Ending+of+play+and+significance

=Ending of Play:=

"Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!" After battling with his conscience, John Proctor agrees to confess to witchcraft. However, Judges Danforth and Hathorne inform Proctor that his confession must be written so that it may hang from the door of the church for all to see.

Rebecca Nurse is brought in to witness Proctor's admission of guilt so that she may also confess to witchcraft. However, Rebecca's presence distresses and humiliates Proctor. Proctor offers his own confession, but he refuses to accuse and condemn any others of witchcraft; he will speak only of his own sins.

Once it is time for John Proctor to sign his name on the confession, he hesitates. Proctor is finally pressured to sign his name and hand the confession over to Judge Danforth. However, he immediately snaches the sheet back from Danforth. Proctor argues with the judge over the meaning of having his admission of guilt and name nailed to the church door before finally renouncing the confession and tearing the paper in half.

John Proctor, along with the other prisoners, are led to the gallows and hanged as Elizabeth Proctor looks on, refusing to stop John from doing what he feels is right.

=Significance:=

Reputation and preserving his good name have always been tremendously important to hypocrisy-hating John Proctor. In the beginning of the play, Proctor has the opportunity to end the witchcraft hysteria, but he refuses to testify against Abigail Williams because doing so would soil his reputation; all of Salem would be made aware of his sin of adultery. The value of an untainted reputation prevent Proctor from being honest and doing what is right and good.

However, at the end of the play, John Proctor's need to keep his good name results in him making a truly heroic choice and finally achieving redemption for his previous transgression. Proctor does not wish to dishonor the other accused prisoners by signing his own name to a lie; he will not run away from death with his life while other innocent victims are able to stand bravely and accept their fates. More importantly, he refuses to destroy his good name by signing a false confession to save his life. He finally understands what creates a truly good reputation: telling the truth, instead of lying to save himself. This defense of his name gives John Proctor his final peace and the courage to die as a hero with honor, integrity, and the redemption of his own goodness.