This is their dignity. John Proctor's dignity is why he is a respected man in the town and why he is shown as the tragic hero of the play. At the end of the play, Proctor has the opportunity to confess his collaboration with the devil, which would allow him to be free, along with the other accused. Danforth had asked him if the devil had “ordered you to do his work” (__), and “You have bound yourself to the Devil's service” (__). To both questions, Proctor confessed. However, when asked to sign, he refused. John Proctor believed that the fact that the High Court heard his confession was more than enough. He had given up everything he had, but he didn't want to give up the only thing he had left, which was his name. Proctor realized that if he signed his name, while the others did not, he would "blacken them all the same day they remained silent." He knew he couldn't live a lie, so he did what he believed was the right thing to do and gave up his