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In The Crucible, what symbols of justice are present in act 4?

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In Act 4 of The Crucible, symbols of justice are intertwined with symbols of injustice. John Proctor's torn confession represents justice, as he redeems himself by rejecting the corrupt court's demands. The gallows symbolize injustice, as innocent people like Proctor and Rebecca Nurse are hanged. Elizabeth Proctor's refusal to judge John's decision and the characters of Proctor and Nurse themselves symbolize truth and righteousness, challenging the unfair trials.

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While it is difficult to determine a symbol of justice that can be found in act 4, one could argue that there are several symbolic objects of injustice present in the final act of the play. John Proctor's false confession symbolically represents the perverted justice exercised by the corrupt Salem court. In act 4, Deputy Governor Danforth and Judge Hathorne encourage John Proctor to sign a confession, which they will publicly display to the community. Since John is a relatively righteous man with a positive reputation, the court officials plan on using his false confession to justify their corrupt proceedings. When John initially signs the confession, he is submitting to the court officials' perverted form of justice and his confession becomes a symbol of injustice. It is only after John Proctor tears his confession that the ruined document can be interpreted as a symbol of justice. John Proctor successfully redeems...

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himself by tearing his confession and becomes a martyr. The gallows in act four could also be considered a symbol of Salem's injustice. Innocent citizens like John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse are unjustly hanged on the gallows at the end of the play. Elizabeth Proctor's refusal to judge her husband's decision to sign the confession also symbolically represents justice in act four. One could argue that the characters of John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse symbolically represent truth, justice, and righteousness in act four as they courageously challenge the corrupt witch trials. They willingly sacrifice their lives with the hopes of disbanding the unjust court and saving their innocent neighbors.

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