ACT I
The whole accusations of any kind of witchcraft could have been avoided here in the first act. When Hale, the witchcraft expert, arrives in town, he is sent to see Betty Parris. While he is interviewing the Putnams and Mr. Parris on what has happened herein Salem. He discovers some alarming details. He comes with all his knowledge of witchcraft and looking for signs of witchcraft. He tells Rebecca Nurse: "If she is truly in the Devil's grip we may have to rip and tear to get her free." (pg. 39) This is enough to scare the parents to the point where they don't necessarily care what happened, they just want their children better and someone or anyone to pay the price. If someone else had come to town in the place of Hale, a non-believer in witchcraft, all the accusations of witchcraft may have been avoided. Someone else may have ruled out witchcraft and spent time searching to find a natural cause, and probably would have found one.
ACT II
Many of the John and Elizabeth Proctor's problems could have been avoided in this act. When Mary Warren gave Goody Proctor the poppet, she should have realized that with the ridiculous accusations of witchcraft going on in the town that it may not have been a good idea to keep a poppet in the house. Instead all she says when she receives the poppet is, "Why, thank you, it's a fair poppet." (pg. 56) she does not think much of it. When Cheever comes for Elizabeth he says that he was sent to search the house for poppets, when he discovers once, he realizes that he has been sent for a good reason. If Elizabeth had disposed of the poppet, knowing the trouble that it may have caused, Cheever would have come to search and found nothing, therefore he would have had to let Elizabeth remain where she was.
ACT III
In the third act, the Salem Witch Trials, which had already begun, could have been put to an end. John Proctor brought Mary Warren to the court after persuading her to tell the judges that she and Abby and the rest of the accusing girls had been lying the entire time. Mary Warren begins to explain this to the court, but then has a change of heart and she decides to re-join the side of Abby and the girls. Mary Warren turned on John Protor and the truth when she exclaimed, "Abby, Abby, I'll never hurt you more." (pg. 119) If Mary Warren would have stuck with her story and the truth, everything may have been resolved with all fairness. Other girls may have decided to come forth on the part of Mary Warren. The all could have testified against Abby and convinced the town that no witchcraft had ever taken place. All would be spared except Abby and any of the other girls that may have deserved punishment.
ACT IV
In this act there was a simple solution to save John Proctor's life, that was passed by. All John had to do was admit to witchcraft, whether he was guilty or not. If John would have signed a testimony of his admittance to witchcraft his life would have been spared. Elizabeth was able to persuade him to choose his life when she admitted herself. "Do what you will...Forgive me, forgive me, John--I have never known such goodness in the world." (pg. 137) Proctor admits by mouth by still refuses to sign. If John had chosen to sign the testimony rather than keep his name clean he could have remained alive for the sake of his children. He could have been reunited with Elizabeth and had his next child with her. IF John would have only not been so selfish to only think about his name, he, Elizabeth and the children could have lived happily ever after. The could have moved away from Salem to clear their names. In death he name was tarnished anyway. He was hanged for witchcraft.
Our Networks