“We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment.”
Por qué es buena
The furnace image makes the court's power feel physical, melting every hidden thing.
Registro
literary
Úsala tú
We burn a hot fire here; every fudged number melts down.
00:00 / 04:56
00:00 / 04:56
Proctor Refuses to Drop the Charge, Explained
The Crucible · 2014
Capítulo 18 de 29 · 4'56"
Proctor brings Mary Warren's deposition to court, and Mary says flatly that the girls were pretending: "It were pretense." Danforth answers with a warning that his court "melts down all concealment," then probes Proctor's faith and, finally, offers him a deal — drop the charge and Elizabeth lives. He refuses.
Key moments
Start here, then watch the full scene- 0:25–1:37
Mary Says the Girls Were Pretending
72s - 3:18–3:36
❝ Monólogo · 5 frases Proctor on What He Has Seen
He moves from plain speech to what he has witnessed, slowly exposing the whole trial.
18s
Proctor Refuses to Drop the Charge, explained
What happens
In the Salem courtroom, Proctor presents Mary Warren's deposition, and Mary admits the girls' visions were pretense. Parris calls Proctor a troublemaker. Danforth warns that his court burns away every concealment, questions Proctor's religious devotion, and then reveals that Elizabeth claims to be pregnant. He offers to spare her this year if Proctor drops the charge; Proctor refuses.
What's really going on
Proctor walks into court with a witness and walks out with a bargain he will not take. The deposition and Mary's admission — "It were pretense" — should end the trials, but Danforth makes clear that evidence is not what decides: "We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment." From there the scene turns into a test of Proctor himself. Danforth asks whether he is "a Gospel Christian," brings up his plowing on Sunday and his refusal to attend Parris's church, and treats all of it as evidence. The offer that follows is the real trap: if Proctor drops the charge, Elizabeth can live another year. It trades his wife's life for the truth, and Proctor refuses, saying simply, "think I cannot." The court has learned that it cannot beat him with accusations, so it tries to buy him.
Key lines & what they mean
- “We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment.”
- Danforth's image for the court: it is a furnace that burns away every secret, a warning that nothing Proctor hides will survive.
- “Will you drop this charge?”
- Danforth's offer: if Proctor withdraws his accusation, Elizabeth will be spared, at least for now.
- “her But if she say she is pregnant, then she must That woman will never lie, Mr. Danforth.”
- Proctor's defense of Elizabeth: if she says she is pregnant, it must be true, because she never lies.
- “Beware this man, Your Excellency, this man is mischief.”
- Parris's warning to Danforth that Proctor has come to make trouble and should not be trusted.
- “Are you certain in your conscience, Mister, that your evidence is the truth?”
- Danforth's challenge to Proctor: he asks whether Proctor truly believes his evidence, while hinting that lying to the court has consequences.
Theme
- Justice — The court's 'hot fire' is meant to melt concealment, but it is used to test Proctor's faith and to bargain over his wife's life.
- Courage — Offered Elizabeth's survival in exchange for dropping the charge, Proctor refuses the deal and keeps his evidence.
Qué aprendes en este capítulo
Puntos de enseñanza
Repasa justo después de verMi nivel1/9
A1–C2 es la escala MCER. Las tarjetas por encima del nivel elegido se atenúan y la reproducción no se pausa en ellas.
Puntos de lengua
Toca una tarjeta para saltar a ese momentoFrases de oro
Una gran frase en sí misma: por qué y cómo usarla“Will you drop this charge?”
Por qué es buena
Five plain words put the whole bargain on the table: drop it or not.
Registro
Formal
Úsala tú
Will you drop this charge before it ruins both of us?
“her But if she say she is pregnant, then she must That woman will never lie, Mr. Danforth.”
Por qué es buena
A flat never stakes a person's whole character, leaving no room to argue.
Registro
Neutral
Úsala tú
That woman will never lie, and you know it.
“Beware this man, Your Excellency, this man is mischief.”
Por qué es buena
Calling a man mischief turns a warning into a verdict in one word.
Registro
literary
Úsala tú
Beware this man; he is mischief when money is around.
“Are you certain in your conscience, Mister, that your evidence is the truth?”
Por qué es buena
Asking if he is certain in his conscience makes the question about honesty, not facts.
Registro
Formal
Úsala tú
Are you certain in your conscience that this report is true?
Monólogo
Un personaje sostiene la escena: practícalo entero❝ Proctor on What He Has Seen
I tell you straight, Mister - I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my eyes by I have seen them stuck by pins and slashed I have until this moment not the slightest that the children may be deceiving me. Do you understand my meaning?
He moves from plain speech to what he has witnessed, slowly exposing the whole trial.
Siguiente · 19put-uponLa escena: Francis Nurse Presents the PetitionIdeas clave
Lo que te llevas- To drop a charge is to withdraw a formal accusation.
- If the truth be known is an old way to say honestly.
- A deposition is sworn written testimony.
- The furnace image makes the court's power feel physical.
Preguntas frecuentes
La pregunta, luego la fraseWhy does Proctor bring Mary Warren to court?
Mary signed a deposition saying the girls never saw spirits and were only pretending. Proctor wants her to testify so the court will free Elizabeth.
Why does Danforth question Proctor's religion?
He is testing whether Proctor is credible. By asking about church attendance and plowing on Sunday, he builds a case that Proctor is not a good Christian.
What deal does Danforth offer Proctor?
If Proctor drops the charge against Abigail, Elizabeth will be spared for at least another year, since she says she is pregnant. Proctor refuses the bargain.
Why does Proctor refuse to drop the charge?
Dropping it would mean admitting the accusations are true and abandoning the other accused. He says he cannot, even though the deal would save his wife.
What does 'We burn a hot fire here' mean?
It is Danforth's warning that the court burns away every concealment. He is telling Proctor that secrets will not survive the trial.