The Crucible
Give a quote from Act II showing figurative language
" I have not moved from there to there without I think to please you, and still an everlasting funeral marches around your heart."
What is a quote example of allusion in Act II?
"Abigail brings the other girls into the court and where she walks the crowd will part like the sea for Israel
Which line best represents Elizabeth Proctor's view in the trials? "I cannot think the Devil may own a woman's soul when she keeps an upright way." "The shining sun is up, and them that fear not light will surely praise it." "If Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing's left to stop the whole green world from burning." "Remember, until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven."
"I cannot think the Devil may own a woman's soul when she keeps an upright way."
puritans 1642-1692
-charles 2 in power puritan leader thrown from power -mbc withdrawn 1684 -rev. cotton mather asked to cure 2 children believed posessed by witches 1688 -samuel parris ordained as minister 1689 -salem trials begin in feb. with first acusations and arrest trials and executions continue from june to spetember 1692
Give an example of Personification in Act III in quote form
In the vesty room of the salem meeting house,the room was described as being "solemn,even forbidding".
What is the climax in Act II?
Is when they got the poppet because that symbolized Abigail
List a quote showing alliteration in Act III
Proctor confesses to the court that had an illicit relationship with Abigail and Danforth asks,"In what time? In what place?" Proctor reply,"In the proper place- Where My beasts are bedded".
describe the theme of community vs. individual
Salem is a tight-knit community where there is no such thing as private business. Individual activities like church attendance or book reading or keeping poppets become admissible evidence in court. Miller speculates that the community of Salem sought to keep itself together by casting out undesirable individuals, and in so doing created the atmosphere necessary for the witch hunts. The court itself was an extension of this principle, desperately in search of external validity - Danforth cannot possibly exonerate some when others have already perished for the same crime. But for the accused, it is only the individual that matters. In the end, Proctor is left with nothing but his name and reputation.
A quote from Act I that shows a characters point of view
She's a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman, and I will not work for such a woman!
What is the title of the play the Crucible symbolic of?
Symbol of this vessel that sits in the fire and holds molten metals or ore.
What is ironic when John Proctor is reciting his Ten commandments to Rev. Hale in Act II?
When John Proctor cannot remember one of the ten Commandments , Elizabeth quietly says "adultery, John"
Give Mary Warren's example of a simile in Act III
When Mary Waren cries,"He wake me every night,his eyes were like coals and his fingers claw my neck..".
communism
a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.
...
abigail is used to getting things her way and threatens the girls if they tell on her and what she really was doing in the forest, her parents were killed by indians and she was an orphan
crying out against
accusing a person of witch craft
witch hunt
an intensive effort to expose disloyalty usually based on little or no evidence
witch craft
art ot practice of sorcery or magic
puritans
believed god is the head of state and the bible is the law of the land
circle girls
betty parris, abigail williams,ann putnam, and other who were members of the "secret circle" said to be dancing in the woods and who were the first to acuse peopleof witchcraft
ipso facto
by that very fact
the devil, the fiend, lucifer,satan
christian names for the supreme spirit of evil
break charity
christians should be united by bonds of love or charity so to treat someone in an unloving way was to break charity
warden
court official in puritan times
...
dancing is illegal and abigail tell everyone that all they did was dance and try to conjure up dead spirits
puritans
developed a lean spare somber form of religous worship
Which character proclaims that Abigail Williams should be "ripped out of the world"? Samuel Parris Elizabeth Proctor John Hale John Proctor
elizabeth proctor
...
elizabeth questioning proctor has merit shows that there is still animosity towards and him stepping out on their reationship
familiar spirit
evil spirit or demon that serves a witch familiars were believed to take the shape of small animals such as cats dogs birds toads or mice
witch
from the anglo-saxon word wicce meaning sorceceress a person said practice black magic
theocracy
gov. in which authorities rule the state os gods representatives
...
hard proof that was usedto determine if someone was a witch are not is if the could state their commandments of the bible
...
in the begining of act 2 proctor places salt in elix=zabeths soup, this shows that if proctor is not pleased he fixes it himself in order to avoid conflict shows he has a passive aggresive characteristic
...
in the forest it was mercy(ran around naked,susana,mary(by stander),betty, abigail(drunk blood to kill john proctors wife) they all danced
...
john proctor and abigail had an affiar, elizabeth kicked her out,jp is not fully over her but wants to jp doesnt like parris are his sermons so we can infer he preches about adultery and infidelity things jp has done
licentious
lustful hiding impure thoughts words or deeds
mccarthyism
making an assumption based on little or no evidenc elike the charges senator joseph mccarthy made against communist in 1950
Quakers
membersof the society of friedns founded by george fox 1647 beleived an inward light can lead all to a personal experience with god
"We cannot looks to suspicion in this , the devil is precise the works ofhis presence are definite as stone"
miller says that quote twice because he wants to show how rev. parris only preches about firing stone
...
parris believe children should be seen and not heard,his sermons surrond fire and brimstone and damnation
...
parris is greedy believes his house should belong to him and not the church very materialisticalways concerned about worldly possesions
hysteria/mass hysteria
phenomenoen that overtook the town of salem in 1692 through the power of suggestion many people came to believe thetown was ovverun by witches also called the madness
gallows hill
place were those convicted at salem were hanged also called wiches hill
puritans
placed emphasis on the fate of sinners in the hands of an angry god and they spread the gloomy belief that men were fated at birth to be among the elect and saved or among the damned and doomed
What item is symbolic of Abigail in Act II?
poppet
1692-1706
possed children begin to appear in nearby village of andover 54 accused of witch craft most never tried 1692 -gov. philips pardon all convited of witchery and release them 1693 -samuel parris leaves salem jurors and judges apologize 1697 -ann putnam apologizes for accusing residents of witch craft 1706
covenanted christians
puritan who was formally accepted as a memeber of a congregation the puritans considered convenanted christians more holy than those who were merely baptized
...
rev. hale=exorcist villages always call him to cast out witches
the devils book
said to be a large book containign the signatures of those who have made a pact with satan
witch trials
salem massachusstes in early 1600's resulted in 20 men and two dogs dying mainly being hung
the devils mark
scar or blemish said to be found on the body of a person who has made a pact with the devil
crucible
severe test; a vessel used for refining pure material for example gold under intense heat
1706-1957
survivors of condemned witches granted compensation 1711 -excommunication with rebecca nurse is withdrawn 1712 -salem village becomes town of danvers 1752 -allacused of witches formally cleared 1957
goody
term used t o identify the mistress of a house hold similiar to the term mrs, short for goodywife
spectral evidence
testimony about what was said or done by an apparition or spector of an acuused person
blasphemy
the act of speaking of something sacred irreverently
More about puritans
the first puritans were called by that name because they had attempted to purify or reform the churchof england by stripping away ritual ceremonypomp and paraphenalia of the traditonal service reducing it to its simplest biblical terms
traffick with spirits
to conjure up through spells or have communication with demons ghosts or other supernatural creatures
compact with the devil
to make a formal agreement with satan the usual terms are a persons soul in return for wealth power or other earthly gain
afflict
torment,frighten,harm through supernatural means
the crucible 1953
written by arthur miller a (communist) is historically inaccurate and based of of mccathism with mccarthy witch hunts of the 1950's it was written during the salem witch trials to make it okay to make fun
MATCHING Match the following characters with the quotations listed below. Characters may be used more than once. a. Reverend Parris b. Danforth c. Reverend Hale d. Elizabeth Proctor e. Rebecca Nurse f. Abigail Williams g. John Proctor h. Mary Warren 41. "They [his books] must be; they are weighted with authority." 42. "Gah! I'd almost forgot how strong you are, John Proctor!" 43. "John, if it were not Abigail that you must go to hurt, would you falter now? I think not." 44. "Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby." 45. "Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small." 46. "There is a prodigious danger in the seeking of loose spirits." 47. "If you think that I am one [a witch], then I say there are none.." 48. "Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer!" 49. "Man, remember, until an hour before the devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven." 50. "We must all love each other now, Goody Proctor." 51. "A person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between." 52. "Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this morning as clean as God's fingers? I'll tell you what's walking in Salem—vengeance is walking in Salem." 53. "Mr. Parris, you are a brainless man!" 54. "I say—I say—God is dead!" 55. "Tonight, when I open my door to leave my house—a dagger clattered to the ground...There is danger for me." 56. "A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boots 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 is fraud—*** ****s our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!" 57. "Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guild of them that died till now. While I speak God's law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering. If retaliation is your fear, know this—I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law." 58. "Spite only keeps me silent. It is hard to give a lie to dogs." 59. "For if he [Proctor] is taken I count myself his murderer." 60. "Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hanged! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name." 61. "He [Proctor] have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him."
41. c 42. f 43. d 44. g 45. c 46. e 47. d 48. g 49. c 50. h 51. b 52. g 53. b 54. g 55. a 56. g 57. b 58. g 59. c 60. g 61. d
1. Why do Giles and Frances want to see Danforth? a. They intend to beat him to his senses. b. They want to explain their roles in the witchcraft scheme. c. They want to persuade the judge that their wives are good women. d. They want to explain how Parris is at fault. 2. What is Parris' argument against Proctor? a. Parris says that Proctor is trying to overthrow the court. b. Parris says that Proctor is biased because of his position between Abigail and Elizabeth. c. Parris says that Proctor is just getting even with him. d. Both B & C 3. What does Mary tell Danforth? a. Abigail is not evil; she is just in love with Proctor. b. The girls have been lying. c. Tituba was responsible for their actions in the woods. d. Abigail gave Elizabeth the doll. 4. Why did Danforth grant Elizabeth extra time? a. He didn't blame her for being jealous of Abigail. b. She was trying to convince John to confess. c. She said she was pregnant. d. He almost believe Mary's story. 5. What did the paper that ninety-one people signed say? a. The community wanted Parris removed from service as their minister. b. Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Martha were all good, upstanding, God-loving citizens. c. John and Elizabeth should be released. d. All of the above. 6. What quote did Proctor use to help Mary remain brave? a. "Truth is always best." b. "God helps those who help themselves." c. "Do that which is good, and no harm will come to thee." d. The twenty-third Psalm 7. Of what does Giles accuse Putnam? a. He accuses him of killing his neighbors for their land? b. He accuses him of being in service to the devil. c. He accuses him of taking advantage of the girls. d. He accuses him of being a hypocrite. 8. What is Hale's problem as Proctor and his friends present evidence to Danforth? a. He worries about his own safety from the girls' accusations. b. He sees that he has been a failure at removing witchcraft from Salem. c. He thinks his reputation will be hurt. d. He begins to realize that the people who have been accused and sentenced so far could very well have been innocent. 9. Hathorne thinks of a test for Mary. What is it? a. He asks her to recite the Ten Commandments. b. He asks her to faint. c. He asks her to fly around the room. d. He asks her to stick a pin in her poppet. 10. When asked why Abigail was released from her service, what did Elizabeth respond? a. She was dissatisfied with Abigail. b. She, in her sickness, thought Abigail and John fancied each other. c. John was not a lecher. d. All of the above. 11. What do the girls do to Mary? a. They glare at her. b. They threaten her, saying she will regret her wrongful accusations about them for the rest of her life. c. They pretend that her spirit is coming to get them. d. They pretend the devil is in the room. 12. What happens to Proctor? a. He is jailed for being a lecher. b. He is jailed for lying to the court. c. He is jailed for adultery. d. He is jailed for his contempt of the court and his suspicious activities.
1. c 2. a 3. b 4. c 5. b 6. c 7. a 8. d 9. b 10. d 11. c 12. d
Where does Elizabeth want John to go, and what does she want him to do there? a. She wants him to go apologize to Abigail. b. She wants him to go help Parris with Betty. c. She wants him to go into Salem to tell the authorities that the girls are lying. d. She wants him to go convince Tituba to make the girls tell the truth. 2. What is John's response to her prodding? a. He is reluctant to go. b. He goes right away. c. He ignores her. d. He tells her to mind her own business. 3. What gift did Mary give Elizabeth? a. A Bible b. A doll c. A basket of flowers d. Both a & b 4. What was the "evidence" against Sarah Good? a. She confessed to witchcraft. b. She mumbled after begging for cider and bread. c. She could not recite the commandments in court. d. All of the above. 5. Why doesn't Proctor want Mary to go back to court? a. If she goes back, that makes him further involved. b. He believes that the accusations are false and the girls are frauds. c. It isn't a just court in Proctor's eyes. d. All of the above. 6. Why does Elizabeth think Abigail wants to kill her? a. She is sick and a little paranoid. b. She believes that Abby wants to take her place as John's wife. c. She believes Abby is bewitched and will try to destroy anything good. d. Both a & b 7. Why did Hale come to Proctor's house? a. He wanted to find out why Parris was so bitter. b. He wanted to question them prior to seeing them in court. c. He wanted to find out if the rumor about John and Abby was true. d. All of the above. 8. What things are "suspicious" about Proctor and his family? a. Proctor does not go to church regularly. b. The youngest son has not been baptized. c. He could not remember all of the commandments. d. All of the above. 9. Hale asks Elizabeth if she believes in witches. What is her reply? a. If she is accused of being a witch, she cannot believe in witches. b. If the Bible says that witches exist, she cannot dispute the Bible. c. She does not believe the girls are telling the truth. d. Both a & b 10. On what charge(s) was Rebecca Nurse arrested? a. The murder of Goody Putnam's babies. b. Impious conduct. c. Conduct unbefitting a Puritan woman. d. Inability to say the Ten Commandments from memory. 11. Why does Cheever come to the Proctor house? a. He comes to question John. b. He comes to arrest Elizabeth. c. He comes to talk with John about what to do about Parris. d. He comes to ask John's opinion about whether the girls are lying. 12. What is the deciding factor in Elizabeth's arrest? a. Her inability to recite the Ten Commandments. b. Her possession of the doll with a needle in it. c. The fact that she has not had her son baptized. d. Abby's testimony 13. What will happen to Proctor if he tries to discredit Abby? a. She will tell that they had an affair. b. She will claim she has seen him with the devil. c. She will bewitch Elizabeth. d. She will end their affair. 14. Why doesn't Mary want to testify about the doll? a. She doesn't want to get involved. b. She is afraid of Abigail. c. She is afraid of the devil. d. She thinks she will look like a fool.
1. c 2. a 3. b 4. d 5. b 6. b 7. b 8. d 9. d 10. a 11. b 12. b 13. a 14. b
Match each character with the proper description. 1. old man who is pressed with stones 2. girl who leads the accusations 3. slave who teaches the children about "spirits" 4. worthy woman put to death as a witch 5. comes to Salem to help with witch problem 6. uses the witch tales to carry out personal vengeance 7. tries to stop the trials, then charges Proctor 8. man whom Abigail hopes to marry after his wife is hanged 9. tolerates no challenge to his authority 10. minister who fears there is a conspiracy against him a. Reverend John Hale b. Tituba c. Giles Corey d. Judge Danforth e. Mary Warren f. Thomas Putnam g. Reverend Samuel Parris h. Abigail Williams j. John Proctor k. Rebecca Nurse
1. c 2. h 3. b 4. k 5. a 6. f 7. e 8. j 9. d 10. g
1. What explanation does Cheever give for Parris's "mad look"? a. Parris is at his wits' end wondering what to do with Abigail. b. The devil has run rampant in Salem Parris' parish. c. Parris is under a spell. d. He thinks it is caused by the cows. 2. What did Abigail do? a. She stole money from Parris and disappeared. b. She killed herself. c. She begged for everyone's forgiveness. d. She confessed that she and the other girls had been lying. 3. Identify the speaker: "You cannot hang this sort. There is danger for me." a. Proctor b. Danforth c. Hale d. Parris 4. Explain Danforth's reason that a pardon would not be a good idea? a. If he would pardon the remaining accused, the people who had been hanged would have died in vain. b. Rather than admit that the court could have been wrong and therefore admit the others may have been hanged unjustly, he thought it better to continue hanging people so all accused would get the same treatment from the court. c. The citizens would lose respect for the court and anarchy would prevail. d. A & B. 5. Why has Hale come back to Salem? a. To free the unjustly jailed. b. To encourage the accused to confess and save their lives. c. To discredit the girls. d. All of the above. 6. What does Hale want Elizabeth to do? a. Confess to save her baby b. Repent c. Convince Proctor to confess d. Forgive Abigail 7. What happens to Giles? a. Giles was pressed to death during questioning. b. He was released. c. He was hanged. d. He escaped and went to live in another village. 8. What "confession" did Elizabeth make to John? a. She has been involved with witchcraft. b. She also had an affair. c. She secretly hoped Abigail would be killed by an angry mob. d. She feels she is also responsible for his affair with Abigail. 9. What did Proctor do after he signed the confession? a. He collapsed, a broken man. b. He tore it up. c. He begged Elizabeth to forgive him. d. Both A & C.
1. d 2. a 3. d 4. d 5. b 6. c 7. a 8. d 9. b
TRUE-FALSE Mark each statement A for True and B for False. 11. Because of his interest in children, Reverend Parris devotes his ministry to them. 12. The witch hunt becomes an opportunity for the people of Salem to band together as a community. 13. Ann Putnam believes Tituba can speak to the dead. 14. Reverend Parris sees the girls dancing in the woods. 15. Abigail admits placing a needle in the poppet that Marry Warren gives to Elizabeth. 16. Elizabeth Proctor believes that her husband's affair with Abigail is only a product of Elizabeth's imagination. 17. Abigail Williams accuses Elizabeth Proctor of being a witch. 18. The tradition of strict social control breaks down in Salem. 19. Hale is a devoted supporter of the trials throughout The Crucible. 20. Proctor destroys his confession without signing it.
11. b 12. b 13. a 14. a 15. b 16. b 17. a 18. a 19. b 20. b
puritans 1611-1642
1611-1642 -kjv bible published 1611 -pilgrims on mayflower land on plymouth 1620 -roger conant finds salem 1626 -mbc created by royal charter 1629 first puritans arrive in northeastern us 1630 -puritan revolution 1642
MULTIPLE-CHOICE Choose the letter of the phrase that best completes each sentence. 21. Because she wants to know why her seven children have died, Ann Putnam a. seeks advice from Dr. Griggs. b. sends her daughter, Ruth, to Tituba. c. asks Reverend Parris to pray with her. d. goes into the woods with Elizabeth Proctor. 22. According to Betty Parris, Abigail drank a charm to kill a. John Proctor. b. Elizabeth Proctor. c. Reverend Parris. d. Ann Putnam. 23. An accused witch can escape execution by a. confessing to the charge. b. accusing another "witch." c. denying the charge. d. accepting life imprisonment. 24. When asked to recite the Commandments, Proctor forgets the Commandment about a. stealing. b. honoring his father and mother. c. adultery. d. coveting his neighbor's goods. 25. When Mary Warren gives her deposition, disclaiming any familiarization with the Devil, the other girls a. confess with her and ask for forgiveness. b. accuse Abigail of directing them in the evil deeds. c. mimic Mary and claim she has taken the form of a bird. d. refuse to come in the same room with her. 26. Elizabeth Proctor condemns herself by a. collecting poppets. b. denying her husband's affair. c. beating Mary Warren. d. confessing to witchcraft. 27. Reverend Parris becomes uneasy about the executions when a. the village is uneasy. b. his daughter is condemned. c. he knows the trials are a farce. d. all of these. 28. John Proctor frequently absents himself from the church because he a. dislikes the minister. b. is an atheist. c. lives too far from the town. d. prefers working over praying. 29. Hathorne believes the children's accusations are motivated by a. hatred. b. knowledge of goodness. c. the voice of God. d. all of these. 30. An accused witch is put to death by a. burning at the stake. b. being crushed with stones. c. drowning. d. hanging. 31. Elizabeth Proctor's execution is postponed because a. she obtains a petition for her release. b. she is pregnant. c. the court lacks sufficient evidence. d. Mary Warren testifies for her. 32. Giles Corey escapes being condemned a wizard because he a. confesses. b. shoots himself. c. refuses to answer the charge. d. condemns another. 33. Parris desperately wants Proctor to confess because Parris a. wants to appease the village. b. knows Proctor is innocent. c. hates Proctor. d. none of these. 34. In the final scenes of the play, Danforth is unable to pardon Proctor because a. the village would overthrow his authority. b. Danforth doesn't have the power. c. it would cast doubt on the guild to those already executed. d. all of these. 35. Which of the following statements best describes Parris' theology? a. love and justice b. "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" c. brotherhood d. hellfire and brimstone 36. John Proctor's vocation is a. merchant. b. farmer. c. teacher. d. lawyer. 37. When her first comes to Salem, Reverend John Hale's mood is a. optimistic and confident. b. vengeful. c. cautious and sober. d. skeptical. 38. Mary Warren withdraws her testimony against the investigations because a. she knows she is admitting to perjury. b. the other girls accuse her of witchcraft. c. she is in love with Proctor. d. all of these. 39. Proctor confesses to an affair with Abigail Williams to a. satisfy his wife. b. cleanse his soul of guilt. c. discredit her testimony. d. free himself from jail. 40. Which one of the following characters instigates the investigations and later condemns them? a. Judge Hathorne b. John Proctor c. Reverend John Hale d. Sarah Good
21. b 22. b 23. a 24. c 25. c 26. b 27. a 28. a 29. c 30. d 31. b 32. c 33. a 34. c 35. d 36. b 37. a 38. b 39. c 40. c
6.What started the Salem witch trials? In their contemporary parallel of the red scare, we know that there really were Communists. But in 17th century Salem, there was no true witchcraft. So how did this thing start, and what does Miller have to say about its origins?
A major point of the play is that the witch trials were not truly started by any event or scandal - the discovery of the girls dancing in the woods was merely a tipping point, not the true origin. Miller is steadfast in his belief that the social structure of Salem is what caused the witch hunt and allowed it to accelerate. If it hadn't been Betty Paris falling sick after dancing in the woods, it would have been something else.
Who is the Antagonist of Act I
Abigail Williams
Which main characters are having a dialogue in Act III?
Abigail,Mary Warren, Danforth, John Proctor, Martha Corey
Who gets away but should have hanged for a crime? What crimes were these?
Abigail-Adultery and Witchcraft.
How do Proctor, Francis and Giles plan to use Mary Warren's testimony to prove that "heaven is not speaking through the children"?
All the events in The Crucible hinge on the testimony of this group of girls--girls we know are play-acting before the court in order to spare themselves punishment as well as take revenge on members of the town (and especially Elizabeth Proctor). They know the truth, as do John Proctor, Francis Nurse, Giles Corey, and even, probably, Rev. Parris. The court proceedings and the calling-out have gone too far when Elizabeth, Rebecca Nurse, and Martha Corey have been arrested. It's the final straw for John, and he presses his serving girl Mary Warren to admit they've all been play-acting before the court. Their ringleader, of course, is Abigail Williams. The three husbands intend to use Mary Warren's admission to convince the court that the girls have been putting on a show more than calling out any real acts of witchcraft. If she admits to her own wrongdoing, the hope is that the court will believe her and know the rest of the girls have been doing the same. To her credit, and despite some faltering, Mary tries to make things right. It doesn't work, of course, as the drama continues and is now directed at her. Rev. Hale see through the charade and leaves the court and town in disgust. This is the final moment of opposition to the court until Hale appears again at the end in one last attempt to make Judge Hathorn see reason--an attempt which also ends in failure.
7.Act One is punctuated by prose passages in which Miller details the background of Salem and the characters. However, this background mixes facts from the historical record with the changes Miller made for dramatic reasons. What do you think of this?
Because the prose passages are contained within a fictionalized dramatic work, a reader should be aware that the passages are subject to the limitations of the form. However, Miller speaks with the voice of a historian in these passages, not with the voice of a playwright, and gives no indication that what he says is less than historical fact. Indeed, it is a slightly worrisome idea - a play about a man who died for the truth is so free with its own truths.
describe the theme of naming names
By requiring the accused to name others in their confessions, a witch hunt like that in Salem or HUAC can take on the form of a pyramid scheme or chain letter. In other words, to avoid the effects of this curse, you must pass it on to five other people, and so forth. This "naming names" allowed the accusations to spread and spread, while also permitting the public airing of grievances and sins. As a member of the blacklist himself, Miller felt particularly strongly about the evil of fingering others to save oneself, and he expresses this idea by having several characters grapple with the requirement that they name names. Giles Corey is held in contempt - the charge that ultimately leads to his execution - for refusing to name the person who told him of Putnam's scheming, and Proctor balks at the court's intention to question the 91 people who signed his declaration of the good character of the accused. But it is at the climax that this theme truly comes to the fore, as Proctor would rather die than accuse more innocent people.
3.What is the role of gossip in the trials? How does Miller use gossip to implicate the whole town in the events of the witch trials?
Clearly the trials are begun by the wagging of tongues after the girls are found in the woods, but gossip certainly has a more enduring role. Reputations in Salem are made or broken based on slander and rumor, and reputation was a man's only defense against accusation - and even that often failed to correct aspersions. But gossip also proves to be a destructive force even in the hands of the good and unwitting, taking on a life of its own - Giles Corey, for instance, condemns his own wife simply by a slip of the tongue.
What is significant about Giles Corey's charge against Thomas Putnam? It illustrates the theme of the obscure division between public and private. It illustrates the theme of the novel of passing blame from one character to another. It is ironic, for Giles Corey is condemned for giving evidence that is hearsay, while equally invalid evidence is used to condemn persons for witchcraft.
It is ironic, for Giles Corey is condemned for giving evidence that is hearsay, while equally invalid evidence is used to condemn persons for witchcraft.
What is the significant about Danforth's support for Proctor's confession? It shows that he will bend the rules whenever it suits him. It shows that he knows that there are no witches in Salem. It shows that he has turned against Putnam and Parris. It shows that his interest is in preserving the court and not in actual justice.
It shows that his interest is in preserving the court and not in actual justice.
A quote from Act I that is an example of symbolism
It's death, y'know, it's death drivin' into them, forked and hoofed.
Which of the following is not matched to their motive for promoting the witchcraft trials? Samuel Parris : paranoia John Hathorne : superstition Abigail Williams : lust Thomas Putnam : greed
John Hawthorne:Superstition
Who is the Protagonist of Act I
John Proctor
Who are the main characters in Act II?
John Proctor and Elizabeth Proctor
Who dies at the end of Act IV?
John Proctor because he did not lie.
Give a quote example of integrity
John Proctor screams "Because it is my name ! because i cannot have another in my life"!
9.Mary Warren is a bit of a cipher - we see her only as a pawn of Abigail, and then of Proctor, and then again of Abigail. Do we learn anything about the "real" Mary Warren?
Mary Warren is a particularly undeveloped character in the narrative, who functions largely as a plot device. We know that she is a weak-willed and terrified girl, who is easily manipulated by people stronger than herself. Abigail and Proctor are the ones who manipulate her, both threatening her with violence and vengeance, which draws a lucid connection between those two. Mary wants to be good, but she lacks the ability to see clearly where this good choice lies.
describe the theme of martyrdom
Miller addresses the question of whether a martyr must be a saint by having Proctor grapple with this very issue throughout the play. The early victims of the witch hunt are not seen as martyrs because even after death, they are considered undesired members of society. In contrast, the execution of Rebecca Nurse is widely recognized as one of martyrdom, because she has lived a conspicuously upright life and thus walks to the gallows without protest. Proctor sees himself as the borderline case - a respected member of society but far from sinless. It is only by recognizing that he need not be as perfect as Goody Nurse that Proctor finally finds "his goodness" as a moral man.
describe the theme of sin and guilt
Miller identifies the witch hunt as an opportunity for the repressed members of Salem society to publicly proclaim both their own sins and the sins of others. Guilt has been bottled up at home in this community, and the airing of sins and grievances is a relief to those previously without an outlet for confession. Guilt motivates not only the witch hunts themselves, but also the behavior of several principal characters. Proctor is haunted by remorse over his infidelity, while Reverend Hale works to undermine the court that he helped create as penance for his sins. The ultimate irony of the Salem witch hunts is not only that the sins of the trials quickly outpaced the original crime, but that there was no original crime to begin with. Indeed, the abstract concept of sin was made concrete through compounding avoidances of guilt.
describe them of self interest
Miller identifies the witch hunt as an opportunity for the repressed members of Salem society to publicly proclaim both their own sins and the sins of others. Guilt has been bottled up at home in this community, and the airing of sins and grievances is a relief to those previously without an outlet for confession. Guilt motivates not only the witch hunts themselves, but also the behavior of several principal characters. Proctor is haunted by remorse over his infidelity, while Reverend Hale works to undermine the court that he helped create as penance for his sins. The ultimate irony of the Salem witch hunts is not only that the sins of the trials quickly outpaced the original crime, but that there was no original crime to begin with. Indeed, the abstract concept of sin was made concrete through compounding avoidances of guilt.
1.The Crucible is famous as a political allegory, but what exactly is Miller trying to say? Who do you think is being most criticized in the contemporary analogy?
Miller was particularly offended by those who "named names" before HUAC, and he himself refused to do so. While the Crucible indeed villainized the prosecutors and Court - those in the parallel positions of Joe McCarthy and HUAC - the play martyrs Corey and Proctor for refusing to do so. At the expense of their own lives, Corey and Proctor refused to condemn others, and in Miller's eyes this is the only truly moral decision.
5.Clearly, Proctor is the protagonist of the play, dominating three of the four acts. What begins as an ensemble rendering of the town's drama ends in an examination of a decision by one man, the focus gradually narrowed over the course of the play. How does Miller make this 17th century farmer into a character capable of holding our interest and sympathies for two hours?
Proctor is developed as a "modern" figure in the play. He is resistant to authority, rebelling against both the church and the state. He sees through humbug and shouts it down. Moreover, he has a complicated relationship with his wife, and is flawed but in an understandable way. He is independent minded, and struggles against the conformity of Salem that is so like 1950s America. In short, he's like every other hero rebel - the same man in so many movies in stories, just realized this time in 17th century Salem.
Who is the dynamic character in Act IV?
Rev. Hale.
8.What is the function of Reverend Hale in the narrative?
Reverend Hale is an interesting and well-developed minor character. He serves the dramatic function of an outsider, aiding in exposition in the first act even as his presence catalyzes the witch trials. But in the third act, he begins to question the trials, and by the fourth act has renounced them completely and is actively working against them. Hale shows that the ministry and the courts need not all be evil, but that it is possible to realize the error of one's own ways and work to fix their effects.
4.Miller makes some significant changes to the historical events for the play - most noticeably, he raises Abigail's age from 11 to 19, and invents an affair between her and Proctor. What purpose does this serve?
The affair is a dramatic device. It provides motive for Abigail's accusation of Elizabeth, and complicates the relationship between the Proctors. By raising Abigail's age and giving her motives of revenge, Miller can complicate the characterization of what would otherwise be a tale-telling little girl, without compromising her villainy.
Why is this play an allegory?
The fact that the Crucible is a story with two levels of meaning-----one literal and another Symbolic.
2.The Crucible features a significant reversal of social roles in the Salem community. Choose a character whose position of power is upended and analyze the development of their role in the town and in the narrative. Can you make any observations about gender in this process?
The witch trials greatly increased the power and agency of otherwise lowly women like Tituba and Abigail, while bringing down more respected community members like Rebecca Nurse and Elizabeth. The position of men remained more stable - they were always in charge, and even if some of them were executed for witchcraft they would always control the positions of highest authority.
describe the theme of authority vs.dissent
There are many levels of authority within the world of the Crucible. Early on, the Reverend Parris is the sole authoritative voice in Salem, as the minister and a graduate of Harvard College. He is supplanted by the arrival of Reverend Hale, who derives his authority from books and learning, which are then further supplanted in turn by the courts and its officials. Meanwhile, individualists like Proctor and Giles Corey rankle under these layers of authority - Proctor had long rejected Parris's preachings, and Corey made the authority of the law work for him as a constant plaintiff. But being an outlier is seen as dangerous in this society. Indeed, dissent against official authority is akin to being an anarchist at best and an agent of Satan at worst. Proctor and Corey are the two most modern figures in the play for their willingness to push back against the extreme authority of the courts. For this, however, they also suffer greatly.
In "The Crucible" what is the significance of the behind the scenes discussion between Hathorne, Danforth, and the Coreys?
This background sequence, which can be found at the beginning of act three, relays important information about the Corey family. We learn more information about Martha's arrest, and that Giles is very upset about it. He comes in, figurative guns blazing, ready to take down the courts to save his wife. And indeed, when Giles walks in, they are in the middle of accusing her of reading fortunes, a charge unrelated to the pig one upon which she was arrested, so who knows what else they are going to bring up. This conversation is also significant because it reveals the hard-hearted nature of the courts, and their willingness to arrest anyone who causes a disturbance of any kind. As soon as Giles breaks in, Hathorne demands, "Arrest him your excellency," and all chaos erupts. The courts don't even pause before deciding that he must be arrested. He shouts out some pretty significant charges, that "Thomas Putnam is killing his neighbors for their land," and they immediately turn on Giles, not Thomas. This shows that the courts are predisposed to favor anyone who supports their already-made arrests, and to automatically discredit anyone who is trying to prove truth. It reveals the snap judgments and prejudiced nature of the judges themselves.
What is the significance of the line "before the laws of God we are as swine! We cannot read his will." This demonstrates Proctor's contempt for the intellectual abilities of men. This is ironic, for Danforth believes that we can read God's will, or else he would not condemn people for witchcraft. This demonstrates the change in Reverend Hale, for at the beginning of the play he believed that he could ascertain any supernatural phenomenon. When Elizabeth argues this, it shows that she does not want John to confess.
This demonstrates the change in Reverend Hale, for at the beginning of the play he believed that he could ascertain any supernatural phenomenon.
10.Are the judges evil? Be sure to define what you mean by "evil" in your answer.
This is a deceptively simple question. Miller believed that the judges in the witch trials were purely evil, and has stated that if he were to rewrite the play, he would make them less human and more obviously and thoroughly evil. But is evil a function of the will, or a failure of reason? These men did not set out to do evil - they legitimately saw themselves as doing God's work. Is it evil to be wrong? Arguably, the Putnams are the most evil characters in Miller's interpretation of the events, as they both support the trials and clearly are aware of the falsity of the charges
What is the theme of Act III?
Vengeance,Killing neighbors for their land, and witchcraft.
