Crucible part 2

Demonstrates Abigail's obsession with John Proctor.

"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."

Foreshadows the eventual charges against respectable citizens.

"What victory would the devil have to win a soul already bad?"

Hyperbole

"Your justice would freeze beer." used to characterize Elizabeth as unforgiving and cold.

"There be no higher judge under Heaven than Proctor is!"

Elizabeth knows that Proctor judges himself more harshly than anyone else does.

"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.

"You are a broken minister."

Hale has broken his covenant with God, so in Proctor's mind, Hale no longer has any moral authority.

"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

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.

For bewitching Walcott's pigs

Martha Corey

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 $*#@ 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.

On what dramatic note does Act III end?

Proctor being accused of being a witch, and then declaring that God is dead and condemning the court.

"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.

Why does Elizabeth pick up (Why can't John prove what Abigail told him)on this?

because it differs from the story John told her originally.

Why does Proctor say that his wife must be pregnant if she has said so?

because lying is simply against her nature.

_____, in whatever form, is against John's nature.

deceit

Abigail threatens Danforth directly and says that

the powers of Hell have the ability to turn even his wits.

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.

"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.

"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.

When Abigail is questioned by Danforth, how does she respond?

Abigail gets extremely defensive

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.

What causes Mary Warren to crack?

Abigail's show and corresponding charges of witchcraft ;She realizes that Abigail was serious in her threat to kill anyone who opposes her.

For sending her spirit to stick a needle in Abigail Williams

Elizabeth Proctor

illusion

Elizabeth feels that Abigail may be misinterpreting John's shame for passion, and this ______ causes Abigail to accuse her of witchcraft.

"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.

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 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.

My wife is the very brick and mortar of the church"

Francis Nurse

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.

"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.

what changed Mary Warren ?

Her position and authority as a part of the Salem court system has caused this change.

"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.

"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."

John

Individual conscience is the final authority, and every church member has the right to say what he believes.

John Proctor

In calling Abigail a ?#@*, what charge and punishment does Proctor open himself for? Why has he made this confession?

John Proctor has thrown away his good name ;lechery, one of the worst crimes in Puritan society.

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

"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.

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.

Why can't John prove what Abigail told him?

John can't prove what Abigail told him because he was alone with her when she said it, making him the only witness.

In what way has Mary Warren changed.

Mary Warren has changed from a subservient household maid to a defiant, rebellious young woman.

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. 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

Then, in order to direct the negative attention elsewhere, Abigail makes another show of pretense and indicates ____

Mary Warren is witching her.

"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

"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 *$@#'s vengeance, and you must see it."

Proctor reveals Abigail's motivation in seeing his wife condemned.

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.

For the marvelous and supernatural murder of Goody Putnam's babies

Rebecca Nurse

"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.

Unfortunately the trials have progressed to such a level that_____is powerless to stop them.

Rev. Hale

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.

"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.

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

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.

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.

"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.

"...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—*** ****s 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.

Why can't Mary give a show of pretense when asked by the court?

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.

Why does Danforth find it hard to believe that Abigail could be pretending and, in effect, be a murderer?

because, if it truly is witchcraft, she would be the only one who would know about it anyway.

Why is he reluctant to do so?

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.

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.

Abigail believes that the poppet, coupled with her act in court, will be enough to _______

convict Elizabeth to hang.

What is the charge that Giles Corey makes against Putnam?

for making his daughter cry witchery on George Jacobs.

What does Elizabeth want John to do now?

go to Abigail and destroy once and for all any illusions she has that John loves her.

Proctor knows that he holds the key--

he can no longer turn back.

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?

he sees how his friends are suffering on account of their wives' condemnation.

Giles feels that Putnam had the motivation for doing it because if Jacob dies, _______

he will forfeit his property.

Rev. Hale intends to use what he finds out in the court when it comes time for ______.

her to be tried

Proctor 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.

While Mary does not have to be believed, Abigail must in order to justify the____

incarceration of so many of the town's citizens.

Witchcraft is an ______, with the only witnesses being the witch and the victim.

invisible crime

Why does this hit home with Proctor? Rev. Hale's statement

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-

Of what does John accuse Elizabeth?

judging him too harshly. He points out the fact that she, too, has faults that she should correct before she passes judgment.

adultery

one of the worst sins in Puritan society.

He realizes that even if the witch trials are stopped he will still be punished for lechery, but the potential benefits _____

outweigh the risk.

When Hale says these are strange times, how might that have applied equally to 1952?

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?

people will confess to just about anything to save themselves from death. This has already been proven to be true in Tituba's case.

The fact that the "_____" is to a mendacious young woman is irrelevant-

promise

Why is Mary afraid to say anything in court?

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.

Despite Mary's_______to the contrary, Elizabeth has been accused of being a witch.

statements

What happens to the ninety-one people who signed the petition in support of the accused?

summoned for questioning. By supporting the accused, regardless of her community standing, they are getting caught up in the web of accusations.

What is Giles Corey's proof for his charge, and why will he not supply the proof to the court?

that a friend heard Putnam mention the plan.; court because he already saw what happened to the ninety-one petitioners.

What does Mary Warren tell Governor Danforth?

that her former actions were all pretense and that the other girls were acting as well.

As he is about to whip Mary Warren, John stops short. What was it she told him?

that she saved Elizabeth's life at the courthouse.

Who does Elizabeth think called out her name and why?

thinks Abigail called out her name. Elizabeth believes that Abigail means to take her place when she is dead.

Why has the Rev. Hale come to their house?

to inquire about the family's Christian nature.

Why does Giles say that he "broke charity" with his wife?

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.

What does Mary say Abby will do if Proctor goes into court to denounce her?

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.