ACT 1
The Setting of The Crucible
Salem, Massachusetts.
This character is described as a "mouse no more" and is now an official of the court.
Marry Warren
Why was Abigail Williams dismissed from the Proctor household seven months prior?
She had relations with John Proctor, so Goody Procter kicked her out
What deal does Danforth offer John Proctor to potentially spare his wife for a while?
Elizabeth's execution will be postponed for a year because she is pregnant.
What news does Reverend Parris share with the judges about his niece, Abigail Williams?
Abigail and Mercy Lewis have stolen all of his money and disappeared, reportedly boarding a ship.
What did Reverend Parris witness the girls doing in the forest the night before?
When Hale asks John to recite the Ten Commandments, this is the one he ironically forgets.
"Thou shalt not commit adultery"
For what specific, yet absurd, charge was Rebecca Nurse arrested?
The supernatural killing of Ann Putnam's babies
What does Giles Corey accuse Thomas Putnam of doing?
Falsely accusing people of witchcraft (with the help of his daughter) to buy their forfeited land.
What was the aftermath of Giles Corey? How did Giles Corey ensure his sons could inherit his land?
He is "pressed" to death with heavy stones for refusing to enter a plea of "guilty" or "not guilty" (contempt of court). He was never legally convicted of a felony because he died as a result of a procedural penalty for contempt, ensuring his sons could inherit his land rather than it go to the state.
Who are the first two people Tituba accused of witchcraft?
Under pressure during her examination in the Salem Witch Trials, she accuses Sarah Good (Goody Good) and Sarah Osborne (Goody Osburn)
What critical lie did John Proctor tell Elizabeth that makes her more suspicious of him?
He did not tell her that he was alone with Abigail when they spoke previously.
What happens to the 91 people who signed the petition attesting to the good character of Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Martha?
Danforth orders warrants for their arrest for examination or questioning
How does Elizabeth Proctor condemn her husband during her testimony?
She lies to protect his reputation, denying the affair with Abigail, which makes John's confession seem like a lie.
Why does Judge Danforth refuse to postpone the scheduled executions of John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse?
He argues that postponing the executions would imply doubt about the justice of the court's prior decisions and the guilt of the twelve people already hanged, making the court look weak.
What role does Rebecca Nurse play in the act? What is her explanation for the girls' behavior?
The voice of reason and moral compass, believing the girls' "afflictions" are a childish "silly season" for attention. "Grandmother Figure."
What quote said by Elizabeth serves as a crucial, yet unwitting, ammunition for her arrest?
"Abigail must be ripped out of the world!"
What is the "confession" that Elizabeth makes to John when they are alone in the cell?
She blames herself for being a "cold wife" and partially responsible for his affair with Abigail, saying it "needs a cold wife to prompt lechery."
What character denounces the proceedings and quits the court at the end of Act 3?
Reverend John Hale
Why does Rebecca Nurse refuse to make a false confession, even after John Proctor tentatively agrees to do so?
She states that it would be a lie, a sin, and an offense against God, and she refuses to blacken her name when she has lived an upright, Christian life.
Which character is sent for by Reverend Parris to determine if witchcraft is responsible for Betty Parris’s mysterious illness?
Reverend John Hale
Reverend Hale uses the argument, "Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small." What does this statement reveal about the nature of the theocracy in Salem?
It shows that even minor deviations from strict religious law are seen as dangerous and potentially subversive, allowing the court to persecute anyone for small infractions.
Throughout the play, Reverend Parris exhibits extreme paranoia about his reputation and position in Salem. What is the supreme dramatic irony in the final events of Act 4 regarding the outcome of his reputation and status?
The supreme dramatic irony is that Parris's frantic efforts to preserve his authority by pushing the trials actually destroy it. By the end of Act 4, the town turns against him, he is financially ruined (Abigail stole his money), and he ultimately loses all moral authority and position.
What legal philosophy imposed by Danforth made it impossible for a defendant to defend themselves without simultaneously being held in contempt of court or confirming their own guilt, and deals with the relationship between the witch and the victim?
Danforth’s core assumption is based on the nature of witchcraft itself, as he understood it: witchcraft is an "invisible crime" witnessed only by the witch and the victim, which means the court must rely solely on the victim's testimony; this ensured the plaintiff's testimony always prevailed regardless of factual evidence presented by the defense.
What final, irreversible action does John Proctor take with the signed confession document after arguing with Danforth?
He rips the signed confession paper in half, deliberately invalidating the document and accepting his execution.