A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I beg you, sir, I beg you – see her what she is…She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance.
– Arthur Miller
The Crucible, Act 3. John Proctor exposes the chief witness in the witch trials court as a spurned young woman seeking vengeance on his wife. His angry outburst comes when he becomes frustrated with the lies Abigail Williams is telling the judges. A person of high standing in the community, Proctor sacrifices his respectability to confess to a lustful liason with former servant Abby. Hoping to save his wife Elizabeth from Abby’s witch accusations, he comes clean and outs Abby as a vengeful and jealous fraud wishing to be the next Mrs. Proctor. John has at last honored Elizabeth’s wish to reclaim his integrity by letting Abigail know that their affair is over for good. But he is a little late, Elizabeth has been arrested for witchcraft and her fate lies in the hands of the court.