The ironic lie told by Elizibeth in the end of the book "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller.

The Truth Will Set You Free The dangerous conditions of the Salem Witch Trials caused the whole town to live in fear. People were constantly being accused by their neighbors and close friends. When Elizabeth's husband John is accused of being a wizard he clams that his accuser, Abigail, is motivated by the fact that she had an affair with him and is only tying to get back at Elizabeth, John's wife. When brought in …

…honor in hopes of salvaging him, but instead she doomed them both. Elizabeth, not knowing what went on in the courtroom, tries to protect her husbands honor but ironically condemns him as well as herself to death. The accusations in Salem have gotten dangerously out of hand and must be stopped. The misfortune of John Proctor and his wife just goes to show you that in the end the truth really will set you free.