CHARACTER MOTIVATION
Who is most concerned with his reputation and position at the beginning of the play?
Who is Reverend Parris?
This unexplained illness sparks suspicion of witchcraft in Salem.
What is Betty Parris’s sickness?
This is the main goal of the Salem court.
What is maintaining authority and order?
Under pressure, this character accuses John Proctor of witchcraft.
Who is Mary Warren?
Fear motivates people in the play to accuse others.
What is True?
Which character admits to lechery in order to expose the truth about the girls?
Who is John Proctor?
According to Rebecca Nurse, the girls are guilty of this rather than witchcraft.
What is acting like children?
The court believes confession proves innocence because it shows this.
What is obedience to the court?
This character uses the witch trials as a way to gain land and property in Salem.
Who is Thomas Putnam?
The Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism are connected because people do this to protect themselves.
What is confess and accuse others?
Which character begins confident in the court but later tries to stop the executions?
Who is Reverend Hale?
This object becomes the key piece of evidence against Elizabeth Proctor.
What is the poppet?
This motivates the court more than discovering the truth.
What is preserving its power and reputation?
After Abigail disappears, Parris asks for the executions to be this.
What is postponed?
This theme explains why confession saves lives but spreads lies.
What is corruption of justice?
Which character benefits the most from the accusations and hysteria?
This relationship is strained due to a lack of trust and honesty.
What is John and Elizabeth Proctor’s marriage?
This is why Danforth refuses to stop the executions in Act IV.
What is fear of undermining the court?
Proctor confesses to this sin in court in an attempt to expose Abigail’s motives.
What is lechery?
The play functions as this type of story about McCarthyism.
What is an allegory?
Which character represents reason and calm but is ignored once hysteria begins?
Who is Rebecca Nurse?
This action by Mary Warren directly sets Elizabeth Proctor up.
What is giving her the poppet with the needle?
This is what the court demands in order to spare an accused person’s life.
What is confession?
This action proves that Proctor values his name and integrity over his life.
What is tearing up the confession?
This is Miller’s warning about societies ruled by fear.
What is that fear destroys truth and justice?