act iii

In Act III of The Crucible, Proctor presents to Danforth a testament from ninety-one citizens attesting to the good character of Rebecca Nurse and Elizabeth Proctor. How would you evaluate Danforth's response that all ninety-one should be arrested for "examination"? What is he trying to achieve with this response?

Danforth is trying to intimate the signer of the testament by making them subject to arrest and appearance in court. He is trying to do anything he can to suppress any challenges in the court.

What happens when people criticize the court's proceedings?

Dissidents are met with serious repercussions, be it arrest or other forms of punishment. As such, all criticism is seen as an attempt to overthrow the court, which is a crime itself.

What role does Elizabeth's pregnancy play in her status as accused?

Her pregnancy is used as evidence of witchcraft against her, exploiting superstitions in the community. Abigail Williams uses it to further her accusations, and it indirectly leads to her husband John Proctor's confession of adultery, further complicating the situation.

How does Elizabeth look as she walks into court?

She looks tired, dirty, and confused.

What does Abigail do to distract Danforth from Hale's accusations that she is lying?

She pretends to see a spirit bird flying around the courtroom and says that it is Mary's spirit.

Why does Mary Warren change her stance in court?

She reverses her position because of her fear of Abigail, pressure from the court, a desire for acceptance, and psychological manipulation by the other girls. Her vulnerability and the intense pressure lead her to betray the Proctors and revert to supporting the witchcraft accusations. She is terrorized by the other girls with their performance of the yellow bird, as 'spectral evidence.'

Explain Reverend Parris's motivation throughout this act.

Reverend Parris is motivated by a strong desire for self-preservation and maintaining his social and religious status in Salem. He supports the trials to deflect attention from his family's involvement and fears rebellion against his leadership. His actions are driven by a sort of Machiavellian self-interest.

What is spectral evidence?

a witness testimony that implicates sightings of supernatural activity, such as the appearance of spirits or ghosts accepted on the basis of demonic activities.

what does mary warren have to do to convince the court that she did not have any hand in witchcraft?

being told to force herself to faint

In Act III of The Crucible, Francis Nurse attempts to convince the judges that the girls who have claimed to be possessed by witches are frauds. Hathorne's response is, "This is contempt, sir, contempt!" Hathorne's response is an example of what kind of irony? Briefly explain your answer.

dramatic irony because there is a contradiction between what Hathorne is saying and what the audience knows to be true - that Francis Nurse is speaking the truth

who gets jailed at the end of act iii?

giles corey and john proctor

Why does Danforth insist that she look only at him?

he doesn't want her testimony to be influenced by john, he doesn't want them to be able to communicate in any way.

What role does Parris play in the proceedings in Act III of The Crucible?What kinds of arguments and statements does he typically make to try to discredit the testimony of those who oppose him? Cite at least one example to support your answer.

his main form of argument is to personally attack anyone questioning the court's presumption of guilt. For example, when Proctor tries to present Mary's change of mind about her claims of having seen witches, Parris counters with an attack on Proctor's motives. "He's come to overthrow the court, your honor!"

where did the affair occur?

in le barn

What does she know and not know?

she is unaware of the agenda she's trying to guess what the best course of action is,

What is Elizabeth probably thinking during the questioning?

she is wondering what happened before she entered and what the situation is

Describe the point at which you think the plot reaches its highest intensity, or climax.

the play's climax comes when proctor finally confesses the affair with Abigail, at last releasing the guilt of his sins and sacrificing his good name (integrity) to save his wife.

What can the audience conclude about the intentions of the court from Judge Hathorne's questioning of Martha Corey at the beginning of Act III of The Crucible? Explain why this examination is an example of dramatic irony

the questioning shoes that anyone accused of witchcraft is presumed to be guilty. the examination is an example of dramatic irony because, despite the court's pretensions to be just and fair, the audience knows that the proceedings are a charade in which the accused have no real rights and are treated unfairly

In Act III of The Crucible, what is Proctor's main motive for bringing Mary Warren to court?

to have her testify to save his wife from execution.

whats the setting of act iii

town hall in the meeting room or smth

Explain the irony in Elizabeth's testimony.

Her attempt to protect her husband's reputation by denying his affair inadvertently leads to his arrest on false charges of witchcraft. Her honesty has unintended and tragic consequences for both of them

What deep person vs. self conflict is at work?

Her high value for truth vs her love and loyalty to John

What do you imagine Abigail to be thinking and feeling?

Abby is nervous and frightened at first because Elizabeth's testimony can damn her but she becomes relieved and then joyous when Elizabeth lies

How has Reverend Hale changed?

He transitions from a confident believer in witchcraft and supporter of the trials to a doubter who advocates for the accused and ultimately denounces the court's proceedings due to his growing awareness of the injustice and harm caused by the trials, as well as his disillusionment with the court.

Describe one piece of evidence that Giles, Francis, or Proctor bring before the court to show that the girls are lying.

Giles provides a deposition, or evidence, stating that Thomas Putnam coerced his daughter to accuse George Jacobs of witchcraft, so Putnam could acquire Jacobs' after his execution. Francis brings a petition that can serve as evidence against the girls. The document is a statement signed by 91 different people that Rebecca Nurse, Elizabeth Proctor, and Martha Corey are good people and they were just speaking to their good nature. Proctor brings signed a deposition from Mary Warren and confession.

After the outbreak in court, Mr. Danforth makes the following short statement to Mr. Hale: - "I will have nothing from you, Mr. Hale!" In your own words, describe what Mr. Hale has said or done to instigate Mr. Danforth's comment.

Hale angrily shouts "I denounce the proceedings, I quit this court!"

How does Hale excuse Elizabeth's lie about Abigail's affair with Proctor?

Hale excuses Elizabeth's lie about Abigail's affair with Proctor with the acknowledgement of her doing so in order to save her husband

Throughout Act III of The Crucible, Hale shows himself to be a man struggling over the increasingly obvious travesties of the court's prosecutions. Explain what Hale means when he declares, "I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate that no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it."

Hale feels that there should be proof and is finding that the court's version of proof amounts to unfounded accusations, mostly based on the hysterical pretenses of the girls' testimony.

How does Hale show that he believes that the court is not doing the right thing? Use three details from the text in your response.

Hale says this outright to the court, "I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court." He slams the door of the court as he leaves. Hale also says that he cannot see the bird that Abigail sees, so it is not true. He also points directly at Abigail and the girls, telling Danforth that "you cannot believe them!"

How do Hale and Parris try to thwart each other, or act as foils, in regards to Danforth and the court? Use details from the drama to support your response.

Hale tries to get the judge to be logical and see reason and make sure the trial is fair and follows the law. Parris questions everything and encourages the accusations,

Danforth explains that ". . . a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between." What conclusion can you draw about Danforth's character from this line?

He is a stern man that wants to follow the rules of the court, and that the court itself is above anything else.

What is probably in John's mind as Danforth questions Elizabeth?

He is confident she will tell the truth at first but then as she pauses he becomes nervous, wanting to shout at her for the truth.

Danforth explains that witchcraft is an invisible crime and that only the victims are reliable. How does his philosophy flame the hysteria? Use details from the drama to support your response.

Once an individual stands accused of witchcraft, he or she is guilty. The Salem court does not operate on the modern idea that an individual is innocent until proven guilty, but rather it is vice-versa. As a result, confession is the only way to plea bargain for one's life.

Near the end of Act III of The Crucible, after Proctor has confessed his adultery with Abigail and Mary has been intimidated into disowning her testimony on Elizabeth's behalf, Proctor tells Danforth, "God dvmns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together." What does Proctor mean by this statement?

Proctor means that those including himself and Danforth, who commit wrong knowingly, are the most guilty of all and will be punished by God.

Why does Proctor persist even when he hears that Elizabeth is pregnant?

Proctor persists in challenging the witch trials and the court's proceedings because of his strong sense of moral duty, guilt, love for Elizabeth, commitment to truth and justice, and his defiant and independent nature. These motivations drive him to speak out against the injustice in Salem, even when he learns his wife is pregnant. He also speaks out because of a desire to protect those close to him.

What does Proctor mean in his comments at the end of the act?

Proctor's comment, "I say—God is dead!" reflects his frustration and despair with the corrupt and unjust court proceedings. It symbolizes his realization that the court has lost its connection to true justice and morality, leading him to openly defy the court and speak out against the injustice. In other words, he sees no god in Salem nd the presence of unchecked evil all around them

In Act III of The Crucible, Danforth mentions a rumor that Elizabeth Proctor is pregnant and uses this as a basis for giving her at least a year's reprieve from execution. What does this offer show about Danforth's character? What does Proctor's refusal of the offer show about his motives in presenting counterevidence to the court?

The offer shows Danforth is a cynical man who is trying to appeal to Proctor's sense of self-interest to get him to drop the presentation of counter evidence that might discredit the court and, with it, Danforth himself. Proctor's refusal shows that his motives in presenting counterevidence are principled, extending beyond his self interest to the interests of all the unjustly accused. it elevates him to a tragic hero when he chooses to ignore his own self-interests in order to save all the women,