in prison for a few months after being accused. During a certain time, John Proctor gained permission to see his wife Elizabeth Proctor. Elizabeth narrates, that at the time, “there be many confessed” although, besides these four. It came down to Proctor having to chose one of the two options; confessing to which-craft and having his life with his wife and kids, or pleading for his innocence and his life, which would never return. “I want my life” he declared as Elizabeth certifies. This is when Hawthorne makes him sign a document stating that he is a part of witchery. Hale reveals that he refuses to hand-over the papers, and that Proctor claimed that “You have all witnessed it- it is enough”. He was then questioned why he cannot simply sign his name and be given his life and set free, Elizabeth says that she knew the answer even before Proctor mentioned “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life!”. Later, Proctor tears the paper and crumples it. This move on its own, defined his future; defined the following, promised hangin '.

At first, the main two out of the three that were accused, were Rebecca Nurse, who was known throughout the town as a very generous healer, and Martha Corey. John Proctor was not found to be guilty and accused by the girls from the start. Instead, he was put into this situation after his attempt to save his wife,