What quote reveals John Proctor's adultery in Act 3 of The Crucible?

John Proctor suddenly and dramatically reveals his adultery to the court in Act III of The Crucible with the words:

I have known her, sir. I have known her.

This rather euphemistic way of describing sexual intercourse is Biblical in origin and therefore doubly appropriate for the Puritans. Arthur Miller says that Proctor is “trembling, his life collapsing about him” as he utters the confession.

Proctor has to confess to substantiate the charge he has just made against Abigail. When she cries aloud to God to “take away this shadow!” Proctor responds:

How do you call Heaven! Whore! Whore!

Having called Abigail a whore, Proctor has to justify himself. Of course, she is not technically a whore (as Miller’s Epilogue suggests she may go on to be), but she is a woman guilty of fornication, and Proctor can best charge her with this by indicting himself.

Once he has made his initial confession, Proctor goes into some detail. He says that they had sex “In the proper place—where my beasts are bedded.” He then asks Danforth for forgiveness, though this is surely not in the Deputy Governor’s power to give. He concludes his confession with the words:

God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it; I set myself entirely in your hands. I know you must see it now.

Though he shows true contrition, particularly for the pain he has caused Elizabeth, Proctor’s continual abuse of Abigail as a whore shows that his desire to blacken her name and take away her power is the primary motivation behind his words.

What quote reveals John Proctor's adultery in Act 3 of The Crucible?

In act three, John Proctor sacrifices his positive reputation and good name by publicly admitting that he had an affair with Abigail Williams in hopes of undermining her authority and proving that the girls are frauds. After Abigail begins to act like Mary Warren's spirit is attacking her, John Proctor calls her a whore and admits his infidelity by telling Deputy Governor Danforth,

"I have known her, sir. I have known her" (Miller, 110).

Danforth responds by directly asking Proctor if he is a lecher and Francis Nurse is astonished by John's confession. Proctor then proceeds to elaborate on his affair with Abigail Williams by giving specific details about their sexual encounter. He tells the court officials that the affair took place about eight months ago and that he slept with Abigail in his barn, where his "beasts are bedded." Proctor goes on to explain that Elizabeth kicked Abigail out of their home following the affair and Abigail wishes to dance on her grave, which is why she falsely accused Elizabeth of witchcraft.

What quote reveals John Proctor's adultery in Act 3 of The Crucible?

In Act Three, John Proctor goes to the court with his friends Giles Corey and Francis Nurse in order to provide evidence to prove their wives' innocence.  He has not revealed his affair with Abigail Williams publicly because he knows the terribly detrimental effect this news will have on his reputation.  However, he knows that there is a good chance he will have to confess to the affair in order to prove that Abigail has ulterior motives for accusing his wife of witchcraft.  He yells—in sheer desperation and frustration because the magistrates so clearly believe Abigail's lies—"It is a whore!"  Danforth doubts him and Abigail denies it.  Proctor says, by way of explanation, "I have known her, sir.  I have known her."  Although the meaning of this language might not be immediately obvious to us, Proctor means that he has known Abigail in the biblical sense, and Danforth understands this meaning. 

What quote reveals John Proctor's adultery in Act 3 of The Crucible?

I would think that you want to turn to the last section of the Third Act.  It is here where Proctor has to admit to adultery, if nothing else to try to blunt Abigail's meteoric rise to power.  Proctor admits to adultery as he recognizes that Mary Warren's testimony is not going to be effective.  John recognizes that coming forth in this forum about his adultery is the last refuge he has:

Excellency, forgive me, forgive me. She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might!—for I
thought of her softly, God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat! But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it; I set myself entirely in your hands, I know you must see it now. My wife is innocent, except she know a whore when she see one.

Another moment in the scene where he confesses to the sin of adultery happens at the end when Elizabeth is brought in for questioning.  She lies in thinking to defend her husband and before she leaves, he cries out, "Elizabeth, I have confessed it."  In this, one sees a clear revelation of adultery.  In confessing, Proctor is operating on the level of self- awareness and full disclosure being the only way to remedy the hidden demons that are holding the people of Salem hostage to speaking the truth.

What are some key quotes from John Proctor's confession in Act 4 of The Crucible?

One of the key quotes you will have to talk about is when John Proctor says:

Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!

This quote occurs after John Proctor has agreed, after much pressure, to save his life by admitting to the crime of witchcraft. The problem comes when he signs his name and he is told that his confession will be posted publicly so everyone can see it. Partly, this protest of his reflects his guilt - he would not be able to live with himself if he signed his name whilst others, like Rebecca Nurse, far worthier than him, died. Also, it reflects the importance of having a good name to belong in the society of Salem. Earlier in the play John Proctor refused to testify against Abigail to protect his name, now we see he comes to a maturer understanding of what having a good name means - he cannot lie to save himself, and is willing to go to the gallows to preserve his good name.