To Proctor) When the children wake, speak nothing of witchcraft-it will frighten them. (She cannot go on.).
Proctor. I will bring you home. I will bring you soon.
Elizabeth. Oh, John, bring me soon.
Proctor. I will fall like an ocean on that court! Fear nothing, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth. (with great fear). I will fear nothing .
So that's one example of how people feared for their lives during the witch trials. Another example occurred in Act 3. A man by the name of Giles Corey enters the courtroom with a deposition. This deposition accuses Thomas Putnam of falsely accusing people of witchcraft. Now, after Judge Danforth reads this, he ask Giles where the proof of all this is. Giles states that he heard it from a man who directly heard Putnam say it. So, when Judge Danforth and Hawthorne asked who it was, Giles won't give him the name. (dialogue page 214):.
Hawthorne. The man that gave you this information.
Giles. (hesitates, then bursts out). You know well why not! He'll lay in jail if I give his name.
The reason Giles is so against giving the judges the name of this person is because he knows this guy will be thrown in jail. Another example of fearing for your life occurs when John Proctor tried to clear the names of Rebecca Nurse, Elizabeth Proctor, and Martha Corey. He got a testament of 91 people, who don't think these three women have anything to do with witchcraft and/or the devil. These people were scared to put their names down because they didn't want to be accused of witchcraft. So, Proctor assured them that no harm would be brought to them for signing this testament. (dialogue page 212):.
Danforth. (glancing down a long list). How many names are here?.
Francis. Ninety-one, your Excellency.
Parris. (sweating). These people should be summoned (Danforth looks up at him questioningly.) for questioning.
Francis. (trembling with anger) Mr. Danforth, I gave them all my word no harm would come to them for signing this.