In The Crucible , Elizabeth Proctor and Reverend Hale have differing opinions about John Proctor’s decision to die, yet both end up respecting his courage. Hale strongly believes that John, Elizabeth’s husband, should confess to save his life. Hale strongly encourages Elizabeth to try to convince him to confess. She...
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will not promise Hale that she will plead with John.
When Elizabeth meets her husband in the jail, she is ambivalent but assures him that she does not judge him and will support whatever decision he makes, because it his soul, not hers, that is in peril. At this point, John decides he will confess, even though he considers it evil.
After he writes and finally signs the confession, however, John refuses to turn it over to Danforth. Instead, he tears it up. Hale is furious, and Elizabeth, distraught, weeps. As John and Rebecca Nurse are led away, Hale dismisses his decision as pride that will bring him shame. Elizabeth disagrees, and her distress turns to admiration. She has the last words, firmly stating that it is not for her to take John’s goodness away from him.
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