What are the ironies in The Crucible?

Answer 1

• All of the accused faced the following irony: if you confess to being a witch, you live. If you don't, you die. That seems backwards; if you are a witch, shouldn't you die, and if not, live?
• In order to prove his wife's innocence in court John Proctor had to confess his sin of adultery. That sin would be expected to fall under the arena of his own salvation, not that of his wife's, but to discredit Abigail, he must reveal their sin together.
• Elizabeth's lie covering up that adultery is also ironic, because John swears that she "cannot lie". But then she does (understandably).
• All Abby wants is to be with John, and it is her actions that in the end lead to his death.
• Cheever, who Elizabeth prompted John to talk to, because they were friends, ends up being the one who arrests her.
• Goody Putnam, who openly confessed to enlising Tituba to "conjure spirits" receives no trial, no arrest, no accusation of witchcraft, but walks free.