Act 3.

Act 3 consists mainly of court sessions being held against the accused. Judge Hathorne is seen questioning Martha Corey (Giles' wife). She, however, will not confess. She did not do such things as witchcraft and doesn't want it on her name when she dies. Giles is angered by the ruling of the court and questions being pressed on his wife so he lashes out somewhat in anger telling how the girls were frauds. They could not think that such young girls were anything, but innocent though. Giles says that Judge Danforth is against them and means to hang them all. At that Mary burst into tears. John tells her that she must not weep, but be strong. John next stands up to tell the court what Mary has to say. He tells them that Mary told him she lied in her previous testimony. She never saw the Devil and the girls were faking it. So Danforth decides to question Mary to get to the bottom of it. He asks her if she was put up to it by John or if he had threatened her and her answer was no. He says that Mary must have lied right there in court to him. She said that was true. Then he questions her with if she knows lying is a sin and that she will go to jail if it is true. She said yes it was the truth. Then the group of girls (Abigail's group) come into the court room. Danforth questions them too. He asks if there was truth in what Mary said. Abigail says no. He tells of accusation against Abigail with the poppet and Abigail says it was a lie. this goes back and forth and we find that Mary is growing more and more tense. She says that she was so caught up in the lies that she made herself believe these things like seeing the Devil were actually happening. This makes Danforth ask Abigail if these things are just illusions, but her answer was no and she explained all her occurrences with these evil spirited things. Abigail then pretends that there is a cold air that's come about. Then each girl begins to play along with it. They say "I freeze" and act as if they are being forced by the Devil. Then the girls start blaming Mary. Mary screams trying to run, but Proctor catches her and she keeps saying "I cannot, I cannot". At that John calls Abigail a whore, but Abigail gets the side of the court again. John says how Abigail hated Elizabeth because she wanted him. He told of how they had an affair and they decide to bring Elizabeth out to question because John says she would not lie. When they brought her out though, she lied to the court. She said her husband had no part in lechery after he had already confessed. That, in the end, is what ruined John. They took Elizabeth away with John trying to plead with the court saying she only wanted to save him. Hale believed him with that and began to side with him. That brought Abigail into it again. She pretended she was having visions. She saw a bird in the rafters and the other girls played along too. All but the girls do not "see" it. Mary becomes overwhelmed with this and pressured into this so she will not be punished. Mary joined in with them turning against Proctor saying he was the Devil's man. Also, saying John signed the Devil's book, threatened to kill her, and he made her sign too. Proctor could not understand this. Danforth turned completely against him saying he was some sort of anti-Christ and asked if he confessed to this. John said God is dead and that he can see Lucifer. He says his face and Danforth's are seen. This brings fury to Danforth. He yells to Marshal and tells him to take John and Giles to jail.