To answer the question correctly, one needs to understand that there are two parts to John's confession. The first is the confession itself, which is obviously made verbally and written down. The second is when he has to sign it to make it binding.
John tells his wife, Elizabeth, that he is prepared to tell a lie by confessing in order to save his own life. He is clearly tortured by the difficulty of this task and seeks Rebecca's advice. She tells him that she cannot judge him but whatever decision he wishes to make is one that only a good person can. She tells him to do as he wishes. He replies that he knows that she would never, even under extreme torture, do what he is about to do. He says that it his confession is evil but that he will do it.
His announcement is greeted with great relief and gratitude by judge Danforth who asks that the confession be written down. John questions the necessity thereof and says that it is enough if he verbally confesses. Danforth tells him that it is for good instruction to the villagers and that his confession will be posted on the church door. He is then asked a number of questions about his dealings with Satan and he admits to all, essentially dictating to Cheever who writes down what he says.
However, when Danforth starts asking about people who John had seen with the devil, he refuses to implicate them. Different names are put to him but he refuses to budge. Danforth is insistent but John tells him that he refuses to name such people because: 'They think to go like saints. I like not to spoil their names' and further asserts that he can only speak for his own sins and cannot judge others.
The written confession is accepted as is by the court and John is asked to sign it. He bluntly refuses, saying that his confession has been witnessed by all present. They do not need his name for verification. Danforth commands that he sign it or it would not be deemed a valid confession. Proctor, clearly under great pressure, signs the confession which provokes loud praises from reverend Parris.
When judge Danforth reaches for the paper, John snatches it up. Danforth beseeches him to hand it over but he refuses, stating that they have all seen him sign it and God has witnessed him confessing to his blackest sins. They do not need a written and signed document to prove his guilt. When Danforth wants to tell him that he had not confessed, he interjects and shouts:
I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough!
John insists that he will not allow his confession to be nailed to the church door. He refuses to be used by the court. He realises that his confession will beused to encourage others to confess or to blacken the names of those who refuse to do so, such as Rebecca, and implicate them even further. Danforth asks him whether it is not the same if he signs or he reports that John has confessed, and John says it is not. It is different. He says:
What others say and what I sign to is not the same!
When he is asked whether he will deny his confession when he is free, John says that he won't. When Danforth asks him why he would then not hand over the confession, he passionately cries out:
Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!
It is evident that John is not prepared to die with his name besmirched and in tatters. Danforth asks him if his confession is a lie but John remains silent and then rips the confession to pieces, crying. Danforth calls on the marshal to rearrest him. Hale tells him he cannot do what he has done, he will surely hang. John, who has clearly reconciled himself with his destiny, tells him that in that lies the miracle - that he can die. He, in a moment of illumination, accedes that there is at least some goodness within him, a goodness which cannot be exploited by the animals (dogs) who want it.
It is this action that seals his fate. He is led away, with others, to be hanged. Parris and Hale plead with Elizabeth to speak to him but she cries out:
He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!
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