Characters
The protagonist of the play. He is a stern, harsh-tongued man who hates hypocrisy. He is characterized by an internal conflict between guilt over his affair with Abigail Williams and the need to maintain his integrity.
John Proctor
Reverend Parris’ niece. She is smart, wily, a good liar, and vindictive when crossed.
Abigail Williams
What rumor is circulating about Reverend Parris' daughter Betty?
That she is the victim of witchery
PARRIS: I do not wish to be put out like the cat whenever some majority feels the whim.
Simile
What is the setting of The Crucible
Salem, Massachusetts
Enslaved woman from Barbados who is pressured into confessing
Tituba
A young minister known to be an expert on witchcraft. He is called into Salem to examine Reverend Parris’ daughter Betty. His arrival sets the hysteria in motion.
Rev. Hale
For what does Rev. Parris condemn his niece, Abigail?
Dancing in the woods at night
PROCTOR: The road past my house is a pilgrimage to Salem all morning.
Metaphor
What religion do the characters in the Crucible practice? (be more specific than "Christianity")
Puritanism
The minister of Salem's Church. He is more concerned with his reputation in the village than his potentially bewitched daughter.
Rev. Parris
An elderly farmer in Salem, famous for a tendency to file lawsuits
Giles Corey
Who does Abigail say conjured the devil?
Tituba
What is an allegory?
A story with two meanings: an obvious meaning and a deeper, hidden meaning
Who is the playwright that wrote The Crucible
Arthur Miller
A wealthy, influential citizen of Salem. He uses the witch trials to increase his own wealth by accusing people of witchcraft and then buying up their land.
Thomas Putnam
She has given birth to 8 children, but only one survived. She is convinced that her babies were murdered by supernatural forces.
Ann Putnam
What does Giles ask Rev. Hale?
Why his wife reads books
What is the Salem paradox?
Salem was established as a theocracy for the purpose of uniting and strengthening the community; however, this form of government caused the community to fall apart
What kind of government operates in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692?
A theocracy
A wise, sensible, and upright woman held in tremendous regard by most of the Salem community. She has 11 children and 26 grandchildren. She is not fooled by the girls’ act.
Rebecca Nurse
The servant in the Proctor household and a member of Abigail’s group of girls. She is a timid girl, easily influenced by those around her.
Mary Warren
What does Rev. Parris fear?
That his enemies will use the accusations of witchcraft against him.
What is a paradox?
A surprising or self-contradictory statement that may nevertheless be true.
What is The Crucible an allegory for?
The Red Scare