The Crucible Act 1 Questions
Why has Reverend Parris sent for the doctor as the play begins?
Because Betty won't wake up
What does Betty Parris reveal about what happened in the woods?
Betty reveals that Abigail drank blood as a charm to kill Elizabeth.
What ultimatum is given to Tituba?
Confess to witchcraft, bless the Lord, and name others who are witches with her (or she will be hanged).
What has Elizabeth Proctor said about Abigail?
Elizabeth knows that Abigail and her husband had an affair, so she fired her from their service. Abigail believes that Elizabeth has spread "rumors" about the affair.
How does John Proctor feel about Reverend Parris?
He does not like him. He dislikes Parris' sermons because he ..."hardly ever mentions God anymore." John doesn't like Parris' concern for material things, pointing out his preoccupation for the deed to the house that the village has provided for the minister.
Why is Reverend Hale in Salem?
He has been called by Parris to stop the rumors of witchcraft.
What does Giles Corey reveal to Reverend Hale?
He is worried because his wife reads "strange" books at night. One night he couldn't pray until she stopped reading a book. He suspects witchcraft.
What/Who did Parris see in the woods the night before?
He saw Abigail, Betty and other girls dancing in the woods.
What did Parris see in the woods the previous night?
He saw, Abigail, Betty, and their friends dancing naked in the woods.
What does Parris question his niece Abigail about?
He wanted to know if she and Betty were practicing witchcraft
As the play begins, why has Reverend Parris sent for a doctor?
His daughter Betty is "sick" - as if in a coma
What is Parris 'main concern?
His reputation as a minister and material possessions.
The girls shout names as accusations. The girls do not want themselves to get in trouble, so they blame others.
How and by whom are the other villagers accused of witchcraft? What is the motivation for the girls' accusations?
Abigail is jealous of Elizabeth and thus despises her.
How does Abigail feel about John's wife, Elizabeth?
He asks many questions which forces her to lie to save herself.
How does Hale confuse Tituba?
He does not want to continue his relationship because he cannot forgive himself.
How does John Proctor feel about his relationship with Abigail?
What does Reverend Parris question Abigail about?
If her name in the village is "white" - meaning, is her reputation good.
What does Betty Parris reveal about what happened in the woods?
In Act I, Betty reveals that Abigail drank blood as part of her charm to kill Elizabeth Proctor. While the girls are in the upper room alone, they talk freely about what happened in the woods out of a sense of real fear regarding what they did in the woods.
What is the function of Rebecca Nurse in the play?
Rebecca is a voice of reason and common sense. She believes that the girls will tire of their "game" and that they are in a "silly season - she believes the girls are going through a stage.
Who does Tituba accuse of being a witch?
Sarah Good and Sarah Osborn
When Abigail is questioned by Reverend Hale, who does she blame? What proof does she offer?
She blames Tituba. For proof, she claims that Tituba has caused her to laugh during prayer. Parris confirms that Abigail does indeed laugh during prayer. To then, this is proof.
Why does Abigail say she was dismissed by the Proctors'?
She claims that she was dismissed because she refused to be treated like a slave. She calls Elizabeth a "...bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman..."
Why does Abigail say she was dismissed by the Proctors?
She claims that she was dismissed because she refused to be treated like a slave. She calls Elizabeth a "...bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman..."
Why does Betty Parris start accusing people?
She follows Tituba's and Abigail's example.
Why did Mrs. Putnam contact Tituba?
She has lost 7 children in childbirth and wants to know who is "killing" her babies.
What threat does Abigail make to the other girls?
She threatens to "...come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you." In other words, she threatens to hurt them physically if they tell.
What advice does the doctor send back?
That he can find no medical reason for her illness, and he should look for an "unnatural reason."
What is the dispute between John Proctor and Thomas Putnam?
They are fighting about land and boundaries.
What happened in the past between John Proctor and Abigail? How do they feel about it now?
They had an affair when she worked at the Proctors'. John has put a stop to it, but Abigail still pursues him.
Who does Abigail accuse of conjuring spirits at this point?
Tituba
What rumors have circulated about Betty Parris? What proof later occurs that "proves" that she is a witch?
Villagers say they saw her flying over a barn. When Betty has a fit as people downstairs sing a psalm (a religious song), Mrs. Putnam claims that Betty cannot bear to hear the Lord's name because she is a witch.
Betty was caught in the woods & was practicing witchcraft.
What do they suggest is Betty's problem?
Go conjure the spirits of her dead babies to speak to them.
What does Ann Putnam ask Tituba to do?
She thinks that the girls are faking witchcraft to get attention.
What does Rebecca Nurse think is wrong with the girls?
They were in the forest dancing, Abigail drank blood, and Mercy Lewis was naked.
What does the conversation between Abigail, Mercy Lewis, Mary Warren, and Betty reveal about their recent activities?
She wants to curse Elizabeth Proctor so she can be with John Proctor.
What is Abigail's motivation for going to the woods?
He had an affair with Abigail when she was a former servant at his house.
What is John Proctor's relationship to Abigail?
Mary is his servant.
What is John's relationship to Mary Warren?
Putnam accuses Proctor of taking trees off his land. He wants all the land he can steal from people as possible.
What is the Putnams' grievance over land?
Proctor questions Parris's beliefs and morals. He sees that Parris is more concerned with keeping his position as minister than with practicing his true religion and devotion to God.
What is the source of the conflict between Parris and Proctor?
He never attended church before he married his wife. He reports that his wife reads books that he does not know about. Also, he files lawsuits regularly.
What is unusual about Giles Corey?
She won't wake up.
What is wrong with Betty?
The girls were dancing and some of them were not wearing clothes. There was a frog in the pot and Tituba was chanting.
What were Abigail and the girls doing in the forest when Reverend Parris saw them?
Why does Abigail start accusing people at this point?
When Tituba saves herself by "confessing" Abigail decides to do the same.
Wealthy and suspicious of everyone; Ann lost 8 babies
Who are Ann and Thomas Putnam? What is their motivation for suggesting witchcraft?
Parris' niece.
Who is Abigail?
Parris' daughter
Who is Betty?
John Proctor's friend.
Who is Giles Corey?
A farmer in Salem whose absence in church spurs controversy.
Who is John Proctor?
She is a maid in the Putnam's home. She was also in the woods.
Who is Mercy Lewis?
An old woman with 26 grandchildren. She is well respected in Salem.
Who is Rebecca Nurse?
He is a reverend who is summoned to Salem to identify witches. He puts the majority of Salem in jail, but later realizes that there is no witchcraft in Salem-only corruption. He leaves and returns later.
Who is Reverend Hale, and what does he accomplish?
The minister in Salem.
Who is Reverend Parris?
The Putnam's daughter. She is sick like Betty.
Who is Ruth? What is wrong with her?
Parris' Negro slave from Barbados.
Who is Tituba?
To see if Hale' experience with witch trials would show that there is no witchcraft.
Why does Parris suggest calling Reverend Hale?
She has lost all but one of her children shortly after they were born and wants someone to blame (a scapegoat).
Why is Mrs. Putnam so eager to prove there is witchcraft in the village?
Parris wants to remain minister and fears any evidence that may harm his reputation.
Why is Parris so worried about the evidence of witchcraft being discovered in his own house?
He wants more land and therefore, more power.
Why is Thomas Putnam such a bitter man?
He wants more money and he isn't honest.
Why is the issue of Parris's salary raised?