Crucible Act II

"The girl, the Williams girl, Abigail Williams, sir. She sat to dinner in Reverend Parris's house tonight, and without word nor warning she falls to the floor. Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. And he goes to save her, and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out. And demanding of her how she came to be so stabbed, she testify it were your wife's familiar spirit pushed it in."

Cheever said this to John explaining why he was looking for the poppet and arresting his wife.

"You know yourself I must do as I'm told. You surely know that, Giles. And I'd as lief you'd not be sending me to Hell. I like not the sound of it, I tell you; I like not the sound of it. Now believe me, Proctor, how heavy be the law, all its tonnage I do carry on my back tonight. I have a warrant for your wife."

Cheever talking about how he doesn't want to, but the law makes him arrest his wife. He carries the law on his back that night.

"I cannot think the Devil may own a woman's soul, Mr. Hale, when she keeps an upright way, as I have. I am a good woman, I know it; and if you believe I may do only good work in the world, and yet be secretly bound to Satan, then I must tell you, sir, I do not believe it."

Elizabeth Proctor explaining to Reverend Hale about her unbelief's on witches.

"She frightened all my strength away."

Elizabeth Proctor saying that she is frightened meaning she can't stop Mary Warren from going to town.

"I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you but a good man, John-- only somewhat bewildered."

Elizabeth explaining to John that she isn't the one that isn't forgiving, he is the one who judges and doesn't forgive himself.

"John- grant me this. You have a faulty understanding of young girls. There is a promise made in any bed--" "Spoke or silent, a promise is surely made. And she may dote on it now- I am sure she does- and thinks to kill me, then to take my place."

Elizabeth telling John that Abigail will come after Elizabeth because she believes that John loves her.

"I have seen too many frightful proofs in court- the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points!"

Hale, describing to Francis that they must not flinch, or go against the court.

"Because it speaks deceit and I am honest! But I'll plead no more! I see now your spirit twists around the single error of my life and I will never tear it free!"

John Proctor explaining why he won't go talk to Abigail and break it, this shows his pride yet his hypocrisy because he isn't an honest man anymore.

"Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands of this!"

John Proctor says this to Hale because he is not stopping the officers from punishing Elizabeth.

"I falter nothing, but I wonder if my story will be credited in such a court. I do wonder on it, when such a steady-minded minister as you will suspicion such a woman that never lied, and cannot, and the world knows she cannot! I may falter somewhat, Mister; I am no fool."

John Proctor talking about Rebecca Nurse after she was accused of being a witch, it's his beliefs on witches.

"Spare me! You forget nothing and forgive nothing. 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. I cannot speak but I am doubted, every moment judged for lies, as though I come into a court when I came into this house!"

John Proctor to Elizabeth explaining that she doesn't forgive him, but in reality he doesn't forgive himself. This quote shows his true guilt and how he hasn't forgiven himself.

"I like it not that Mr. Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of God in that man. I'll not conceal it."

John Proctor to Mr. Hale, explaining that he does not like Reverend Parris and how he doesn't have his sons baptized.

"If she is innocent! Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this morning as clean as God's fingers? I'll tell you what's walking Salem- vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! This warrant's vengeance! I'll not give me wife to vengeance!"

John Proctor yells at Cheever trying to stop Elizabeth's arrests, significance is because he is right. They believe Abigail, but they will not believe the defendants.

"Peace. It is a providence, and no great change; we are only what we always were, but naked now."

John says this to Mary Warren end of Act II.

"Abby'll charge lechery on you, Mr. Proctor!"

Mary Warren tells Proctor this at the end of Act II. This is significant because John realizes that all the girls know about his affair.

"Believe me, Mr. Nurse, if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing's left to stop the whole green world from burning. Let you rest upon the justice of the court; the court will send her home, I know it.

Reverend Hale is talking to Francis about Rebecca Nurse and foreshadowing in a way.

"Charity, Proctor, charity. What I have heard in her favor, I will not fear to testify in court. God help me, I cannot judge her guilty or innocent- I know not. Only this consider: the world goes mad, and it profit nothing you should lay the cause to the vengeance of a little girl."

Reverend Hale says this to John to try and calm him down, significance is that it shows that Hale believes in the court still in Act II and that justice will prevail.

"Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small."

Reverend Hale talking to Mr. Proctor after he does not know his 10 commandments. This significance is that Hale is going on his own, away from the court business. This is a metaphor.

"Proctor, I cannot think God be provoked so grandly by such a petty cause. The jails are packed- our greatest judges sit in Salem now- and hanging's promised. Man, we must look to cause proportionate. Were there murder done, perhaps, and never brought to light? Abomination? Some secret blasphemy that stinks to Heaven? Think on cause, man, and let you help me to discover it. For there's your way, believe it, there is your only way, when such confusion strikes upon the world. Let you counsel among yourselves; think on your village and what may have drawn from heaven such thundering wrath upon you all. I shall pray God open up your eves."

Reverend Hale talking to Proctor, telling him to think on the cause and to think on his sins.