Throughout history, and Arthur Miller's play The Crucible, the name by which one is called is more than just a name. Your name represents your actions, your reputation, and your beliefs. Your name can carry on after your life as a proud example of a hero, or conversely, as an example of a liar. Just as important as one's name, is the signature that it represents. By signing something, one shows that they recognize what is written and wishes to show support for what it represents. A signature is as unique as the person signing it. One can be held accountable for all which he or she marks with his or her signature. The significance of signatures is well displayed in The Crucible. In the play, John Proctor's signature is used to represent a false confession to witchery. Throughout the Crucible, John Proctor's devotion to his code of ethics, and the value he attached to his name, consistently superseded his loyalty to the community. Those who confessed lived; those that denied involvement were hung. While some chose to live and as a result falsely admitted to witchcraft, John Proctor stood strong and refused to sign a false confession so that he may leave his family with a good name, resist condemning his fellow accused, and die an honest man.
             When Proctor was first faced with the decision of living with a lie or dying with the truth, he chose life. He decided that a lie was a minute sin in comparison to voluntarily giving up the life with which God blessed him. After signing his confession, he was notified that it would be hung above the church entrance for all to see. Besides believing that publicity was unnecessary to a valid confession, Proctor did not want to blacken his name. Because of committing adultery, he knew what it was like to live with a bad reputation and did not want his sons to have to live with a name marked by witchcraft. Proctor crumbled up the paper in front of his accusers and chose death rather ...