The Crucible Group

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margjohn
margjohn
Teacher
Middle School

What does this language/quote from "The Crucible" mean: "show honor, show a stony heart, and sink them with it"?

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Posted by margjohn on Thursday September 25, 2008 at 9:20 PM and tagged with quotations, the crucible.

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  1. asorrell Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    John says this to Elizabeth in Act IV when he is about to be put to death.  He had just ripped up the confession and chosen to die an honest man rather than lie to save his life.  He makes a dramatic speech to Danforth and the court officials and says "for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor.  Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs." 

    Elizabeth rushes to him and is crying and then he says, "Give them no tear!  Tears pleasure them!  Show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with it!"  He kisses her and it is the last thing he says to her before he is taken to the gallows.  He wants her to be strong.  He is doing the right thing and doesn't want her to be emotional. 

    As he goes to his death, Hale pleads with her to get John to confess.  She says "He have his goodness now.  God forbid I take it from him" meaning that John has finally found goodness in himself and she can't take that away from him even if it means letting him die. 

    She stayed strong and let do what he had to even if it meant his death.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/crucible/act-iv-scene-3-summary-ana...

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    Posted by asorrell on Saturday September 27, 2008 at 7:29 PM