Transcript The Crucible

The Crucible
Act 2 Review
In what way has Mary Warren changed and what changed her?
• Mary Warren has changed from a subservient
household maid to a defiant, rebellious young
woman. Her position and authority as a part of
the Salem court system has caused this change.
She feels like she no longer has to answer to
Elizabeth Proctor because, if it weren't for her,
Elizabeth would have been convicted of
witchcraft right then and there. Therefore, she
feels that Elizabeth owes her her life and is in no
position to make demands.
How would you describe the relationship of John and Elizabeth
Proctor at the beginning of this scene?
• John and Elizabeth Proctor seem to have a
somewhat strained relationship, but their
affection for each other is still clear. John tries
hard to please Elizabeth, but it is extremely
difficult for him due to her depression. Elizabeth
clearly loves her husband, but she has a difficult
time trusting him because she thinks he has been
unfaithful. On top of this, his indecision is a
source of frustration for her. She knows what he
needs to do but she is unable to persuade him to
do it as expediently as she would like.
What is it she wants him to do?
• Elizabeth wants John to go to Salem and reveal
what Abigail told him about how the strange
incidents have nothing to do with witchcraft. This
would stop the trials and prevent the deaths of
those accused. For John, the issue is not as clearcut as Elizabeth makes it. While his relationship
with Abigail is over, he is still less than exuberant
about publicly debasing her. Going to the court
would also mean involvement in his community,
which he would prefer to avoid.
Why can't John prove what Abigail told him? Why does Elizabeth
pick up on this?
• John can't prove what Abigail told him because
he was alone with her when she said it, making
him the only witness. Elizabeth picks up on this
because it differs from the story John told her
originally. It is understandable that John would
alter the story in order to avoid hurting his wife,
but alterations are more dangerous than
beneficial if not used with consistency. Now he
has hurt his wife twofold-- first by being alone
with Abigail and second by lying about it.
Of what does John accuse Elizabeth?
• John accuses Elizabeth of judging him too harshly.
He points out the fact that she, too, has faults
that she should correct before she passes
judgment. This belief is strengthened by his
quote, "Some dream I had must have mistaken
you for God that day. But you're not, you're not,
and let you remember it! Let you look sometimes
for the goodness in me, and judge me not." This
is vital later in the play when Proctor specifically
seeks his wife's judgment. She admits her sins, in
addition to the fact that judgment is not hers to
give-- it is between John and God.
As he is about to whip Mary Warren, John stops short. What was
it she told him?
• Mary Warren tells John Proctor that the saved
Elizabeth's life at the courthouse. Her name
was "somewhat mentioned" (as is the style
during shady court proceedings) and Mary
objected, saying that she had never seen any
sign of Elizabeth's witchcraft during the time
she worked for her.
Who does Elizabeth think called out her name and why?
• Elizabeth thinks Abigail called out her name.
Elizabeth believes that Abigail means to take
her place when she is dead. This may sound
like the paranoia, but it is not far from the
truth. While it is not made clear at this point,
it is revealed in Act II, Scene 2 that Abigail
means to do exactly that, thereby justifying
Elizabeth's fears.
What does Elizabeth want John to do
now?
• Elizabeth wants John to go to Abigail and
destroy once and for all any illusions she has
that John loves her. Elizabeth feels that Abigail
may be misinterpreting John's shame for
passion, and this illusion causes Abigail to
accuse her of witchcraft.
Why is he reluctant to do so?
• John Proctor has a number of qualms regarding
his character, but one of his traits that he has no
doubt about is his honesty. John Proctor sees
himself as an honest man and to "break the
promise," as Elizabeth puts it, seems deceitful.
The fact that the "promise" is to a mendacious
young woman is irrelevant-- deceit, in whatever
form, is against John's nature. This is another key
concept because he will later have to decide
whether or not to give in to dishonesty to save
his life.
Why has the Rev. Hale come to their
house?
• The Rev. Hale has come to the Proctor house
to inquire about the family's Christian nature.
Despite Mary's statements to the contrary,
Elizabeth has been accused of being a witch.
Rev. Hale intends to use what he finds out in
the court when it comes time for her to be
tried.
When Hale says these are strange times, how might that have
applied equally to 1952?
• In these "strange times," people who have
been good, law-abiding citizens with little or
no mark of blame upon them suddenly take
on vile qualities when viewed from the eyes of
their accusers. This was true in both 1692 and
1952.
As proof of witchcraft, Rev. Hale points out that a number of
people have already confessed to being witches. What is
Proctor's response?
• Proctor's reasonable response is that people
will confess to just about anything to save
themselves from death. This has already been
proven to be true in Tituba's case.
Who stuck the pin in Abigail's belly and why?
• Abigail stuck the pin in her own belly and
started screaming about it. It was all part of
her elaborate plan to frame Elizabeth Proctor.
The same day she prompted Mary Warren to
make the poppet, stick a needle in it, and give
it to Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail believes that the
poppet, coupled with her act in court, will be
enough to convict Elizabeth to hang.
To what does Hale attribute the calamity that has befallen
Salem?
• Hale attributes the calamity to someone or
something in the village that drew the wrath of God.
This is a logical explanation when one considers that
the Bible is the basis of Salem society. The majority
of Biblical catastrophes are sparked by someone or
something invoking the wrath of God (e.g. the
destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the plagues on
Egypt, etc.) therefore it only makes sense that this
disaster should follow the same trend.
Why does this hit home with Proctor?
• Rev. Hale's statement hits home with Proctor
because it leads him to wonder if he may be the
cause of it. He knows he has not been pure of heart,
not is he a perfect man. He knows he lusted for
Abigail, which in Puritan society might as well be the
same thing as committing adultery-- one of the worst
sins in Puritan society. In the back of his mind the
thought begins to fester that perhaps his
transgression brought this upon the village.
What does Mary say Abby will do if Proctor goes into court to
denounce her?
• Mary says that Abby will charge Proctor with
lechery if he goes to court. This would not
only ruin his good name but would also leave
him open to the legal punishment related to
adultery.
What is Proctor's response?
• Proctor's resolution is not shaken. He is
determined to bring down Abby and save his
wife, whatever the cost to him. He will not
allow Abigail to have her way even if it does
mean his reputation will be irreparably
damaged.
Why is Mary afraid to say anything
in court?
• Mary is afraid to say anything in court because
she knows Abby's power and recalls her threat
vividly. Mary fears for her life, knowing that if
Abby accuses her of witchcraft her only
options will be to back down or face death.
Act 3
Why does Giles say that he "broke
charity" with his wife?
• Giles says that he broke charity with his wife
because it was his comment that led to her
arrest. He revealed to Hale that his wife's book
reading hindered his prayer, and this was
enough evidence to condemn her for being a
witch. Had he simply kept the issue between
him and his wife, her condemnation would
probably not have happened.
How has Rev. Hale changed since we last saw him in Act 2 and
John Proctor called him “Pontius Pilate”?
• Rev. Hale is no longer bold and confident in his
search for witches. He has strong misgivings
about the validity of the entire process. Now
he is open, willing, and even eager to hear
evidence that may prove that witchcraft is not
present in Salem. Unfortunately the trials have
progressed to such a level that he is powerless
to stop them.
Why is Mary Warren's testimony critical for Hale, Proctor, Nurse
and Corey?
• If Mary Warren can prove that the witchcraft is all Abigail's
creation, it will free the wives of Proctor, Nurse, and Corey
and ease Hale's conscience. At this point, she is the only
person not entirely under Abigail's control who can stop the
proceedings with few personal repercussions. If she succeeds,
Abigail will fall from her seat of glory, the women will be
pardoned, and things will be able to return to normal in
Salem. If not, Abigail will retain her control, the women will
eventually hang, and the madness will continue.
What does Mary Warren tell
Governor Danforth?
• Mary Warren tells Governor Danforth that her
former actions were all pretense and that the
other girls were acting as well. This statement
is in direct contradiction to all her former
actions in the courtroom.
Why does Proctor not drop the charges against the court when
he hears that his wife is pregnant and will be spared for at least
a year?
• Proctor does not drop the charges against the
court because he sees how his friends are
suffering on account of their wives'
condemnation. He has taken the first step into
community involvement and solving his
personal problems is no longer enough.
Proctor knows that he holds the key-- he can
no longer turn back.
Why does Proctor say that his wife must be pregnant if she has
said so?
• Proctor states that his wife must be pregnant
because lying is simply against her nature. This
statement becomes vital later on in the act
when she is interrogated in order to prove if
this is the case or not.
What happens to the ninety-one people who signed the petition
in support of the accused?
• The ninety-one people who signed the
petition are summoned for questioning. By
supporting the accused, regardless of her
community standing, they are getting caught
up in the web of accusations. These people
who signed the petition are forced to face the
unpleasant consequences of their community
involvement.
What is the charge that Giles Corey makes against Putnam?
• Giles Corey charges Putnam for making his
daughter cry witchery on George Jacobs. Giles
feels that Putnam had the motivation for
doing it because if Jacob dies, he will forfeit
his property. Putnam is the only man in the
community who is wealthy enough to buy that
land-- a likely scenario considering his
materialistic attitude revealed earlier.
What is Giles Corey's proof for his charge, and why will he not
supply the proof to the court?
• Giles Corey's proof is that a friend heard
Putnam mention the plan. Corey will not
supply the name to the court because he
already saw what happened to the ninety-one
petitioners. He is noble enough to refuse to
allow that fate to befall another friend.
Why does Danforth find it hard to believe that Abigail could be
pretending and, in effect, be a murderer?
• Danforth finds it hard to believe that Abigail could be
pretending because, if it truly is witchcraft, she would be the
only one who would know about it anyway. Witchcraft is an
invisible crime, with the only witnesses being the witch and
the victim. Since the witch cannot be expected to incriminate
herself, only the victim can provide the evidence. As far as
Danforth knows, Abigail may very well be tormented by
spirits, and therefore she must be believed.
How does the questioning of Mary Warren differ from the
questioning of Abigail? Why?
• Mary Warren is questioned in a way that makes it clear that Danforth is
very skeptical-- at best-- about her evidence. Danforth also puts Mary in a
position that essentially damns her if she recants her former testimony. He
reminds her that God damns all liars and that she will be sent to jail for
lying now or having lied before. Therefore, the atmosphere that Danforth
creates makes it extremely difficult for Mary to tell the truth as she knows
it. On the contrary, Abigail is given the benefit of the doubt when she
testifies. The judges have no choice-- her testimony is the basis of all the
hearings. While Mary does not have to be believed, Abigail must in order
to justify the incarceration of so many of the town's citizens.
Why can't Mary give a show of pretense when asked by the
court?
• Mary can't give a show of pretense because the atmosphere is entirely
different. When she did it in the court, all the other girls were doing the
same thing and the judges were encouraging it. It was the acceptable
thing to do-- not fainting and screaming would be considered improper. In
the court, she was simply giving them what they wanted to see. This time,
to do so would be to act against the girls-- the accepted authority in the
courtroom. The judges still believe that the girls are acting truthfully and
their attitudes make that clear. With her only support in the room being
John Proctor, it is little wonder that Mary cannot give a show of pretense.
When Abigail is questioned by Danforth, how does she respond?
• Abigail gets extremely defensive when questioned by
Danforth. She insists that she suffers greatly to fulfill her duty
pointing out the Devil's people. She also threatens Danforth
directly and says that the powers of Hell have the ability to
turn even his wits. Then, in order to direct the negative
attention elsewhere, Abigail makes another show of pretense
and indicates Mary Warren is witching her.
In calling Abigail a whore, what charge and punishment does
Proctor open himself for? Why has he made this confession?
• In calling Abigail a whore, John Proctor has thrown away his good name
and has opened himself for charges (and corresponding punishment) of
lechery, one of the worst crimes in Puritan society. He makes this
confession in hopes of discrediting Abigail and stopping the proceedings.
This is a major leap into the waters of community involvement for John
Proctor. He has gone to the extreme of throwing away something very
valuable to him-- his good reputation-- in order to save his wife and the
wives of his friends. He realizes that even if the witch trials are stopped he
will still be punished for lechery, but the potential benefits outweigh the
risk.
What test is Elizabeth given, and how does she fail it? Why?
• Elizabeth is asked if John ever committed lechery. When she
doesn't answer, she is asked if her husband is a lecher. After
hesitating and probably a lot of soul searching while in jail,
she responds that he isn’t. John Proctor had counted on her
to say that he was because he knew she truly believed it. She
did NOT know the purpose of the question, and by changing
her mind, she has condemned herself, her husband, and her
friends because the trials continue!
What causes Mary Warren to
crack?
• Abigail's show and corresponding charges of witchcraft cause
Mary Warren to crack. She realizes that Abigail was serious in
her threat to kill anyone who opposes her. If Mary Warren is
accused of being a witch, she will truly hang. Mary knows that
Abigail can provide for her protection and freedom while John
Proctor no longer has anything to offer. Therefore, she joins
Abigail and the other girls once more by accusing John Proctor
of witchcraft.
On what dramatic note does Act III
end?
• Act III ends on the dramatic note of Proctor
being accused of being a witch, and then
declaring that God is dead and condemning
the court. These two statements are
completely against the Puritan religion and
reinforce the chaos and pandemonium the
trials brought to Salem.
General quotes and information
Authority
•
The authority of the
church is supreme
and if church
members don’t obey
the minister, chaos
will ensue, and the
church will be
destroyed.
• Reverend Parris
• Reverend Hale
Authority
•
Individual conscience
is the final authority,
and every church
member has the right
to say what he
believes.
• John Proctor
Hale’s visit reveals
•
•
•
•
•
John Proctor rarely attends church
One of their children is not baptized
John Proctor cannot say all of his
commandments
Proctor doesn’t like Parris
Elizabeth and Proctor do not believe that
witches are among them
John Proctor as the voice of reason
•
•
•
•
•
Points out to Mary that not being able to say her
commandments does not make Goody Good a witch
“It’s strange work for a Christian girl to hand old women.”
“It’s hard to think so pious a woman be secretly a Devil’s
bitch after seventy year of such good prayer.”
In response to Hale’s argument that those who have been
convicted of witchcraft have confessed to it, he says, “And
why not, if they must hang for denyin’ it?”
Wonders if the court will believe his story when Hale
doubts Elizabeth.
The charges
• For the marvelous and
supernatural murder of
Goody Putnam’s babies
• For bewitching
Walcott’s pigs
• For sending her spirit to
stick a needle in Abigail
Williams
• Rebecca Nurse
• Martha Corey
• Elizabeth Proctor
“My wife is the very brick and mortar
of the church”
• Francis Nurse was saying that his wife is the
material of which Salem’s religious community
is built and the substance that holds it
together.
“what keeps you so late? It’s
almost dark!”
• Helps to characterize Elizabeth as suspicious
of John Proctor’s actions. She thinks he has
been to see Abigail.
“Your justice would freeze beer.”
• Hyperbole
• used to characterize Elizabeth as unforgiving
and cold.
“What victory would the devil have to
win a soul already bad?”
Foreshadows the eventual charges
against respectable citizens.
“There is a misty plot afoot so subtle we
should be criminal to cling to old
respects and ancient friendships.”
Hale defending the witch trials when
Rebecca Nurse is arrested.
“I cannot think the Devil may own
a woman’s soul when she
keeps an upright way.”
Represents Elizabeth Proctor’s view
about the charges of witchcraft.
“I cannot sleep for dreamin’; I cannot dream
but I wake and walk about the house as
though I’d find you comin’ through some
door.”
Demonstrates Abigail’s obsession with
John Proctor.
“The Devil is precise; the marks of
his pretense are definite as stone.”
• Ironic statement made by Hale to the people
of Salem when he is about to ascertain
whether or not Betty has been “touched” by
the devil. He says there is specific evidence to
identify the devil’s touch, but then he sets
about to use ambiguous proof.
“We are only what we always were,
but naked now. And the wind,
God’s icy wind, will blow!”
People are either virtuous or they are not. It
doesn’t matter whether their true nature is
secret or common knowledge, God knows
“Pontius Pilate! God will not let you
wash your hands of this!”
allusion
By doing nothing to stop it, Hale is guilty of
whatever happens to the accused people.
“I have three children—how may I teach them to
walk like men in the world, and I sold my
friends?”
A person must set a good example not only
with words but also with deeds.
“…A fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy
face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! For them
that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have
quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your
black hearts that this be fraud—God damns our kind
especially, and we will burn together!”
When you know someone is committing a
wrong, but you don’t do anything about it,
you are more guilty than the person who
committed the wrong. God will surely
punish you accordingly.
“She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And
well she might, for I thought of her softly. God
help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such
sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you
must see it.”
Proctor reveals Abigail’s motivation in
seeing his wife condemned.
“Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook my own. I came
into this village like a bridegroom to his beloved bearing
gifts of high religion; the very crowns of holy law I
brought, and what I touched with my bright confidence,
it died; and where I turned the eye of my great faith,
blood flowed up.”
Hale realizes his part in the witch trials
and is trying to convince Elizabeth to compel
Proctor to confess
“Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about
the other things, and I will come to you in the black of
some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning
that will shudder you… and I can make you wish you had
never seen the sun go down!
• When Mary and Betty want to confess,
Abigail threatens them to ensure that she is
not exposed.
“You are a broken minister.”
• Hale has broken his covenant with God, so in
Proctor’s mind, Hale no longer has any moral
authority.
“What profit him to bleed? Shall the
dust praise him? Shall the worms
declare his truth?”
• John Proctor’s death is futile. There
is no point in it for Proctor or for anyone else.
“He may have his goodness now, God
forbid I take it from him.”
• Elizabeth finally realizes the goodness
that was always within her husband, and he
himself realizes it, too. She won’t take it
from him by trying to persuade him to falsely
confess.
“There be no higher judge under
Heaven than Proctor is!”
• Elizabeth knows that Proctor judges
• himself more harshly than anyone else does.
“I have been thirty-two year at the
bar, sir, and I should be
confounded were I called upon to
defend these people.”
• Reveals Danforth’s bias toward the
accused. He has already decided they are
guilty.
“I come to do the Devil’s work. I
come to counsel Christians they
should belie themselves.
• A paradox faced by Hale when he
finds himself faced with encouraging the
accused to lie to save their lives.
It is difficult for the individual to win in
a conflict with accepted authority
•
•
•
•
•
Francis Nurse and Giles Corey disrupt the court
Giles Corey refuses to name his informant
Proctor refuses to attend church as long as Parris
preaches hellfire and brimstone
Giles Corey flaunts his knowledge of court
preceedings
91 people are arrested for attesting to the good
character of Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Martha
Bias of the Court
•
•
•
The judges accept without question what the accusers say.
The officials of the court ask leading questions which
suggest the answers the court wants to hear, and if they
do not get the answers they want, they try to intimidate.
When someone is accused of witchcraft, the judges
automatically place the burden of proof upon the accused;
however, when accusations other than witchcraft are
made, the burden of proof is placed upon the accuser.
The climax of the play occurs when
•
Elizabeth Proctor tells the court her
husband is NOT guilty of lechery.
Reverend Parris wishes to spare
Proctor’s life because
•
He fears for his life if such a respected man
is hanged
Parris wants John Proctor to confess
because
•
•
•
he fears for his life
it will cast doubt on the innocence of the
others.
Proctor’s name carries a lot of weight in the
town.
John Proctor complains about
Reverend Parris because
• demands too much compensation, such as
the deed to his house.
• focuses on hell and damnation in his services.
• wastes the church money on extravagant
items.
Giles Corey’s charge against Thomas Putnam is significant
because it illustrates
• irony when Giles Corey is condemned for
giving evidence that is hearsay, while equally
invalid evidence is used to condemn persons
for witchcraft.
Hale questions the Proctors’
Christianity because
• John Proctor rarely attends church
• One of their children is not baptized
• John Proctor forgets one of the
Commandments
John Proctor is considered the
voice of reason in Act 2 because
• In response to Hale’s argument that those who have been
convicted of witchcraft have confessed to it, he says, “And
why not, if they must hang for denyin’ it?”
• “I am only wondering how I may prove what she told me,
Elizabeth. If the girl’s a saint now, I think it is not easy to
prove she’s fraud…”
• “It may be I have been too quick to bring the man to book,
but you cannot think we ever desired the destruction of
religion.”
What does John Proctor say “hurt
his prayer”?
• seeing his hard earned money being spent on
golden candlesticks for the church
What is the setting of Act 3?
• The Salem courtroom
Which incidents reveal the bias of
the court?
• The judges accept without question what the accusers say.
• The officials of the court ask leading questions which suggest
the answers the court wants to hear, and if they do not get
the answers they want, they try to intimidate.
• When someone is accused of witchcraft, the judges
automatically place the burden of proof upon the accused;
however, when accusations other than witchcraft are made,
the burden of proof is placed upon the accuser.
In the courtroom Danforth questions Abigail as though he
doubts her, she suddenly begins hallucinating and freezing.
What causes her behavior to abruptly end?
• Proctor grabs her by the hair of her head and
jerks her to her feet, calling her a “whore.”
Elizabeth admits to her husband that she was a “cold” wife for
what reason (s)?
• thought she was too plain for anyone to love.
• Didn’t know how to show her love.
Which characters support John Proctor’s decision to falsely
admit to witchcraft?
• Reverend Parris
• Deputy Governor Danforth
• Reverend Hale
For what reasons does John
Proctor contemplate confessing?
• Refusing to confess will not fool God nor
spare his children hardships
• Refusing to confess will not save his soul
• giving the appearance of martyrdom is
pretense
Danforth says that he will not accept Proctor’s confession if it is
a lie, but we know Danforth is not being honest because
• even though Proctor would not name others,
he was willing to take the confession as long
as Proctor signed it.
Why does Proctor retract his
confession?
the officials demand that he sign his name to it.
Dramatic Irony
• Hale’s statement to Proctor that “…the world
goes mad, and it profit nothing you should
lay the cause to the vengeance of a little girl”
” is dramatic irony because while he suggests
that it is foolish to blame what has happened
on the vengeance of a little girl, the audience
knows that is the precise cause.
Parris’s statement that “I do not preach for children…It is not
the children who are unmindful of their obligations toward this
ministry,” is ironic because
• Parris sees no reason to instruct the children
about God, yet it is the young girls who are
trying to commune with the devil and in an
effort to conceal their misbehavior, they set
in motion the events that will destroy Salem.
Rev. Hale’s statement, “What victory would the Devil have to
win a soul already bad? It is the best the Devil wants, and who
is better than a minister?” is ironic because
• He assumes that the minister must be the
best person in the village, but the facts show
that Parris is not a good man.
What is ironic about Hale’s statement to Tituba, “You are God’s
instrument put in our hands to discover the Devil’s agents
among us…”
• Instead of saving the village from the Devil,
he is persuading her to make false
accusations of witchcraft against innocent
people.