The Crucible Act 2 & Act 3 Study Guide

Ipso Facto (adverb)

"by the fact itself"

Hale wants to question the Proctor's christianity. He gives TWO "problems" he sees with their faith. What are they? What is John's response to them?

1. Proctor did not go to church every holy day 2. Only two of his three sons are baptized

How many people are in jail at the start of this Act? How may the people who have been accused of being witches by the court save themselves from hanging?

14 people. They could have confessed to being a witch.

How many women are in jail when Mary Warren returns from town?

39 people

What is a poppet? Who made this poppet?

A doll. Mary Warren.

What gift does Mary Warren make for Elizabeth?

A poppet (doll)

Vestry (noun)

A room in or attached to a church where the clergy put on their vestments and where these robes and other acred object are stored; a sacristy.

What is the setting at the beginning of Act 3?

A vestry room of the Salem meeting house, now serving as the anteroom of the General Court.

Mary Warren reenters. Who was sitting beside Mary when she made the poppet in court that day?

Abigail

What is Elizabeth being arrested for (again witchcraft is not the answer here)? By whom?

Abigail accused Elizabeth of sending her spirit out to terrorize Abigail.

With whom does Mary re-align herself?

Abigail and the girls

How is Abigail treated in the town now?

Abigail has become so powerful now that people seem to have forgotten her once-tarnished reputation and treat her as though she were holy or divine in nature. Furthermore, her authority in the court has grown so much that all she must do to get a person convicted is yell and wail and pretend to be bewitched.

Elizabeth knows that Abigail was the one to accuse her of witchcraft in court. For what purpose?

Abigail wants to be with Proctor.

Does Hale still believe that witchcraft is present in Salem? Find a quote for support.

At this point in Act 2 Hale believes that there are witches in Salem. He says, "No man may longer doubt the powers of the dark are gathered in monstrous attack up on this village. There is too much evidence now to deny it".

When Elizabeth says "The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you", what does she mean?

By this Elizabeth means that she is not judging John for his actions. She recognizes the act as a moment of bewilderment, and believes him to still love her.

What does Cheever find in the poppet? Why is it significant?

Cheever tells proctor that the "Williams girl" well to the floor a dinner this evening, and when the Reverend Paris went to her, he drew out a needle stuck deep in her belly. There was a needle stuck in the belly of the doll.

When Elizabeth says "John, if it were not Abigail that you must go to hurt, would you falter now?" what does that mean?

Elizabeth believes that her husband, John, still has feelings for Abigail Williams, and so she is afraid that the reason he hesitates in revealing Abigail as a liar is that he doesn't want to see any harm come to her.

What is Elizabeth doing as the scene opens (in the stage directions)? What does this infer about her?

Elizabeth is singing to her children. From this you can infer that she is very family-oriented, and she cares for her family very well.

What does Elizabeth want John to do? Why should HE go? What does HE know that others do not?

Elizabeth originally wants John to go to Salem so he can tell the court that he knows the girls are lying. He should go because he could have the power to save all of the wrongfully convicted people. He knows that Abigail has started all of this hysteria, and that it built off lies.

What does Elizabeth fear about her husband? Find a line from the play that supports this.

Fear surfaces surrounding her husbands affair with Abigail because Elizabeth knows that Abigail has a motive to accuse her of being a witch. In Act 2 Elizabeth explains to John, "It is her dearest hope, John, I know it. There be a thousand names; why does she call mine? There be a certain danger in calling such a name - I am no Goody Good that sleeps in ditches, nor Osburn, drunk and half-witted. She'd dare not call out such a farmer's wife but there be monstrous profit in it. She thinks to take my place, John."

What are Giles' accusations of Putnam? Why is Giles arrested?

Giles accuses Putnam of coercing his daughter to make claims of witchcraft so that when people are convicted Putnam can buy their land. Giles is arrested for contempt of court because he refuses to reveal the person who told him the information about Putnam.

Why does Giles go to court?

Giles goes to court to try to save his wife, Martha, who was convicted to be a witch.

What does Hale believe about the Proctors?

Hale believe that the Proctors are good people, and that John Proctor is telling the truth.

How does Hale serve as a foil character to Parris and Danforth?

Hale is concerned with ensuring that they are convicting people using true information. He is willing to hear the new information that people bring to the court.

Hale tells Mary Warren that she charges murder on Abigail. What does this mean?

Hale tells Mary Warren, the Proctors' servant, that she charges "a cold and cruel murder on Abigail," he means that, according to what Mary has just told everyone, Abigail is guilty of attempted murder

Why is Hale at the Proctor's house this night? Who else has he visited?

Hale visits the Proctors because he wants to speak with everyone whose name has been mentioned in connection with witchcraft. He has just visited Rebecca Nurse.

Why does Proctor call Hale a "broken minister"?

He believes that Hale is an unreasonable coward who does not represent God's authority

Why does Proctor say he is reluctant to go to Salem and tell what Abigail said to him? Why is Elizabeth upset about this information?

He is afraid that if he reveals Abigail to be a fraud, she will confess their affair. Why does Elizabeth want proctor to go to Salem? Elizabeth is even more upset to discover that Abigail and John have been alone, and she thinks John is hesitant to tell the court because he wants to protect Elizabeth.

Ezekiel Cheever enters. What is he there for?

He says he is there for business of the court.

Why does John say Abigail is doing all of this?

He says that Abigail wants to get rid of Elizabeth, his wife, so that Abigail can finally be with Proctor whom she is in love with.

Proctor says, "I will fall like an ocean on that court." What does that imply?

He says this to his wife as she is being arrested, he says that he will go to court and tell everything to save her.

How is Proctor's character changing?

In Act 3, we see Proctor in a completely selfless act to save his wife, Elizabeth, when he confesses to the court about his affair with Abigail.

How has Hale changed since coming to Salem?

In the beginning of the play, Hale felt there was a possibility of witchcraft in Salem. It was upon further investigation that he found inconsistencies in the girls' stories which made him believe their was a sinister side of those in Salem and it had nothing to do with the supernatural. They promised that they would accept his findings even if they were not what they hoped they would be. Chaos, jealousy, and greed have taken over Salem.

Abundant (adjective)

Marked by great plenty (as of resources)

Giles Corey and Francis Nurse arrive. What news do they bring?

Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse are convicted of witchcraft

What has Martha Corey been arrested for (again witchcraft is not the answer here)?

Martha Corey is accused of witchcraft after her husband, Giles, states that she reads strange books and that her reading keeps him from praying.

Who do the girls accuse of hurting them?

Mary Warren

Why will Mary Warren go to jail?

Mary Warren confesses that she lied about witnessing witchcraft.

Where has Mary Warren been going? What does Mary Warren claim to be?

Mary Warren has being to going to the Salem Court. She claims to be the Official of the Court.

How has Mary Warren changed during this act? (Go back to how she is described in Act One. How is she different now?)

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

What consequences could this have for the Proctors?

Now both proctors will be charged with practicing witchcraft and will be hanged.

Why does John get so angry at Elizabeth on page 70?

Proctor angers at her suspicion. He has tiptoed around the house for the seven months since Abigail left, and has confessed to his sin openly, but Elizabeth remains cold.

What does Proctor do to the warrant for Elizabeth's arrest? Does this help his case?

Proctor tears up the arrest warrant. This makes the Proctor's look more suspicious in the eyes of the court.

What does Proctor tell Mary they will do? Why is Mary so hesitant?

Proctor tells Mary that she must testify on Elizabeth's behalf in court. Mary is terrified to do this because she knows that Abigail will turn the rest of the court against her.

What has Rebecca Nurse been arrested for (witchcraft is not the answer here)?

Rebecca Nurse was charged with the murder of Goody Putnams babies.

Why does Elizabeth go with them willingly in the end?

She doesn't want to cause any more trouble or get John arrested also.

What condition is Goody Good in? How does this impact her sentence?

She is pregnant. She will only sit in jail for sometime, but she will not be hanged.

When Mary say's "I saved her life today" to whom is she referring? How did she save her life?

She is referring to Elizabeth. She saved her life because Elizabeth was mentioned in the courts and Mary backed her up so they dismissed the accusation.

When Mary Warren enters on page 71, how is she feeling? Why?

She is sick from watch all of the proceedings in the court that day.

Elizabeth again wants John to go to Abigail. For what purpose now?

She says he must tell Abigail that they will never enter into a romantic relationship again. Elizabeth hopes this will dissuade Abigail from making additional false accusations designed to remove her from the picture.

When asked if they believe in witchcraft, Elizabeth says no. Why does she say no? What is the problem with her saying no?

She says that she doesn't believe in witches because she cannot lie. When Hale asks her, directly, she knows that the good, Christian thing to do is to tell the truth. She is putting her own name on the line in order to save others who were convicted.

What does Mary Warren tell the court?

She tells the court the truth that the girls were just pretending that they were being affected by witchcraft.

What will happen to Goody Osburn? Why?

She will hang because she did not confess to witchcraft.

What will happen to Goody Good? Why?

She will not hang because she confessed to witchcraft.

Hale admits that he has some doubts at this point. What does Proctor say that reveals this doubt?

That Betty's sickness was not a result of witchcraft.

What is the setting of Act 2?

The Proctor's home, eight days after the girls have begun to accuse people of witchcraft.

When John says, "It's winter in here yet", how is this a comment on their relationship?

The double-meaning is that he senses a coldness between Elizabeth and him after she found out about his affair and that there is nothing in the house to brighten the decor.

The Proctors are asked to recite their commandments. Why?

They are asked to recite their commandments to test their devotion to their puritan faith.

What test does the court apply to Goody Osburn to test if she is a witch? Is she able to pass it?

They ask her to recite the ten commandments. She couldn't say a single one, so she did not pass.

What are some of the topics John and Elizabeth discuss in the first two pages of the act? Does this infer a close relationship between them? Why or why not?

They partake in small talk about the dinner that Elizabeth has prepared. This demonstrates that they don't have a close relationship.

How is it ironic that to confess is to live and to deny is to die?

This is ironic because in reality if you do the right thing you will die and if you lie you will live. It should be the other way around, but due to corruption of power in the courts that is not the case.

Which commandment does Proctor forget? How is this ironic?

Thou shall not commit adultery. This is ironic because John Proctor committed adultery.

When he comes in from planting, what suggestion does John Proctor make to his wife concerning the house?

To bring in some flowers.

What advice does Hale give the Proctors?

To go to church, to baptize the baby right away and not draw attention to themselves.

What do we find out about Elizabeth Proctor? Why does Danforth think she is claiming this?

We find out that Elizabeth Proctor is pregnant. Danforth thinks that Elizabeth is claiming she is pregnant to save herself from being hanged.

Example of verbal irony Act 3

When Danforth says, "We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment" he is contradicting the fact that all of their convictions are based on lies.

What did Elizabeth Proctor lie about?

When asked about John Proctors infidelity, Elizabeth lies, and says that he never cheated to protect her husband John.

Example of dramatic irony Act 3

When we know that Elizabeth is being set up when she is asked about Proctor's infidelity. However, she doesn't know that Proctor has already confessed, so she lies to save her husband.

What does Mary accuse Proctor of?

Witchcraft and devil-worship

Compact (noun)

a formal agreement or contract between two or more parties

Gait (noun)

a person's manner of walking

Predilection (noun)

a preference toward someone or something

Auger (noun)

a tool used for boring or drilling holes

Deposition (noun)

a witness's testimony given under oath

Rankled (verb)

annoyed, irritated

Ingratiate (verb)

bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering or trying to please them

Base (adjective)

denoting someone; lowest of the low

Pious (adjective)

devoutly religious

Lechery (noun)

excessive or offensive sexual desire; lust

Contemptuous (adjective)

feeling hatred; scornful

Incredulously (adverb)

in a manner indicating disbelief

Magistrate (noun)

judge

Hearty (adjective)

loudly vigorous and cheerful

Parochial (adjective)

relating to a church parish

Effrontery (noun)

shameless boldness

Daft (adjective)

silly, foolish

Abomination (noun)

something that causes disgust or hatred

Homage (noun)

special honor or respect shown publicly

Falter (verb)

start to lose strength or momentum

Fraud (noun)

wrongful deception for personal gain