Attempts to Postpone Hangings

     According to our reporters, Reverend Hale and Parris attempted to postpone the hangings of John Proctor. From a Puritan’s perspective, they were going against God’s path and were leading themselves straight to Hell. John Proctor had already been accused for witchcraft. Hale and Parris among the few who thought that John Proctor was innocent. Parris was a former supporter of the witchcraft trials. He like many others, believed that the girls had been bewitched by the Devil and were forced to commit sin.

    One of our journalist overheard them that Parris was robbed by Abigail Williams and Mercy Lewis. According to him he said, “Excellency, I think they be aboard a ship. My daughter tells me how she heard them speaking of ships last week, and tonight I discover my - my strongbox is broke into. Thirty-one pound is gone. I am penniless.”(126). Did this mean that Abigail and Mercy were faking being bewitched? Due to the recent events it makes one wonder if Parris believed in witchcraft anymore. Since his niece, Abigail, ran away with his money, it was obvious  she ran away to cover up something. The something Abigail was trying to hide, that she had to run away for, could have been the actual truth about witchcraft in Salem.

    Reverend Hale was an expert on witchcraft and had studied it for multiple years, so why would he just reject all of studies in Salem? During the debate, the reporter on the scene heard Hale say, “You must pardon them. They will not budge.”(128) Hale stood up for what he thought was right and would not budge on his standing. Hale believed that witchcraft in Salem was all a lie and that it was all vengeance. Danforth had previously given Hale time to find the truth about the situation. Hale said, “The sun will rise in a few minutes. Excellency, I must have more time.”(128) Hale did come to Salem to find out the truth about witchcraft, so who actually knows if witchcraft was actually real.

    However Parris and Hale’s attempts to prolong the hangings were in vain. Danforth would not postpone the hangings and said, “Now hear me, and beguile yourselves no more. I will not receive a single plea for pardon or postponement. Them that will not confess will hang. Twelve are already executed; the name of these seven are given out, and the village expects to see them die this morning. Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now. While I speak God’s law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering. If retaliation is your fear, know this- I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolution of the statues. Now draw yourselves up like men and help me, as you are bound by Heaven to do. Have you spoken with them all, Mr. Hale.”(129)Danforth’s decision on the postponement of the hangings was final and that there would be no postponement. Witchcraft might thought by some to be fake, but Danforth will not postpone the hangings under any circumstances.

Danforth will not comply.