Question:

The Crucible.. Need help on a Quote from Act IV?

by Guest64231  |  earlier

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what does this quote mean from page 136 in the Crucible:

“I’d have you see some honesty in it. Let them that never lied die now to keep their souls. It is pretense for me, a vanity that will not blind God nor keep my children out of the wind.”

-Proctor.

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  1. I have forgotten to whom he is speaking.  Is it his wife?

    Let them that never lied die now to keep their souls.(Let those who have never lied refrain from a false confession now.  They will die if they do not lie, but they will die with their consciences and souls clear of the sin of lying.)  It is pretense for me (He has lied, if not in word, then in deed, by having an affair with the servant. Lying again now will not condemn his soul any more than he has already felt condemned.) a vanity (false pretense) that will not blind God (who knows his sins) nor keep my children out of the wind (Those who were condemned and died as witches, which he would be if he does not "confess" now, lost their property -a witch was legally prohibited from having his or her property inherited.  Thus the land and possession that had belonged to the witches was forfeited to the community, and was available for those able to do so for purchase.  Many believe the whole mess blew up because it was a land-grab.  The guy, Giles) who was pressed but never plead guilty or innocent, knew that if he did not plead, he could not be condemned.  He died of pressing, but his family kept his land. Proctor is worried that if he does not give a false confession now, he will die condemned as a witch, and his children will be robbed of his estate.)

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