Crucible Quote Explication

Within the community of Salem, John Proctor is a well known member of the community who has a reputation of always doing what’s right. When he is confronted by Abigail about their affair, she insults his wife, Elizabeth, by calling her “a cold, sniveling woman…”(I.202-205). He does what is right by defending his wife’s honor by snapping back, “You’ll speak nothin’ of Elizabeth!” (I.197-198). Even

Reverend Parris is exceedingly acquisitive as evidence by his actions towards the community of Salem. Within Act I Parris’ greedy attitude and selfish motives are brought forward and highlighted throughout stage directions, dialogue of the play, the way others react to him, and his feelings towards Betty. Although the minister of the church, he is disliked and prides himself on his reputation. Parris’ caustic attitude and monetary greed is evident to lead him to his downfall. He describes himself as “...not some preaching farmer with a book under [his] arm; [he is] a graduate of Harvard College” and assumes that the people of the village care about his education status (29).

This speech shows that Proctor is blaming himself for this tragedy. Proctor's guilt still continues about his affair with Abigail and he is also now guilty for hesitating to act earlier.

In the beginning, Parris was portrayed as very cruel person. He yells at Tituba, “Out of here! Out of my sight!” (169). By the end of the play, he becomes more humble and modest. This can be seen especially when Abigail takes his money, “Hathorn: She have robbed you? Parris: Thirty-one pound is gone. I am penniless.” (231). Reverend Hale is also another person who drastically changed. When he arrives at Salem, he claims to be very smart and is able to save everyone from the devil and witchcraft. He starts to preach as soon as he gets there, “No, no. Now let me instruct you. We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise, the marks of his presence are definite as stone, and I must tell you all the I shall not proceed unless you are prepared to believe me if I should find no bruise of hell upon her.” (185). He becomes very different by the end of the play. He not has feelings of guilt for the people he accused. He also was starting to think that he was wrong about the devil and witchcraft. Hale tells his feelings to Elizabeth, “Let you not mistake you duty as I mistook my own… I cannot think he will listen to another.”

Reverend Parris is the one to blame for the witch trials in Salem because of his egotistical attitude. Parris states as he is talking to Proctor inside his house, “It is not for you to say what is good for you to hear” (Miller 30). At this part of the book, Parris ego shows us that he is the one to blame. Parris believes that he is right in thinking that he knows what is good for the community. In answering one of Danforth’s questions, Parris claims, “I can only say, sir, that I never found any of them naked” (105). Parris responds in such a manner so that his reputation of being a good father and a good minister are

The main issue in this play is Proctor’s determination to help his wife after her condemnation for witchcraft. In the court, he attempts to vindicate his wife from the false accusation by showing to the judges Mary Warren’s testimony to prove how Abigail had been deceiving everyone. The following passage demonstrates Proctor’s honesty through his desire to rescue his wife:

Throughout the play, Proctor struggles with his honor as he changes from viewing it as his reputation to believing it is based on his own private moral of truth. The isolated Puritan community in which Proctor lives forces him to try and achieve a pious and perfect lifestyle, which ultimately pressures him into lying about his affair with Abigail in order to maintain a good reputation. This view changes in the courtroom, when Proctor becomes extremely frustrated with the lies and deceit that Abigail is telling the judges, Proctor screams in anger, “I beg you sir, I beg you - see her what she is… 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

Proctor’s marriage was ruined the day he decided to step out in his marriage. Proctor was too focused on why Elizabeth could not trust him or forgive him, he forgot to stop and switch the focus of blaming others to understanding himself first. He held a grudge on Elizabeth because she cannot forgive the sins he committed and trust, but proctor is equivalently guilty of doing the same thing. Proctor shifts his mistakes to other people which makes it nearly impossible for him to reconcile with his wife: “Spare me! You forget nothin' and forgive nothin '. Learn charity, woman. I have gone tiptoe in this house all seven month since she is gone. I have not moved from there to there without I think to please you, and still an everlasting funeral marches round your heart” (Miller 36). Elizabeth’s lack of forgiveness escalates proctor’s frustration and guilt: “But it is a whore’s vengeance,

As a result, Warren sides with Abigail to save herself and Abigail accepts her. Thus, Proctor gets angry. However, John proctor is disgusted by the outcomes of the accusations and the judges’ decisions since they do not see that the accusations are based on personal vengeance and benefits. Since the judges’ are supporting Abigail’s accusations they are pulling down heaven (good) and raising a whore (evil). The significance of this quote is that John Proctor is pointing out the truth to them, but the judges still do not see it.

9. What happened between Abigail and John Proctor prior to the opening of the play?

Abigail starts the conversation with bitter anger “Oh, I marvel how such a strong man may let such a sickly wife be-” Proctor interrupts angry as well “You’ll speak nothin’ of Elizabeth!” “she is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me! She is a cold, sniveling woman, and you bend to her!

Elizabeth proctor remains an honest saint who never shows falsehood, which was exclaimed by John Proctor in court, when he states “In her life sir, she have never lied. There are them who cannot sing, and them that cannot weep, my wife cannot lie.” (103). Arthur Miller uses Elizabeth’s righteous and untainted character to show that even the most honest people become dishonest when they feel threatened. The theme is best exemplified in Act III, when Elizabeth Proctor is brought into the courtroom, and asked to testify, if John Proctor had an affair with Abigail Williams. Deputy Governor Danforth says “Look at me! To your own knowledge has John Proctor ever committed the crime of lechery? Answer my question is your husband a lecher?” (105). Seeing the danger it could put her and her husband through, Elizabeth for the first time tells a lie saying “No, sir” (105). Through Elizabeth’s actions in Act III Arthur Miller was able establish that even a saint like Elizabeth Proctor is capable of dishonesty, when they feel

In this scene the point about civilization Huxley is trying to make is the newer and cleaner the more civilized. An example is "they've been doing this for the last five or six thousand years. So i suppose they must be used to it by now" pg. 105 he's showing that the uncivilized group of people are still stuck in the old times and haven't adapted any new ideas therefore they are uncivilized. Two other quotes that caught my attention are "cleanliness is next to fordliness" pg. 105 and "civilization is sterilization" pg. 105 and these two quotes show what they're idea of civilization

When we are introduced to his character, it is apparent that he has been unfaithful to his wife (Elizabeth) with a lady named Abigail. Following this, we see that his wife has been accused of witchcraft, and it is Abigail who made the accusation. Proctor realizes that it is because of his actions that his wife has been accused and he

Reverend Samuel Parris is motivated to sustain his reputation because he took years to build up his name. Some of the folks already see him as unfit as the reverend. Having the assumption that there are sinful practices taking place under his roof, he, at first, denies the involvement of witchcraft with the odd behavior Betty displays. However, when a majority of the townspeople believe in the involvement of witchery. He does not want his name and reputation to be tarnished due to witchcraft, so he plays along and supports Betty’s and Abigail’s accusations. He uses Tituba as a scapegoat to divert the suspicion towards him. Parris threatens to whip Tituba if she does not confess that she has dealings with the Devil, and pushes her to her breaking point. Parris is motivated to uphold his reputation and tries to divert the possible blame and suspicion towards him to