In the Crucible act 4

Question

When Proctor tells Elizabeth that he “cannot mount the gibbet like a saint,” what does he mean?

c- He means that since he made a compact with the Devil, no one will believe he is a saint.

d- Both A & B

e- Both B & C

a- He means it is too late to die an honest man because he has already sinned, and one more lie will not make a difference.

b- He means he has not had enough to eat; therefore, he is shaky and will have trouble walking up the stairs to the gibbet.

Answer 1

In this context, when Proctor tells Elizabeth that he “cannot mount the gibbet like a saint,” he is expressing a deep moral conflict regarding his impending execution. The correct interpretation of his statement aligns with option a: he feels it is too late to die an honest man because he has already sinned, and he believes that one more lie will not make a difference. He is grappling with his past mistakes and the idea of integrity in the face of death.

To analyze your options:

• Option c is not accurate in this context, as Proctor does not explicitly reference a compact with the Devil.
• Option b is not relevant, as it misinterprets the emotional and moral weight of Proctor's statement.
• Thus, d and e are also incorrect because they include elements that do not align with his true sentiment.

Therefore, the best answer is a.