Crucible: Questions and Answers.
Act 1
1. Who is the leader? How would you describe Mary Warren in relation to the other girls?
Abigail is the dominant figure in charge of the girls, making her the leader. In relation to the other girls, Marry Warren is very aware of the consequences and would like to avoid getting in trouble with the elders, therefore she tries to pull herself away from the girls.
2. What have the girl done to violate Puritan codes and could explain their behaviour? How does Tituba figure in this event?
The girls had danced naked in the forest, which goes against the codes, this leads to the accusation of them attempting witchcraft in the forest with the help of Tituba. Tituba has background knowledge on witchcraft
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The shift of power is evident when MW’s dialogue gradually extends throughout the act as she replays what is going on in court, her knowledge of the current events give her power. Initially the argument between JP and MW had started due to MW ignoring JP’s orders of her to stay at home, this starts the shift of power, and JP is intimidated and frustrated at his inability to take action .
2. What other ‘symptoms’ can be added to the Act 1 list of ‘evidence’ that the devil has invaded salem?
Suspicious behaviours, sending out spirits, and flying are all “evidence” that the devil has invaded the minds of the inhabitants of Salem, but also not remembering the 10 commandments are another source of ‘evidence’. It is common Puritan Knowledge to know these by heart, if you do not, then you are very likely doing something wrong. Working on Sundays and not attending church consistently is also another negative notion that can be linked to witchcraft. If you do any of these things, you faith is not legitimate and there is a chance you made a pact with the devil.
3. What is you Impression of Elizabeth Proctor by the end of Act 2? Of reverend Hale?
Elizabeth is a true wife and is willing to forgive JP as long as he breaks the ‘promise’ that he unknowingly made with Abigail. She has strong beliefs and is a strong character. She knows her morals and can judge other accordingly.
Hale is starting to empathise with the Proctor
As the story progresses people fear for their own safety and begin accusing their neighbours of witchcraft in order to escape being hanged. Salem became overrun by the hysteria of witchcraft. Mere suspicion itself was accepted as evidence. As a Satan-fearing community, they could not think of denying the evidence, because to deny the existence of
In Marion L. Starkey’s book, The Devil in Massachusetts, she tells the story of the accusations and hysteria that stirred up Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Many people were charged with being a witch or being involved with the devil. What seemed to have just started off as a “game” to a group of girls soon turned into the execution of twenty people. The major causes of the Salem witch trials involve boredom from strict Puritan beliefs, and the fear of being accused for witchcraft.
Confidence in the supernatural–and particularly in the demon's practice of giving certain people (witches) the ability to mischief others as an exchange for their loyalty–had rose in Europe as promptly as the fourteenth century, and was across the board in frontier New England. What's more, the brutal substances of life in the rustic Puritan group of Salem Village (present-day Danvers, Massachusetts) at the time incorporated the delayed consequences of a British war with France in the American settlements in 1689, a late smallpox scourge, reasons for alarm of assaults from neighboring Native American tribes and a longstanding contention with the more prosperous group of Salem Town (present-day Salem). Betwixt these stewing strains, the Salem witch trials might be energized by occupants' suspicions of and disdain to their neighbors, and their alarm of outsiders.
John Proctor is one of the main characters in the Crucible. He was indicted of witchcraft because of he violated the law several times. Examples that helped the church assume he was a witch was him stating that the girls who were “possessed” were liars & frauds, setting everything up to accuse other villagers of witchcraft. He also couldn’t remember the 10 commandments, didn’t attend church regularly, & apparently plowed on Sundays which was considered a high offense back then. John’s trial was extremely unequitable.
Tituba was accused of witchcraft by two young girls (Betty Parris and Abigail Williams) after showing them and several others a number of things what could be described has having a voodoo origin. Though Tituba’s actions and beliefs were strange to those of a Puritan Salem, she may have very well believed in it all. Whilst other religious beliefs may not have been acceptable to the people, their own religious beliefs where very important to them.
“You’re Honor, I-in that time I were sick. And I- My husband is a good and righteous man. He is never drunk as some are, nor wastin’ his time at the shovelboard, but always at his work. But in my sickness” (III.410-426).Even though he cheated in her with Abigail she is strong enough to lie for him. Her growth is also evident in the end of the play because Elizabeth shows tremendous courage and integrity letting go of John to. “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!”(IV.207-208). Elizabeth understood John’s motive and that took tremendous bravery for her to allow him to be get his redemption and be hanged. She now has the role of taking care of her and financially supporting her
Mary Warren, for one, changed multiple times throughout the play. When introduced in the play, she was addressed as a “subservient, naive, lonely girl” (Miller 17). She truly believed that the girls should have confessed to the the truth about what happened in the forest. She is, however, threatened by Abigail Williams and some other girls to keep her mouth shut. Because of her fear of Abigail, she does not speak a word of the truth. Later in the play when the group of girls gain power because of their accusations, Mary Warren grows some new confidence. She takes advantage of her new power and then disobeys the Proctors’ orders claiming that she is “an official of the
An array of Aristotelian tragic heroes can be found throughout American literature. One of which includes John Proctor, main character farmer in mid-30s, from Arthur Miller 's play, The Crucible. Yet, in order for him to obtain such a title he must possess specific characteristics. Five of which include possession of hubris, a flaw or decision leading to desire for revenge, a reversal of good fortune brought forth by the error of judgement, acceptance of poor fortune brought forth by their actions, and lastly the fate dealt to these characters must be greater than deserved. Aristotle once said that “ A man doesn 't become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall.” Before the play even begins John Proctor has already conducted adultery, a fatal flaw in judgement, with Abigail Williams, a sneaky seventeen year old. This crucial crescendo leads to the development of the Salem Witch trials and the downward spiral of John`s comfortable lifestyle.
The hysteria, craze, trials, and deaths, still rest an unsolved case. The theories of politics, rivalries, religion and the “circle girls” seem the most believable, in my eyes. However, as the happenings in Salem village still continue to mislead and amaze not only historians, but many others, the witch trials lie a great turning point for Salem, and the lives of many; let alone
My unusual feeling upon my arrival is proving to have some validity but not what I had first thought. After examining my data collected I’ve come to the conclusion that the devil does not reside in Salem only the idea and the mass accusations are nothing more then just that accusations which seem to have no validity. I have been responsible for the killing of innocent people and for that I will pay. But for now I don’t feel right prosecuting the innocent citizens of Salem, I feel the time I’ve spent here has done nothing to destroy the moral fabric of the town.
However Abigail takes pride in her hysteria. This highlights the fact that the age difference between these 2 women is phenomenal. “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” Elizabeth is much more composed than Abigail, even though she is losing her husband she is happy for him, as she believes he is now at peace. Throughout the play John struggles with his feelings that he was not a good man. Hale tried his best to save John from being hanged to death but Elizabeth believes that he is finally going to be cleansed of his sins, as he has finally come out the dark about his affair. She loves him so much that she is willing to let him go. She feels that he is doing the right thing. She takes the name of God to justify herself.
Elizabeth still questions John’s loyalty throughout the play. Elizabeth comes off as an outspoken women and that isn’t really supported in the Puritan society. When convicted of witchcraft she doesn’t fight with the men because she knows she hasn’t done anything wrong. Even though she tries to do what she thinks is the best for John, she ends up saying the wrong thing and Abigail isn’t punished. Elizabeth ends up being pregnant and the trials end before she has her baby so she survives.
The Puritans that comprised the colony of Salem, Massachusetts, were extremely religious, attributing biblical meaning to all aspects of their lives and being accustomed to personify the devil (Kocić, 2010). Specifically, church elders strongly believed that their congregation was superlatively righteous and for this reason the devil would try to target it with attacks in all forms, hence it was impressed upon the community to be vigilant against any signs of his presence. Such signs were subject to interpretation, yet they were generally concentrated on negative events which occurred unexplainably in the colony, for instance in the eventuality of a crop failure, stillborn children, or serious disease of an unknown nature. Common perception identified a witch as someone who bonded their body and
Abigail is a highly jealous character, concentrating her jealousy on Elizabeth Proctor. This jealousy is driven by lust and her desire for John Proctor. Abigail served as a servant in the Proctor household and after an affair with her husband John, Elizabeth fired her. She still resents Elizabeth for this as she is still in love with John. She clearly says to John, "You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!" Abigail is still in love with John and she assumes the converse. Her love for John only causes her resentment for Elizabeth to strengthen. She hates John Proctor's wife and in her conniving ways she attempts to inspire the same views of Elizabeth in John's mind. Saying things to him such as, "She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me, She is a cold, sniveling woman." Abigail fabricates stories in attempt to steel John from Elizabeth. She is a manipulative liar that does and says as she pleases in order to get what she wants.
The most important scene in the play was act two, scene three, where John Proctor is able to talk with his wife, Elizabeth, one last time. He is accused of practicing witchcraft and at first he decides