the crucible, act one
what are abigail williams' connections to the proctor family?
abigail used to be elizabeth proctor's maid/servant, but she was fired due to disagreements and the fact that she was "soiled." abigail also had an affair with john proctor, who she continues to obsess over.
how is samuel parris linked with authority?
he is a reverend, salem's minister, which puts him in a position of authority. he fears he will lose his position of authority and wants to protect his reputation.
how is thomas putnam linked with authority?
he is a wealthy landowner, which gives him some authority, though not as much as he thinks he deserves; land = power.
why has parris sent for reverend hale from beverly?
parris wants hale, who is very knowledgeable about witchcraft, to confirm that nothing supernatural is going on with his daughter, betty.
what do we learn about the events in the forest?
reverend parris caught betty and her cousin abigail dancing around a fire while their slave, tituba, waved her arms and sang in barbados. parris said he saw a dress laying by the fire and someone running around naked.
before the arrival of john hale, what are some of the subjects for petty disagreements among the characters?
reverend parris' salary and how he should be getting wood, and whose land belongs to whom.
what does ann putnam claim in the play about her dead infant children?
she claims that her dead babies were killed by unnatural forces.
how is rebecca nurse linked with authority?
she is an older woman who is very highly respected in salem. she has had many children and grandchildren and hasn't lost a single one. she is very gentle and patient towards children, her mere presence being calming to them.
how would you describe the atmosphere or mood at the end of this act? what might this atmosphere foreshadow about future events in the town of salem?
the atmosphere is very intense, hysterical, and chaotic. this may foreshadow the town falling to mass hysteria. people will be scared and won't think clearly, and they will be quick to accuse people of witchcraft and punish them for it.
where and when is the opening scene of the play set?
the play opens in salem, massachusetts, in the spring of 1692, in reverend parris' house.
miller colors the play with dialect, or specific regional speech. what are some examples of dialect in this act?
tituba is shown to be uneducated and an outsider when she says things such as "i gave she chicken blood" or "she beg me make charm."
what happend when john hale interrogates tituba? how does the scene's atmosphere become hysterical?
tituba is terrified and desperate to save herself, so she starts throwing out accusations against women in salem and against parris. she is rocking, panting, and weeping. abigail also opens up and makes accusations, followed by betty waking up and making accusations as well.
according to the stage directions, how does john hale enter for the first time?
when he enters, he is loaded down with half a dozen heavy books, saying that they are weighted with authority.