Students will understand what causes the
flaws in the justice system in Act III
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Review of Big Ideas
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 Truth
 Justice
 Lies
 Morals/Ethics/Values
What happened…
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 John Proctor, Giles Corey, Francis Nurse and Mary Warren being
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a deposition to the court to prove that Abigail’s accusations are
false.
Danforth and Hawthorne are resistant to hear the deposition as
they fully believe in the girls testimony
John Proctor reveals his affair with Abigail in a final attempt to
get the court to believe him and doubt the girls.
Hale pleads with Danforth to let John’s testimony be heard.
Danforth agrees and calls in Elizabeth to support John’s
testimony
Elizabeth denies John’s affair thinking that she is helping him
The Act concludes in chaos but with evil overcoming good.
Important Quotes
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 Danforth: We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all
concealment
 Court does the find the truth.
 Confident in the system
 Giles: You’ll find other Christians that do plough on
Sunday, if the truth be known
 Evidence of the paradoxical nature of Salem’s
theocracy
 They allow some rules to be broken? Sometimes?
Fine line…
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 Danforth: a person is either with this court or he
must be counted against it, there be no road between
 What does this mean?
 If you claim evidence against the court then you don’t
believe in God and are therefore a sinner and with the
devil.
 Nature of paradox in the community.
Danforth
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 Danforth: But witchcraft is ispo facto, on its face and
by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not? Therefore,
who may possibly be witness to it? The witch and
the victim. None other. Now we cannot hope the
witch will accuse herself; granted? Therefore, we
must rely upon her victims’ pg. 90
 Demonstrates the logic of the court
 Makes it very difficult for others to prove the
accusations as false
 Means that there is no way to bring in evidence to
prove that witchcraft doesn’t exist.
Doubt…
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 Danforth: Now shall we touch the bottom of this
swamp pg.98
 Danforth is acknowledging that the situation is
becoming messy and perhaps difficult to see the truth?
 It also shows that he does want to find out what the
truth is
 This is why he brings Elizabeth into the courtroom
and doesn’t allow her to look at John or Abigail
Abigail
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 Abigail: Let you beware, Mr Danforth. Think you be
so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your
wits? Beware of it! There is - pg. 96
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Abigail is testing the limits of her power
She makes a threat against Danforth
Desperation? Or evilness and manipulation?
It doesn’t work so then she shifts focus onto Mary and
claims she is sending out her spirit.
We are all evil…
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 Proctor: 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!
For them that quail to bring me out of ignorance, as I have
quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your
black hearts that this be fraud – God damns out kind,
especially, and we will burn, we will burn together! Pg. 105
 Quail – show no fear (not a bird!)
 Proctor refers to himself and Danforth as evil and the devil
(because they cannot stop the girls)
All is lost…
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 Proctor: I say – I say – God is dead!
 Proctor: You are pulling Heaven down and raising
up a whore!
 Hale: I denounce these proceedings!
 Hale: I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!
 Pg. 105
 What is the significance of these statements?
Power?
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 Everyone has been easily led by the girls and their
lies.
 It takes a strong person to follow their morals and
their judgement.
 Proctor and Hale
 What has happened to them? Why do you have to be
strong?