as fast as it did.Proctor can't do it. "I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another," he says. Hale and Parris, though for different reasons, talk Danforth into accepting this much as sufficient.Then Proctor has to sign it. He resists, but Danforth has bent enough for this man. John Proctor signs his name.What finally gets to him is that this lie, with his signature at the bottom, will be posted on the church door for the whole world to see. He knows it doesn't make sense, but that's where the line is for him--he just can't cross it: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 them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!This is a stirring speech. If you've ever been in a situation where you've reached your limit and can't stand any more, you'll recognize the feeling John Proctor is expressing.NOTE: But what does he mean, "I have given you my soul; leave me my name"? Surely his soul is more important than two words on a piece of paper.It used to be that a man's "name" meant his reputation. The name of Rebecca Nurse, for example, was synonymous with goodness, kindness, common sense, and peacemaking. The name of John Proctor, before the disaster of his trial, meant strength, honesty, and fair dealing. Is this what Proctor is trying to protect?Maybe, and maybe more. These people want to use his confession to continue the witch-hunt. It's bad enough they've destroyed him, but he can't let them use his name to destroy others.And there's also the possibility that Proctor means something more fundamental. There is one Bible verse that John probably knew well.And out of the ground the lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.(Genesis 2...
