Final answer:
John Proctor's statement that "vengeance is walking Salem" is correct, reflecting the retaliatory nature of the Salem Witch Trials driven by mass hysteria, personal vendettas and the Puritanical fear of devil's influence.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Proctor's assertion that "vengeance is walking Salem" aptly captures the atmosphere of the Salem Witch Trials. This period in Salem Village, now Danvers, Massachusetts, was characterized by mass hysteria, where accusations of witchcraft resulted in the execution of nineteen individuals, mostly women, and the indictment of over one hundred persons. Among the accused, a notable victim was George Burroughs, a Congregational minister. The accusations often stemmed from personal grievances, societal tensions, and Puritanical fears of non-conformity and the devil's influence. The Salem trials were indeed less severe compared to European witch hunts, where execution by burning was commonplace, and the fact that many involved in the hysteria later confessed their mistakes and indemnity was granted shows a certain level of remorse and recognition of the wrongful nature of the trials.