Proctor's Dilemma and the Salem Witch Trials

Danforth

Judge in Salem trials, prioritizes reputation over justice

Hale

Reverend who urges prisoners to confess to avoid hanging

Parris

Worn minister who reports Abigail and Mercy's disappearance

Abigail

Accuser who vanished after robbing Parris

Mercy

Accomplice of Abigail, also vanished

Giles

Refused to plead, died under torture by pressing

Rebecca

Accused of witchcraft, refuses to falsely confess

Confession

Written admission of guilt, used to prove witchcraft

Pressing

Torture method where stones crush the accused

Excommunications

Revoking church membership of the condemned

Proctor

Decides to confess but later revokes it, dies heroically

Elizabeth

Wife of Proctor, refuses to sway him from his beliefs

Herrick

Leads condemned prisoners to the gallows

Reputation

Key theme, Proctor values it over false confession

Salem

Setting of the witch trials, plagued by fear and accusations

Witchcraft

Alleged crime leading to false accusations and executions

Divine Justice

Belief in God's judgment, questioned by the court's actions

Political Order

Maintained by the court at the expense of justice

Reputation vs. Integrity

Danforth and Hathorne prioritize reputation over truth

Heroic Death

Proctor's refusal to sign leads to a noble demise

Hypocrisy

Court officials demand honesty but reject it when given

Good Name

Symbol of honor and integrity, valued by Proctor

Rumors

Spread about the fate of characters after the trials

Fallout

Consequences of false accusations on Salem's society

Mistaken Verdicts

Danforth refuses to admit errors to protect his reputation