Act 4 The Crucible

Which line best expresses a major theme of this play?

"I am not your judge, I cannot be."

what is elizabeth's advice? what apology does she make?

-he must decide for himself -she tells him it was her fault he had the affair, and never realized what a good man he is

what is john's objection to being hanged? does he seem to fear losing his life?

-he says he would look like a saint, and he does not consider himself to be one -he does fear losing his life, he fears losing his children

what happened to giles corey? What was his purpose?

-he was pressed to death with heavy stones for not answering his indictment -to keep his land safe for his sons, and away from putnam

why do sarah good and tituba talk about the devil so openly? Do they believe in what they are saying?

-they have already confessed their witches, so they're trying to convince everyone their telling the truth -they dont believe in what their saying

What is Parris's real reason for wanting Proctor saved?

A concern for his own safety.

why is paris anxious to postpone the death of rebecca nurse and john proctor?

Because they are people that are admired members of the community

Giles Corey can best be described as ...

Courageous

You can infer that Abigail and Mercy have left Salem because they ...

Fear the villagers will turn on them

Why does Elizabeth say of John, "He have his goodness now"?

He has self-respect and knows there is some goodness in him.

John Proctor says there is only one thing keeping him from confessing. What is it?

He won't confess out of spite

What does Tituba tell Herrick?

Her and sarah are going to barabados

Why is it important to Danforth and Parris that Proctor confess?

His confession will convince people the court has been just

What parallel structure in act two is recalled by John's tearing up of his confession near the end of this act? How does this parallel relate to a theme of the play?

In act 2 Mary gave a poppet to Elizabeth and when the court came to arrest Elizabeth she was blamed for it, so John grabbed the warrant from Herrick and ripped it up. John wanted to show that it was false. The act of tearing it up the warrant parallels his own tearing of his confession. These actions touch on the theme of hypocrisy, and lies and deceit.

Why does Danforth refuse to postpone the hangings?

It might look as if he has wrongly executed innocent people

Who has abigail disappeared with?

Mercy Lewis

The climax of Act Four occurs when ...

Proctor rips up his confession.

In what ways is the subject of identity revealed in the final scene?

Proctors choice to let his identity be revealed to everyone and shame his family or not

Who has Hale been urging to confess?

Rebecca nurse so she can save her life

What does Proctor do after signing his confession?

Rip up the confession so that it cannot be hung on the church door

setting

Salem jail cell

What does Parris reveal about Abigail and Mercy Lewis in the beginning of Act IV?

That they have run away and stolen all of Parris's money

What can you conclude from the references made to Andover?

The people have rebelled and overthrown the court

Did John proctor reach the right decision at the end of the play? What other decisions could he have reached?

Well, it depends what you say is the right decision, but I would say he made the right decision

how much time elapses between the end of act 3 and act 4?

about 3 months, fall now

What does Elizabeth ask John to forgive her for?

for tempting him to lie/confess

how has proctor changed?

he is bearded and filthy. he walks slowly, and his eyes are misty

What does Tituba say about the cow?

it's her majesty coming to take her home

cows are wandering loose on the roads of salem because

many farmers have been jailed and can't take care of their farms

what does proctor mean by "what others say and what I sign is not the same!"?

many people will not believe what danforth says because they know people are confessing to save themselves, but if john signs the confession then it is he who says its true

According to John Hale what is the present condition of the countryside?

roaming cows,orphans,chaos,crops unattended,rebellion

what does hale mean when he says to elizabeth "cleave to no faith when faith brings blood"? What other reason does he give for it being better for john to confess?

she owes no allegiance to a theocracy that is so inflexible and unjust. she must convince john to confess even though she and hale know he will be lying. -Hale says "it may well be ********s a liar than he who throws his life away for pride"

What does Hale say when Danforth asks why he is here?

that he has come to do the devils work, and make other Christians lie

what do john and Elizabeth discuss at first?

the child which will be bown

Why does Proctor refuse to sign his confession?

they were going to hang it on the church doors, it would shame his family

why is elizabeth proctor brought to see john?

to convince him to confess

what does danforth give as his reason for not being able to pardon those who refuse to confess?

what does danforth give as his reason for not being able to pardon those who refuse to confess?

at what points in his confession does proctor falter?

when he learns his confession must be written and posted on the church door, when he's asked t identify others with eh devil, when he's told to sing the confession, and when Rebecca is brought in