In Act 4, he was highly conflicted over whether or not to confess to working with the devil to escape death. In the end, he decided lying was a sin he did not want to commit and chose to die an honest man rather than survive as a deceptive man. “"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 those that hang! How can I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name! "” (143) Proctor emphasizing that “it is [his] name”, indicates that his name means a lot to him, and represents his honor and standing in the community. By confessing that “he lies and signs [him]self to lies”, he recognizes dishonesty as inherently wrong and something he does not want to do for the rest of his life. When Proctor says he is “not worth the dust on the feet of those that hang”, it is clear he recognizes the gravity of his wrongdoings and is heavily burdened by his past, to the point of feeling less than dust Proctor. Staying true to his morals means more to him than his physical existence, and his urge to protect his name demonstrates this. …show more content…
Is there no good penitence but it is public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how bad my sins are! It is enough for me!" (142) “God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name.” demonstrates that Proctor believes morality is about integrity and intention, rather than conformity. Instead of pleasing those around him, Proctor prioritizes his own self-reflection and seeks approval and forgiveness from nobody but God. Procter does not look to compromise his principles and protects his right to determine what is right and wrong, even in such extreme