During the Salem Witch Trials, many people were executed for practicing witchcraft. The mass hysteria that occurred in Salem caused over two hundred residents to be tried and over twenty to be executed (Brooks 2011). Many people who were tried confessed to practicing witchcraft and then “repented” and were excused of their crimes. Twenty others however, chose death over what was required of them to live. This raises the question of what makes a person choose death over life, and visa versa.
Examples of Executions Giles Corey was accused of having his spirit roam about Salem torturing and sabotaging various people and property. Corey then was accused of pricking and stabbing people with his spirit during his trial. His ultimate accusation against him was that he murdered a man he had in his house seventeen years ago, who had been found with bruises across his chest and internal bleeding around his heart and chest area. Thomas Putnam sent a letter to the judge stating that his daughter had a dream that the man found dead in Corey’s house stated that Corey had murdered him and ordered that Corey be killed in the same way. Corey was pressed with rocks and refused to confess to murder or practicing witchcraft and died because of this. Corey chose death over his name being soiled or confessing to a crime he did not commit (Salem 1962).
…show more content…
When Elizabeth came, who was spared because she was pregnant, Proctor chose to live. When Proctor was questioned in the play, he refused to lie and say he saw other people with the Devil. Although Proctor felt that he was not honorable enough to die next to those innocent people who did nothing to ask for such a fate, Proctor did not want to lie about seeing those he viewed as innocent with the devil. Proctor originally wanted to live for the sole purpose of caring for his future baby, but then chose to keep his pride and die instead (Miller