When Danforth demands that
Proctor confess to witchcraft, John Proctor responds that God is dead and they will all burn
in hell together. He says this because the people of Salem are the ones committing sins by
continuing the hysteria of the witch
trials.
At the end of Act 3, Deputy Governor Danforth asks
John Proctor if he is going to confess to witchcraft, saying I have seen your power; you will
not deny it! (Act 3, Scene 3). Proctor replies that God is dead! and continues while laughing
insanely.
A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot
of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face and yours Danforth! God damns our kind
especially and we will burn, we will burn together! (Act 3, Scene 3)
It is ironic that Proctor is accused of witchcraft, because he was
against the witch trials from the beginning. The play "pits Salems authority structure, as
typified by Deputy Governor Danforth with his smug self-righteousness, against its helpless
individual victims" ( Salem on literature, see third link). Proctor has tried to
convince the others of the pointlessness and damage of the trials, and they have not listened,
but he has become a victim himself.
Danforth is power-hungry and
incompetent. His reaction to Proctor demonstrates how low he will stoop. Proctor realizes that
he cannot get out of this situation, and Danforth will not back down. Proctors only choice is
to give inbut go down fighting. He does this by making his harsh comments about the Devil
taking all of them to Hell. The people of Salem supposedly fear the Devil, but they are acting
in his stead by killing innocent people or ruining their lives.
At this
point, Proctor's life has completely fallen apart. He has confessed to having an affair, but
his wife has lied. He has tried to get others to tell the truth, but avoided telling the truth
himself. Once he finally does, no one believes him. Proctors maniacal laughing is his breaking
point, showing that he sees the walls closing in and is losing control.
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