Transcript Arthur Miller’s The Crucible

Act Two
SMIC, AP LANG & COMP
with Mrs. Ma
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Discuss John and Elizabeth’s relationship.
Why does Proctor make a point of saying, “I
mean to please you, Elizabeth.” (line 31)?
What do the stage directions in that same
line suggest about Proctor’s efforts?
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Why has court been set up in Salem? (lines 8285)
Who is the leader of the girls who claim to be
bewitched? (lines 95-98)
What system is used to determine whether
the accused people are witches? (lines 98-100)
Do Proctor and Elizabeth believe the accused
are witches? How can you tell? (lines 101-104)
How many women have been arrested? (line
215)
What is the punishment if a person is found
guilty of witch craft? How can a person avoid
that punishment? (lines 221-226)
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Mary Warren’s lines sometimes uses the
present tense when describing past events, a
sin these examples:
“she come into the court” (line 247)
 “I say to myself” (lines 247-248)
 “I never see no sign” (line 328)
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What should be the standard verb forms in
these lines?
Are there other instances where Miller uses
present tense to relate a past event?
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Reread lines 323-344.
How has Mary’s defense of Elizabeth in court
changed the power dynamics among Mary,
Elizabeth, and Proctor?
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Hint: How did Proctor speak to Mary in Act One?
How does that change reflect the upheaval
throughout the community?
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Discuss the scene in which Hale begins to
interrogate Proctor (beginning in line 478).
Although Hale come to visit “without the court’s
authority” (450-451), his conversation with
Proctor certainly feels like a court proceeding,
doesn’t it?
What news from Proctor shocks Hale? Why is
Hale suspicious? (594-598, 602-604)
How does Proctor explain his silence? (610-11)
How does Proctor explain Hale’s effectiveness?
(612-18)
What does Hale suspect, though he fights the
suspicion? (617-620)
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With what crime is Rebecca Nurse charged?
(691-692)
Why is it so surprising that Rebecca Nurse
and Martha Corey have been accused? (686689)
How does Elizabeth characterize the town
after leaning of these arrests? Why does she
direct her comment to Reverend Hale? (681)
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Reread lines 752-758.
Discuss how Proctor’s demand for proof in
the arrest of his wife goes completely ignored
by Cheever, who instead looks for evidence
against her (what is that evidence?).
How does Proctor’s ineffective cry for proof
reflect and further the mood of The Crucible?
Why does Proctor say that the children have
all the power in Salem now? What evidence
might he offer to prove his claim? (880-882)
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Review Definition.
Why is Proctor struck by Hale’s declaration
that “some secret blasphemy” (946-947) has
caused all of the confusion?
Although Abigail does not appear in this act,
her presence is undeniable.
Identify and explain the moment in Act Two
in which you feel Abigail’s presence most
strongly.