Final answer:
Proctor suggests the confessions to witchcraft by Tituba, Sarah Good, and others were a result of coercion during the Salem Witch Trials, shown through the marginalized positions of these individuals in Puritan society and mass hysteria fueled by fear of the devil.
Step-by-step explanation:
In his discussions with Hale, Proctor explains why Tituba, Sarah Good, and numerous others have confessed to witchcraft. Proctor suggests that their confessions were coerced; they were likely victims of the mass hysteria and the intense pressure of the trials. These individuals were marginalized within Puritan society, making them convenient scapegoats for the community's fears and the girls' accusations. For example, Tituba, being a slave and already an outsider in the community, was coerced into confessing after being whipped and likely under extreme duress. Sarah Good, a homeless beggar, along with Sarah Osborne, who was also marginalized for her non-conformity in not attending church services, were accused. This was in line with the Puritan belief that witches worked with the Devil to carry out evil deeds. Furthermore, the ongoing fear of the devil, supported by figures like Cotton Mather, contributed to this hysteria.