Act Four is staged in the isolated jail of Salem, the stage directions tell us that the place is in darkness and that the moonlight only ?seeps? through the bars. This creates a depressing atmosphere and is evidence that the end was inevitable and there is little hope of freedom. The audience finds out that Parris is now terrified that there will be an uproar if the two most respectable and important people, Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor, are hanged. He proposes that the hangings are delayed, until either one of them confesses. He says that a dagger had been stuck in his door last night and fears that people will not tolerate their hanging. However Danforth remains obstinate, even when he discovers that Abigail and Mary Lewis have fled abroad. Hale arrives and agrees with Parris and they have Goody Proctor sent in to persuade her husband to confess in order to save his life. Hale pleads with her emotionally, reasoning about life, ?No principle, however glorious, may jusify the taking of it.? In the end they manage to get her to tak to Proctor. When they are alone, the emotion is thick in the air, they have not seen each other for three months and for a while they just look at each other. There are quite a few pauses in their conversation, as they try to keep their emotions under control. Referring to his affair, proctor asks for her forgiveness but she says that it would ?come to naught that I should forgive you, if you?ll not forgive yourself.? Elizabeth blames herself for his affair.
?It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery.?
However, John is pained hearing this and tells her to stop, insisting he is only taking his own sins upon himself. Elizabeth allows John to make up his own mind about confessing and says she will support him whatever his decision. She says that she believes that what ever he does, a good man does it, and says that she ??never knew such goodness in the world!? After she says this, he decides to keep his life therefore confess. However as Hathorne cries it out, it pains him to know what he is doing is wrong, ?It is evil, is it not?? His inner struggle becomes apparent as he ?moves like an animal, and a fury is riding in him, a tantalized search.? The audience is held in suspense as to what his decision will be, he questions Elizabeth as to what she would do, she does not answer. He says that evil would do what he is doing and that was good, he is intent upon condemning himself.
?I am no good man. Nothing?s spoils by giving them this lie that were not rotten long before.?
However he cannot allow Danforth to make his confession officially documented as he worries about his reputation and good name. As Danforth asks him why, John answers with a cry,
?Proctor: Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life?How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name?
The word ?name? is repeated a number of times emphasising its importance, John will not sign the paper stating his confession for the sake of his children?s future reputation and also because a false confession would mean condoning the hypocrisy of the town which he had always stood against. He is also morally responsible to deny the allegations because otherwise those who died before without confessing, died in vain. As he says himself, he would have ?sold? his friends. He is furious at the judges attempt to use him to prove that the witch trials were just.
When Rebecca Nurse enters, he cannot face her as she is dying for the truth and he is living on for a lie. She is surprised at John and says when asked to confess, ?How may I damn myself?? Proctor then changes his mind and rips up the paper on which his confession is recorded. He now stops condemning himself and says, ?I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor.? Elizabeth rushes to him and they embrace passionately. He has now cleansed himself, standing for his principles and dying a righteous person. By dying, he is making a stand against the insanity of the town like others before him. He and Rebecca are led out and Parris, Hale and Elizabeth are left on stage. A drum roll is heard in the background, showing that there is little time left to stop the hangings. Parris and Hale plead frantically with Elizabeth to stop him and that there is time yet but as the drum roll signifies, not much time. Elizabeth knows that this is the only way things can end so that she and Proctor can finally be at peace. She replies to hale and Parris, ?He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!?
The loud drum roll that heightens violently at the end of the play signifies a definite end to the play. It leaves a tense atmosphere; which leaves the audience to contemplate the play and particular characters and their relevance to the title. Proctor would be seen as the one comes out of the ?crucible? purified. The light that shines through the window at the very end of the play makes the ending symbolic. The word, ?new? almost lets us forget all the tragic events that have passed and that the best solution would be to start afresh. It leaves the audience thinking there is a hope for the people of Salem especially with the presence of light.