Danforth requests this meeting between John and Elizabeth for selfish reasons. Danforth realizes that John has influence over many of the townspeople. He hopes that two things will happen when John sees his wife: that John will be so overwhelmed by seeing his wife for the first time since learning she is pregnant, he will confess to witchcraft in order to be with her; and that Elizabeth will, in her fragile feminine state, beg her husband to confess so they can once again be together. Paradoxically, Danforth underestimates Elizabeth's religious convictions; her faith will not allow her to encourage John to admit to such blasphemy, nor will she confess herself. John considers confessing, attempting to justify this option by saying that he is not fit to be compared with those martyrs who have hanged for crimes they did not commit. Of course, John realizes that he can not confess and retain his "name," or the upstanding reputation he has worked hard to establish.
If Danforth can somehow coerce John's confession, Danforth's court and the convictions he has already laid down will be justified. In the eyes of those villagers who respect John Proctor, if he were to confess to witchcraft, then perhaps it would not be so far-fetched to believe that others are witches as well. If those accused continue to deny their involvement in witchcraft, Danforth realizes that at some point, the villagers will question his decisions, and in turn, his authority.
By the time that act four rolls around in the play, hundreds of people are in the jails, the townspeople are starting to turn against the judges and the courts, a nearby town of Andover overthrew the courts and freed all of the "witches," and the judges and Parris are worried that people are going to start a riot. Parris even found a knife stuck into his door. Plus, the main accuser, Abigail, has bailed, hopping on a boat out of Salem--this seems to indicate that the townspeople are angry and upset at all of the charges, and will soon turn on the accusers and the courts.
Because of this atmosphere, Parris thinks that if they can get some prominent people of the town to confess, it might influence others to confess, and less people will die as a result. When you confess to witchcraft, you don't hang; they think that if they can kill fewer people and send them home, it might appease the feelings of the townspeople and tamp down on an insurrection. Their thoughts turn to Proctor--he is well-respected in the town. If he confesses, maybe other people will too, following his respected example. Then, if they confess, they'll be set free, and the townspeople will be appeased.
So the plan is to get Proctor to confess, to try to influence others to do the same, to calm the anger of the town. However, Proctor is remaining firm. They think that maybe if they can get Elizabeth to convince him to confess, he'll...
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listen to her--because so far, he isn't listening to anyone. So, in the hope that Elizabeth will convince John to confess, Danforth lets them speak together. And, it does work, at first; however, in the end, John holds his integrity.
Does that help clear things up a bit? I hope so. Good luck!
Why does Danforth want Proctor to see Elizabeth by the final act of The Crucible?
In act 4, Deputy Governor Danforth allows Elizabeth to visit John in prison in hopes that she will be able to make him offer a confession. Danforth understands that the community holds John Proctor in high regard and will probably rebel if he were to be publicly executed. Danforth is also aware that if a man like John Proctor were to offer a confession by testifying that he was involved in witchcraft, Proctor's confession would solidify their proceedings and support Salem's court. Danforth knows that Elizabeth is pregnant and believes that her presence and condition will sway John Proctor's decision. He hopes that John's will to live and raise his children will motivate him into offering a false confession. However, John Proctor tears his signed confession and accepts his fate in an attempt to undermine the corrupt court and atone for his sins. Essentially, Danforth's plan backfires as Elizabeth supports her husband's decision to become a martyr.
Why does Danforth want Proctor to see Elizabeth by the final act of The Crucible?
Eilzabeth is pregnant by this point in the story. It is only possible that this is John's baby. Even though John and Elizabeth's relationship has been rocky, having a baby together should be a joyous opportunity for them. This very information might not only give John a reason to live for himself, but a hope to live for two others: Elizabeth and the baby.
Danforth is hoping that this information can manipulate John into a plea. He wants to see John admit to witchcraft just to guarantee that John can continue to live. What Danforth does not realize is John's strength of character. In fact, I don't think John realized how strong he is. John ultimately makes a decision in spite of the fact that Elizabeth is having a baby, but it was certainly a position worth Danforth's time to have John consider. Any father would want to be there for his child especially when a previous infidelity had inhibited his relationship with the woman he loves.