The Crucible

How do you feel about John's decision not to confess? Why?

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Do you mean not to sign the paper at the end? I thought this was a powerful moment in the play. John will verbally confess but not sign his name because his name has to mean something: his name is the only shred of dignity that he has left. John has a chance to save himself and his beloved wife Elizabeth. Instead he rips up his confession (which is a lie) and screams he can't confess in writing because, "All I have is my name!" This goes to the heart of the Crucible. At the end of the day truth is truth. After his adultery and all the hysteria John realizes that if he is not true to himself then he amounts to nothing.