The Crucible Lesson Plan

Are several characters in situations where there is no good possible outcome, e.g. where they are damned if they do and damned if they don't?

Anyone accused of being a witch can either admit to dealings with the Devil and be imprisoned, or refuse to confess and be hanged. For instance, Mary Warren must choose between disobeying Proctor and lying to accuse people of withcraft, or going against her previously sworn words (and Abigail's word against hers). Elizabeth Proctor must choose between telling the truth and sullying her husband's name, or lying to protect him from being known as a lecher.

What do Abigail and the other girls gain by pretending that Mary...