Danforth: "I will not receive a single plea for pardon or postponement. Them that will not confess will hang. Twelve are already executed; the names of these seven are given out, and the village expects to see them die in the morning. Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must now cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now." (pg.129)

Explanation- This quote comes from Danforth, as a response to Hale's idea of postponement. Hale wants the people to be pardoned, but Danforth is saying that if he did postpone the hangings. Then it would look like he made a mistake, since Danforth is of the highest authority in the village, he is supposed to be looked upon as infallible as God. Since he is the voice of God's justice he is too proud to admit a mistake. Therefore, for him to make a mistake as killing 12 people, who could have been found innocent, would cause uproar in the village.

Question- If Goody Nurse never came would Proctor continue on with his confession or would he have found the resolve to end it himself?

Hale: "Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the sink of rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the harlots' cry will end his life--and you wonder yet if rebellion's spoke? Better you should marvel how they do not burn your province!"(pg. 130)

Explanation: Hale is explaining to Danforth all the results from his arrests and his hangings. The village is in a state of turmoil right now. And because Danforth put so much faith on the girls, such as Abigail and Mercy Lewis, the villagers are frightened that they might be accused of being a witch and have there life ended right before them. These are all reasons why there should be a rebellion in the village. Because of the whole witchcraft fiasco Danforth is now faced with a new problem of how to deal with this misunderstood and corrupted town he has made.

Question- Will the village ever be the same again?