Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Did John Proctor get excommunicated from the church? It says that 30 people showed up for it, but was that enough people to vote on an...

In Act Four, Parris is trying to convince Judges Hathorne and Danforth to delay the executions that are scheduled to take place that morning, at least until they can elicit a confession from one of those convicted.  He fears that there will be riots in the town if the likes of Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor are hanged.  He says, "it were another sort that hanged till now."  Nurse and Proctor are not individuals of...

In Act Four, Parris is trying to convince Judges Hathorne and Danforth to delay the executions that are scheduled to take place that morning, at least until they can elicit a confession from one of those convicted.  He fears that there will be riots in the town if the likes of Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor are hanged.  He says, "it were another sort that hanged till now."  Nurse and Proctor are not individuals of poor reputation like Bridget Bishop or Isaac Ward who were hanged first; they are not known to have ever behaved in unscrupulous ways.


As further proof of the possibility that the day's executions could lead to rebellion, Parris tells Danforth,


It cannot be forgot sir, that when I summoned the congregation for John Proctor's excommunication there were hardly thirty people come to hear it.  That speak a discontent, I think, and--

So, Proctor was excommunicated; it's just that only thirty people (out of the several hundred that would have lived in Salem Village historically) came to see it, and this makes Parris believe that the vast majority of villagers did not condone the proceedings.  It was a clear minority, and this renders Parris afraid of the majority who seems to disagree with the courts.  They wouldn't need a specific number of people present for an excommunication, but the lack of people who came to see it take place indicates that very few members of the community support the trials and will likely rebel against those responsible.  To further support this, Parris shares the fact that he has already been threatened and "dare[s] not step outside at night!" 

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