Fear is Greater than Reason
Who is the first person in Act 1 to confess to witchcraft out of fear?
Tituba. She confesses to witchcraft to avoid execution.
Which character uses their authority to push Tituba into confessing?
Reverend Parris. He pressures Tituba to confess to witchcraft to save his own reputation.
Which character is concerned about how their reputation will be affected by the witch trials?
Reverend Parris. He is concerned that any association with witchcraft will ruin his position as minister.
Who tells the first lie in Act 1, and what is it about?
Abigail Williams. She lies about the dancing, claiming that they were only performing a ritual, not witchcraft.
How does the group react when Tituba confesses to witchcraft?
The group becomes excited, and the girls begin to shout out names of others who supposedly have signed the devil’s book.
How does Abigail manipulate the other girls' fear of being caught?
Abigail manipulates the girls by threatening them, using their fear of punishment and public shame to control them.
How does Reverend Parris misuse his power in Act 1?
Parris uses his power as minister to manipulate people like Tituba and threatens them to protect himself.
How does John Proctor’s concern for his integrity affect his actions in Act 1?
Proctor is concerned about the damage to his reputation from his affair with Abigail and tries to distance himself from her in Act 1.
How does Abigail’s initial lie about the dancing affect the other girls?
Abigail pressures the other girls to lie about what happened in the forest, threatening them with violence if they don’t comply.
How does Reverend Parris react to the growing hysteria in Act 1?
Parris becomes more frantic, trying to distance himself from the accusations while also seeking to protect his position.
How does Tituba’s fear affect her decision to confess in Act 1?
Tituba, fearing for her life, falsely confesses to witchcraft, hoping to avoid death.
How does Abigail misuse her power over the other girls in Act 1?
Abigail uses her position as the leader of the girls to manipulate them into agreeing with her lies and making false accusations.
How does Abigail’s concern for her reputation influence her actions in Act 1?
Abigail is driven by her fear of having her affair with Proctor exposed, so she tries to shift suspicion away from herself and protect her reputation
How do Abigail’s lies lead to the first accusations of witchcraft?
Abigail’s lies about seeing other women with the devil start the witchcraft accusations that quickly spread throughout Salem.
How does the fear of witchcraft spread throughout the town after Tituba's confession?
After Tituba’s confession, fear and hysteria spread like wildfire, with people accusing others in the town to save themselves.
How does Reverend Parris' fear of losing his reputation influence his actions in Act 1?
Parris’ fear of his reputation being damaged by witchcraft accusations causes him to pressure Tituba into confessing, even though he doesn’t care about her well-being.
How does the town's power structure influence the witch trials?
The town’s religious and legal authorities fuel the witch trials by giving power to those who accuse others, allowing accusations to escalate without evidence.
Why does Reverend Parris worry so much about his reputation in Act 1?
Parris worries that any hint of witchcraft in his home will destroy his authority as minister and his reputation in Salem.
How does Tituba’s false confession set off a chain of events in Act 1?
Tituba’s forced confession leads to the accusation of others, including Sarah Good and Goody Osburn, setting off the witch trials.
How does Abigail use the hysteria in Act 1 to her advantage?
Abigail uses the hysteria to manipulate the other girls and further her own agenda, accusing others to deflect attention from herself.
How does Abigail's fear of her own punishment affect her actions in Act 1?
Abigail is afraid of being punished for her involvement in the affair with John Proctor and accuses others to deflect attention from
How does Abigail manipulate the situation with Tituba to gain more control over the other girls?
Abigail manipulates Tituba into confessing and accusing others to gain control over the girls and to avoid suspicion of her own guilt.
How does the fear of damage to one’s reputation shape the decisions of characters like Abigail and Proctor?
Both Abigail and Proctor act based on how their reputations will be affected—Abigail by manipulating others and Proctor by avoiding public scandal.
How does the first lie about witchcraft escalate throughout Act 1?
Once the first lie is told, the accusations snowball, with each new lie leading to more arrests and more panic, as the town believes the lies without question.
How does the town’s panic contribute to the rapid escalation of accusations in Act 1?
The town’s panic causes characters to act out of fear rather than reason, leading to mass accusations and arrests, which further fuel the witch trials.