An Interview with John Proctor

During the break from the court session I will be interviewing John Proctor. In the court he tries to prove that his wife is not guilty of being accused of witchery. He also tries to prove that all the girls are being fake and all talk nonsense. To prove that he brings in his servant Mary Warren to the truth, she was one of the accusers before who blamed the many people of Salem, Massachusetts. So now let’s hear the real story from John Proctor.
“Here he comes out of the court room right now”

Anna: “John Proctor”, how did it feel when you had to go to the court room to prove your wife’s innocence?
JP: Well, it was really hard for me, but I knew what was coming. I had a feeling that the Abigail Williams girl will go to the end of the world to get what she wants. Then I thought it was a problem between me and her. Why does she have to bring my wife into this? I wonder was she an easy target for her because my good wife fired her. This is when I really started to think. The minute I walked in to the court room and saw that dirty girl I felt disgusted in myself and wanted to run, but I knew I couldn’t.

Anna: When you saw your wife Elizabeth what would you have said if you were allowed to talk to her before she was questioned?
JP: Well I wanted to tell her how much I have always loved her. I wish I could tell her that I didn’t know what was going through my head when I cheated, and why I did that when I have a great wife like you by my side. I don’t want you to put all my shame on yourself because that was my fault, and you had nothing absolutely nothing to do with it. I never intended on hurting her she was so important to me, she was my wolrld, my pride and joy, and the best wife I could have ever asked for. Especially I wanted to tell her I am sorry that I have put her through this big mess.

Anna: If you could really tell off Judge Danforth , what would you have said to him?
JP: Well I had a lot going through my mind, and heck I would have loved to give him a piece of it. I would have said what a bad Judge he has been, that what kind of person believes mindless children and their little stories filled with lies. It would only take a silly Judge as you to go along with them. All of this is causing terror to the town and destroying every ones life. That man was talking trash, and I just got sick and tired of it. Oh how I wish I could give him a mouth full, that man was making me sick. What does it take to be a Judge, what they tell you how to make innocent people be guilt or something well over all I thought that Judge was plain stupid, and should have no right to be what he is now? I am so sorry, but he is so ridiculous you just want to hit him so hard, and put him in your possession so he will know what it is like.
“Okay so thank you for that”

Anna: So, when Mary Warren stepped in, which is also your servant would you expect her to say what she has said be forth the court?
JP: Somewhat I do because that Mary Warren is a good person, but on the other hand I thought she would get scared and start to lie because she wanted to protect her friends. She would never expect her friends to turn their back when she tries to stop all the madness in Salem.
I think what she did was the right thing even if that old stubborn man that calls himself a Judge didn’t believe her. What did he think I put her up to this, probably did? Overall I was very proud of Mary, it takes a lot of courage to stand up to your friends, and she was one heck of a strong girl especially at her age.

Anna: How about when you finally spoke of you and Abigail, what were you real emotions towards that?
JP: Let’s see what I can say. When I first said it I wasn’t really thinking, but it felt good to get that secret off of my chest. That time I was so relieved because I have finally said, and that was one of my biggest worries of all time. Trying to say I felt so sick that the words couldn’t even come out of my mouth I just wanted to go under a rock and hide for the rest of my life, but seriously when it came out I was like “YES”. My heart felt free and at that point I could come out with all the hurt I did. I wanted to cry my eyes out when I finally spoke it was the best feeling ever. You know when you hold something inside you for so long and that little voice inside just keeps telling “Come on you coward, just go on and say it” that’s how I felt at that point. My heart was pounding so fast and hard and when I started to speak it went back to normal and I felt so good. That was my real emotions, but I am the type of person who can’t show them and finally I expressed myself in words.

Anna: Wow that’s very deep.
Remember when they told you to turn around so they can bring in your wife Elizabeth, did you just want to turn to her and see her after so long?
JP: Of course that’s my wife; I was so angry that I couldn’t. The rage went through my veins it was so hard. If she only knew what I have said before she has entered she would have been saved. My beautiful wife would be with me right now in wrapped up in my arms, and I would not let her go, not even for a single second. This just brings us back to that old Judge. Oh if she only knew that goes through my head like a tape recorder that’s playing over and over again, it drives me crazy.
“Okay”

Anna: How about when the girls turned their back on Mary Warren, what did you think about that?
JP: Let’s see, I thought great its going to go down hill from here. I mean everyone seems to believe Abigail and her swarm of army friends. Now it will be me that’s going to be accused of witchery, and I won’t be able to save Elizabeth now. Oh why, why did this have to happen, what really made the girls do this, did they hate everybody that much? Those are the questions I was asking myself. That was just plain craziness, how could things go so bad. At least Mary tried, but Abigail goes over the type.
“I see she is really tricky, she would have fooled me to if I was that stubborn”
Anna: Did you ever at any point think that maybe there is some kind of witchery in Salem?
JP: I would say no not in Salem exactly, but in those evil people who let it get stronger then I would have to say yes. They all let it keep going so there must have been witchery inside of their soul, it was full of it. If they have just put a stop to it everybody would be happy and jolly as they used to be when not a hostile word was said to one another. If you didn’t like someone you would just ignore them, but when one word was heard “WITCH” I knew it was down-fall from there that people are going to go crazy and start accusing everyone. There never was a witch and never will be a witch in Salem. Some may have practiced it, but that’s their personnel business what they do in their personal time and in their household.

Anna: Alright, what would you have done different if you were in Danforth place?
JP: Well, I defiantly wouldn’t all sudden start believing those silly girls and get the perspective from all the people in the village. I would listen to what they have to say, and wouldn’t start listing people for hangings. I would do trials, but as far as a hanging that’s just too far and to ridiculous. Accusing people off the spot now that will give you a bad name in the town and you will be hated. As I said I will listen to what they all have to say and pay more attention to the elders. You don’t know what kind of mess kids can cause, well right now you probably do know, before all of it have started.
“That’s actually a real interesting point”

Anna: How about when the girls turn ice cold, how do you think they were able to pull that off?
JP: Now that’s a really good question. I might now be absolutely sure, but they must have a lot of practice to do that. Maybe even they are the real witches it takes a lot to pull that kind of thing. They were really convincing, but I didn’t believe it not even once I knew what they were trying to do. That was some kind of magic or trick that was very good; maybe they somehow stopped breathing until they had chills. I even had the feeling that the Judge pretended that their skin was cold I never touched them so I surly don’t know, but that’s my opinion on that because this can be a proven fact since I have no proof of it.

Anna: Do you think that Judge Danforth was in a some kind of scheme?
JP: Yes, I do I truly do. He probably just wanted some kind of fame from this. The first Judge to hang a witch what a title would that be. Does he really feel amazed about it to be in such a scandal were it causes a persons life that’s too much tragic for one person to handle. He must feel a whole lot of guilt inside of him. I know how that feels.
“For our last final question for Mr. Proctor”

Anna: When you finally left the court room what did you think of all that has happened in there?
JP: I would have to say that in some ways it was no use at all, but then I felt relieved when I have spoken. That day no ones life wasn’t saved, which is what I was going for so I was disappointed in the whole outcome.

Anna: Okay, let’s thank Mr. Proctor for taking his time to talk to us. It was really helpful, now I understand what he went through in Salem. Well I hope you all enjoyed that and got the truth from someone who had to go through a tragedy like that. So once again I like to thank you and Mr. Proctor for being here with us.
“Thank you so much and I hope the rest of the trial goes better than it did so far”
JP: “Thank you and also thanks for hearing my side of the story and having me here”