ACT III, SCENE 3

Francis Nurse, the focus of Scene 3, has done nothing to feel
guilty about. He is given the job of being the first to tell
Danforth that the girls are frauds. Judge Hathorne is just like
Reverend Parris-to him "every defense is an attack upon the
court," and he wants both Giles and Francis arrested for
contempt. But Danforth is a bigger man than that. Francis Nurse
has a high reputation, and wouldn't make such a charge lightly.
He also has courage: "Excellency, I never thought to say it to
such a weighty judge, but you are deceived."

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