Puritan Proctor Religious Beliefs Analysis

Salem, in the 1600’s was the town of the Puritans. Puritanism is a sect of Christianity that is extremely strict and set in its way. Due to the town being a theocracy of puritanism, it adopted a certain intolerance to anything that went against their beliefs. The puritan ideology was that everyone must completely devout their lives to their faith and nothing else.

Religious practice by the puritans, which defined their lives, had many aspects. Knowledge of all 10 commandments was one of the several focal points of the puritans. If one must recite their commandments, but is unable to, will at least create suspicion, if not other sentiments. Such acts are evidenced when Hale asks Proctor to recite the commandments. He goes on to say them, but repeats a commandment twice and forgets another. His wife, Elizabeth, tells him he forgot adultery, which is the commandment he failed to comply with. Hale finishes by saying that he prays that there is no love for satan from Proctor. His choice of words shows a wary, distrusting, and suspicious tone due to Proctor’s inability to remember just one commandment.. This represents the severity of a deviation from the norm of puritanism, in this case, the familiarity of the 10 commandments.

In Salem, one must attend church every sunday or at least a high majority of the time, in order to pray. Puritans are intolerant of those who do not go to church often. For example, Hale says to proctor, “Twenty-six time in seventeen month, sir. I must call that rare. Will you tell me why you are so absent.” Hale continues to question Proctor further, but proctor says he prays at home if he can’t go. However, this is still not enough devotion in the eyes of Hale, which shows how such acts, even with solutions, are unacceptable. Therefore, one can assume the necessity of going to church to maintain the norms of puritan