Proctor states, "For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud." (Miller 111). Finally, in the end when Proctor is about to be hanged he realizes he wants to lie and say that he admits to witchcraft so that he may live. When they get to the end of the testimony Proctor cannot finish the lie, his final words state, "Show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with it!" (Miller 133). Proctor asserts his beliefs and proclaims his opinions. He stands up for himself and the others who were accused and dies with his integrity. This brings Miller's theme full circle. John Proctor's death illustrates just how important it is to protect one's morals even if they die for it. This vital message is not only explained by Proctor's death, but also by Rebecca Nurse's. .
Rebecca Nurse's death also exemplifies the meaning of the novel. Rebecca is accused of witchcraft because of a long-held grudge between the Nurse family and the Putnam's. Most people in Salem love Rebecca and could not fathom how anybody could accuse her of being a witch. Therefore, she is charged and thrown into jail. She is appalled that Proctor would even consider lying in order to not be hanged. Rebecca states, "Why, it is a lie, it is a lie; how may I damn myself? I cannot, I cannot" (Miller 129). Rebecca knows that she is not a witch and that God is the only one who can truly bring judgment upon her. She will not confess and is proud when she is coming close to her death because she knows that she is dying with her integrity. Rebecca says to Proctor, "Let you fear nothing! Another judgment waits us all!" (Miller 133). Rebecca Nurse is a devout believer in Christ and she knows she is doing the right thing. This illustrates the meaning of the work as a whole because Rebecca's actions explain how vital it is to tell the truth and to believe in one's own morals even to death.