Crucible Alternate ending Essays - Creative Works, Films

In the original version of the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller act IV is the falling action so to say as it comes just after the climax of act III where we have the big scene in the courtroom with Abigail Proctor Mary Warren and company. The ending of act III left us with Proctor in jail while Abigail appears to be home free even though she is essentially the underlying cause of all the drama. Danforth and Hawthorne are trying to get Proctor to sign a confession in exchange for his life even though they want to hang him anyway, as they want this all to be over, Reverend Parris wants to delay the hangings as is afraid of the backlash it might receive while Hale surprisingly has had a change of heart and wants to save proctor completely. In the original version Proctor holds out and "regains his pride" by not signing the confession and in-turn "dies a hero" but that's just too boring for my liking... If I were Arthur this is how the story would have ended Starting at the beginning of the act, Parris still gets robbed by Abigail and Mercy Lewis but he doesn't know for sure it is her, Abigail also screws over Mercy lewis and doesn't leave town just yet, This is key as she is very important for the next part of the story. The next scene we have is when Danforth Parris and Hawthorne are arguing about the state of salem and Parris is trying to get the hangings delayed I would have had Danforth actually listen to Parris and delay them as this would then lengthen the story and create more drama. With the hangings now being postponed for the time being this would then give Proctor more time and even though he is content with dying for his good name in this scenario, Proctor does confess, but not to his own witchcraft but instead throws his wife Elizabeth under the bus. Now he can't do this alone which is where my wild-card comes in. With the hangings being delayed, Proctor has more time and during this time he gets a visit from none othe r than Abigail, and while his attempts to get her to help him at the start are futile he eventually convinces her to aid in his mirage. He along with Abigail accuse Elizabeth of being the sole guilty party of witchcraft along with her lying about her child in order to save herself. Abigail is also able to bribe Mary Warren to explain how she lied about proctor to protect Elizabeth as she was afraid of what she might do to him Proctor proclaims that he still loves his wife and that's why he held his tongue so long but he wasn't willing to die for her or see others suffer because of her sins. While this definitely is far-fetched for judge Danforth to potentially believe I think with the help of Abigail and Mary Warren, Proctor could definitely convince them especially if Hale and Parris chip in as one of them already believes in Proctor's innocence and the other is against any potential hangings. Abigail is able to successfully bribe Hale but not Parris of course as he sides with Eliz abeth and accuses Abigail now along with Proctor of witchcraft partly because he was already suspicious of Abigail (because of the robbery). Danforth and Hawthorne overall in the end just want to preserve their own reputation along with the rep of the court as they are just begging for someone to blame and currently that is Proctor but if they were given a new target they surely would have no qualms in shifting their focus. There is now a standoff between Hawthorne/Danforth vs Parris vs Abigail/Proctor. Despite the two reverends best efforts Hawthorne and Danforth continue with their execution plans, but now they are phased with the question of whether to kill Proctor or Elizabeth The one key to Proctor's mirage is that he claims Elizabeth is lying about her child, this is where his partnership with Abigail helps him again as she bribes the town doctor into backing up her claims that Elizabeth