Name:__________________________________
Right Choice or Wrong?
Learning about thinking: To make any decision, a person must first identify the alternatives, determine the pros and cons of each alternative,
predict consequences of each, and determine criteria to evaluate each. Some decisions, such as what kind of car to buy, can be made purely on the
basis of which alternative is most practical, useful and beneficial. Moral decision making, however, is more complex because it involves
evaluating whether the choices are moral or immoral. A person must use his or her own system of moral values to decide which options are right
and wrong.
Thinking about the play: In Act Four, John Proctor must make a moral decision that will have profound consequences for both himself and
others.
A. In the chart below, describe the pros and cons of each choice.
Choice
Pros
Cons
Falsely
confessing
to
witchcraft
 He lives
 He might save the lives of others by
encouraging them to confess
 He would be around to parent his
children and be with his family
 He would get to meet his unborn child
 He would be able to help or rebuild his
relationship with his wife
 He would be dead
 The court would be
benefitted/supported
 His reputation would be ruined
 His confession would be posted on
the church door
 Would look incriminating to other
people in the community
 Commit a sin in lying
 Would betray himself
 Would minimize actions of others
(would make them look less saintly)
who were willing to die rather than
confess to witchcraft
Continuing
to deny the
charge of
witchcraft
 He can retain his dignity – Elizabeth
says he has his goodness now
 Wouldn’t feel guilty
 Would stay true to himself
 Would be supportive to other innocent
but accused people – united front
 Could start some sort of rebellion
regarding the court – like in Andover
 He is a martyr and hero
 Importance of serving as a role model
for his sons and other people
 He doesn’t think he’s a saint and
doesn’t want to be considered a saint
 He would be dead, obviously

B. From a purely practical standpoint, which choice makes more sense? Why does Proctor hesitate to make that choice?
 Lie to live seems like the obvious choice  then Proctor would live.
 He hesitates to make this choice because he wants to protect his dignity (his
name), to serve as a model to his family, and to support those who have died
before him and those who have been falsely accused.
C. What is Reverend Hale’s attitude toward the choice Proctor has to make?

Hale advises Proctor to lie and live – says God may damn a liar less than
someone who throws his life away for a principle.
D. What is Rebecca Nurse’s attitude toward the choice Proctor has to make?

Rebecca Nurse tells Proctor to not fear anything because another judgment
awaits them all, meaning that God will judge him later and Proctor should not
be afraid. Rebecca is all good – believes in moral absolutes.
E. Explain why Elizabeth Proctor will not help her husband make up his mind even though she has strong feelings on the subject.

Elizabeth herself wouldn’t lie to save herself. She does not help Proctor
make up his mind because she wants the decision to be solely Proctor’s – it’s
a life-and-death decision. She tells him the magistrate sits in his heart – he
must make the decision for himself.
Tomorrow you will type a paragraph in which you take a position, support your position with evidence and include a
counterargument. Begin to plan your ideas on the attached page.
Writing about the play: Do you think that Proctor makes the right choice? On a separate piece of paper, explain your reasoning in detail.
Consider the moral values explored in the play.
Topic sentence/claim:
Proctor makes the right /wrong decision because _____________________________
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Reason 1 /Detail / Fact with Transition:
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Explain:
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Reason 2 /Detail / Fact with Transition:
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Explain:
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Reason 3 /Detail / Fact with Transition:
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Explain:
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Counterargument: (leave blank for now)
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Refute (disprove) the Counterargument:
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Conclusion with concluding phrase
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