Characters
This character has an affair with Abigail Williams.
Who is John Proctor?
This appears to be Reverend Parris's primary concern in Act I of the play.
What is his job/reputation?
John Proctor forgets this commandment when he is being questioned by Reverend Hale in his home.
What is adultery?
This evidence is used to accuse Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft.
What is...The poppet Mary gave her with a needle in it.
This is the reason Rev. Hale returns to Salem jail in act 4.
What is to beg the condemned to save their lives by confessing/lying?
This is the first character to admit to practicing witchcraft and effectively begins a witch hunt.
Who is Tituba?
Before the action of the play begins, Betty Parris and her friends have been . . .
What is caught dancing in the woods?
John tells Hale that his youngest child has not been baptized because
What is ... John doesn't like Rev. Parris? ("I see no light of God in that man.")
Giles Corey refuses to respond either way to the charges against him so that...
What is .... he cannot be convicted and his sons will get his land?
What events in the 1950s inspired the author to write The Crucible?
He was called before the congressional committee and questioned about his activities with the American Communist Party. He admitted he attended a few meetings earlier, but he would not implicate others. He was cited for Contempt of Congress, but was later overturned.
This character arrives in Salem to investigate charges of witchcraft, but eventually begins to doubt the guilt of many of the accused.
Who is Reverend Hale?
Tituba ultimately confesses to witchcraft for this reason.
What is to save her life?
Elizabeth's act that sealed John's fate on whether Danforth would accept his testimony about the girls putting on an act.
What is.... lying and denying John's affair with Abigail?
This will delay Elizabeth's hanging.
What is.... her pregnancy?
This is the reason Proctor, in the end, refuses to sign the confession.
What is "he will not give up his good name"?
This character accuses Rebecca Nurse of witchcraft and names her as the one responsible for murdering seven babies shortly after birth.
Who is Thomas Putnam or Ann Putnam?
Elizabeth states that Abigail wants her accused as a witch for this reason.
What is so that Abigail can have John to herself?
When Elizabeth is arrested, John insists that Mary Warren do this.
What is ... come to court and tell the truth?
Elizabeth Proctor places blame for John's affair on this person.
Who is herself?
Parris has to admit that Abigail has done this to him.
What is, "ran off with his life savings"?
This character gives Elizabeth a poppet doll that eventually leads to her arrest.
Who is Mary Warren?
When Betty is unresponsive, Rev. Parris does not want to conclude that witchcraft is to blame because...
What is his fear that the congregation will drive him out of Salem for having corruption in his home.
At first Mary Warren enjoys her role in the courts because . . .
What is she likes the power and status she has now.
At the end of act 3, Rev. Hale is so disgusted with the process that he does this.
What is....he denounces the proceedings and quits the court?
The reason Danforth presses Proctor so hard to confess.
What is, "he needs the confession of a prominent citizen to justify the hangings"?