Characters
Reverend Parris
The girls are caught doing this in the forest
"There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit"
Reverend Parris
This theme is central to Act One and involves protecting ones name or social image
Reputation
Author of the Crucible
Arthur Miller
Reverend Parris's niece and the ringleader of the girls.
Abigail Williams
Abigail accuses this slave of of witchcraft to avoid punishment
Tituba
"I want to open myself! I want the light of God"
Abigail Williams
The town's fear of the Devil shows this major theme about societal reaction to fear
Mass hysteria
A respected farmer who is skeptical of the witchcraft allegations
John Proctor
Tituba says this person came to her with the Devil
Goody Good or Goody Osburn
"We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise"
Reverend Hale
Abigail's actions throughout the act reveal this theme
Lies and manipulation
The play is set in this U.S. colony
Salem, Massachusetts
Expert in demonic arts and is called to Salem to investigate the girls
Reverend Hale
Abigail drinks blood in the forest for this specific reason
To curse/kill Elizabeth Proctor
"You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife!"
Betty Parris
The tension between Parris and Proctor highlight this theme about authority
The Puritans believed in strict adherence to this set of religious laws
The Bible
Elderly woman known for her moral character and was accused of witchcraft
Rebecca Nurse
Scream and cover her ears
"I have seen them all through their silly seasons, and when it come on them they will run the Devil bowlegged"
Rebecca Nurse
The girls' accusations at the end show this mob mentality and psychological theme
Scapegoating or peer pressure
The real Witch Trials took place in what decade
The 1690s (1692)