Then, when she finds out she was accused in court, she wants him to go to Salem to speak directly with Abigail. Elizabeth makes these requests with an eye towards correcting injustice and saving her own life.
Proctor tears up his confession. He finally decides he does have some decency within him, and it will be manifested in this final sacrifice. Danforth orders the hangings to commence. Parris and Hale beg Elizabeth to convince John to reconsider as John and Rebecca are led off to the gallows. In Act IV, it is he who counsels the accused witches to lie, to confess their supposed sins in order to save their own lives.
Act 4 opens at night time. This time of day could foreshadow that problems may arise soon. Hathorne says Parris looks mad these days. What events precede the sudden disappearance of Abigail and Mercy? What does Parris fear about the response of the other people in Andover. He is scared that it will start a riot like it did in Andover.
It was black, dark. Ann Putnam is convinced that these women let her babies die after she gave birth, and she wants to see them held responsible for her loss. It is clear that she has some kind of awful history with Parris; she hints that she has either been beaten by him before, or something even worse happened possibly a rape, which was not uncommon among slave owners.
As a slave, Tituba has never been in a position of power, unless one counts her knowledge of magic, and the way she can get the village girls to congregate around her. The feeling must have been a heady one as she rages at the crowd and condemns two other women. She is a powerless slave from Barbados, who apparently still practices some of her homeland rituals despite being a Christian. She is a black woman, the only one in town, and has virtually nothing in common with the villagers except that she is a Christian.
It is curious that Tituba would name people who are similar to her, as witches. Perhaps it was easier for her to do so because she understood them more than the rest of the town. Or, perhaps, Tituba understands the dynamics of Salem. They need a scapegoat, and the only other people they can take their holy vengeance out on would be the beggar women. The second reason that Scene 5 is pivotal is because Abigail exerts her power and begins her quest to obtain Proctor.
Unsurprisingly, Tituba confesses to witchcraft when the townspeople threaten her with physical violence. She is a black female slave, an individual without any power. She cannot hope to defend herself against Abigail's accusations, even though she and Abigail both know that Abigail is lying. The fact that Tituba confesses to witchcraft and then implicates Sarah Good and Goody Osburn reveals that Tituba listens very well and values her life.
In order to preserve her own life, Tituba takes cues from her interrogators and tells them what they want to hear. Hale's response to Tituba's confession prompts Abigail's own sudden admission of guilt. Declaring witchcraft becomes the popular thing to do. It grants an individual instant status and recognition within Salem, which translates into power. Abigail realizes that she can achieve immediate respect and authority by declaring that she has consorted with the Devil but now seeks redemption.
Abigail's manipulation of the circumstances demonstrates her keen sense of self-preservation, as well as a unique understanding of the blind ignorance of others. Abigail knows that the townspeople will view her as an expert witness. The fact that Hale believes her sets her far apart from the other people in Salem. The people forget Abigail's questionable reputation and now consider her an instrument of God.
This calculated move finally puts her in a position to get rid of Elizabeth Proctor. The fact that Betty suddenly awakens after Abigail renounces the Devil only underscores Abigail's authority and further establishes her credibility. Here, also a verb, meaning to be in league with someone. For example Tituba denies trucking, or being in league with, the Devil. Previous Scene 4.
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