Why do you think John Proctor decides to confess and then Why does he change his mind?

I think that John originally decides to confess because he simply wants to live. In the first bit of his conversation with Elizabeth he asks how the unborn child is going and if their sons are ok. Once he hears that they are healthy, he tells Elizabeth that he want’s to confess.

Though as they continue and Elizabeth does not bluntly tell him that she wants him to confess, John becomes more and more troubled on this decision. Elizabeth then goes on to say it was her fault but John refuses to believe it, and then suddenly says that he confesses. However, as soon as Harthorne and the other rejoice that he confesses, he suddenly pulls back, in what may seem to be regret. Hatherone cries, “He will confess! Proctor will confess!” then proctor strides up to he and cries back “Why do you cry it? It is evil, is it not? It is evil.” This shows that he suddenly does not believe that he himself has made the right decision and he is desperately asking Elizabeth for a confirmation or not, however all she replies is “I cannot judge you, John”

John continues desperately asking if it is the right thing to do – however he gets no reply, so while being confused and rushed in his mind, he continues on with confessing. He is again stressed on his decision as when he cannot face Rebecca when she arrives as he is confessing. This shows us the pain he is going through to lie and that it already seems to be breaking him.

He is directly on the breaking point when he eventually signs his name, much to he desperate pleas not to. Whist then being questioned whether the document is liable or not, John gives up and crumples the document, he then says to the men “I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor… white enough to keep it from such dogs.” I believe that he does this because he has finally understood what Elizabeth was trying to tell him, that if he could not live with himself by lying – he should keep to the truth and suffer the gallows