‘The Crucible’

SHORT PLOT SUMMARY (Synopsis)

o The plot revolves around the witchcraft hysteria that plagues Salem and splits the town into those who use the trials for their
own ends and those who desire the good of the society.

o Act I introduces most of the main characters in the play. The action takes place in Reverend Parris' home. Having discovered
his daughter dancing naked in the woods with several other girls and his Barbadian slave, he has called in the Reverend Hale
to investigate his suspicions of witchcraft. Various characters are introduced, and the reader learns of the pettiness of the
Putnams, the superstition of Parris, the open-mindedness of Hale, the viciousness of Abigail, and, most importantly, the
secret guilt of Proctor, who has committed adultery with Abigail.

o Act II develops the need for Proctor to take action in defending the truth. The action takes place at the Proctors' home. John
and his wife argue over whether he should denounce Abigail, and the reader learns of the rift that has developed between
Proctor and his wife over his act of adultery. When officials of the court arrive and Elizabeth is arrested, John realizes that he
can no longer stand by and not act.

o Act III shows the attempts by Proctor and other citizens to oppose the court and the opposition they face by those with vested
interest in the proceedings. Giles Corey and Francis Nurse denounce the trials and are subsequently arrested. Proctor admits
to committing adultery with Abigail but is not believed.
o
Abigail, by pretending that Mary is "sending her spirit out" to attack her, induces Mary, who has been supporting Proctor, to
abandon her testimony and accuse him to protect herself. Proctor is arrested, and Hale quits the court in disgust.

o The final act focuses on Proctor's dilemma whether to live or accept death. He signs a confession, but, when he realizes that it
will be used against his fellow accused, he tears it up. On a personal level, this act recovers his sense of goodness. In a larger
sense, his act represents the tragic sacrifice of good as the only means to bring harmony back to a society gone awry.

Characters

John Proctor
- Proctor is the main protagonist within Miller’s ‘The Crucible’. He is a strong, powerful and committed Christian who is filled
with guilt after his affair with Abigail Williams. Because of this, JP is trying to make amends with his wife Elizabeth Proctor.
However, this turns out to be his mistake, as the fear and hesitation to reveal the truth is ultimately his downfall.
- JP openly criticises the justice system within the village and he doubts the purity of reverend Parris, and his plight within the play
becomes symbolic for the village as a whole.
- In the final scenes of ‘The Crucible’ we see JP as he truly is; he condemns himself by confessing his lie and pays the ultimate
price for his sin.
- The audience attempts justify to Proctor’s affair and see him as a ‘good’ character - Miller is able to gain sympathy for Proctor, as
the audience can recognise parts of themselves within him.
Key Words to describe him: Loyal, Family man, Powerful, Religious, Intellectual, Stern, Strong Morale.
Important moments and Key actions:
- Refuses to sign confession as he does not want his name marked - symbolises his loyalty.
- Attempt to stop Cheever taking his wife, shows his love for her and trust.
- Convinces Mary to confess the girls are lying, however she gives in to Abigail.
- Tells the court that Elizabeth will never lie, symbolising his utmost love for her and reflecting her stoic figure.
- Tells audience he had the affair, giving in to having his name destroyed so he could save Elizabeth.
Key Ideas: Relationships/ Loyalty/ Hysteria/ Religion/ Pride/ Guilt/ Fear/
Function or role within the play:
- Main Character in the play – Symbolises those who were wrongly accused during McCarthyism, not giving in to their attacks.
Shows that no amount of power you have can stop peril when mass accused.
Key Quotations/ stage directions:
- “(angered – at himself as well) You’ll speak nothin’ of Elizabeth!”
- "I'll plead my honesty no more, Elizabeth...No more! I should have roared you down when first you told me your suspicion.
- "Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer!"
- "Spare me! You forget nothin' and forgive nothin'.
- “Why, I – I would free my wife, sir”
- “My wife pregnant!”
- “(trembling, his life collapsing about him): I have known her, sir. I have known her.”
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- “I have made a bell of my honour! I have rung the doom of my good name – you will believe me, Mr Danforth! My wife
is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one!”
- “In her life sir, she have never lied”
- “Elizabeth, tell the truth!”
- “I say – God is dead!”
- “(laughs insanely, then): A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and
yours, Danforth!...we will burn together!”
- “You are pulling Heaven down and raising up a whore!”
- ‘(His wrists are chained. He is another man, bearded, filthy, his eyes misty as though webs had overgrown them. He halts inside
the doorway, his eye caught by the sight of Elizabeth. The emotion flowing between them prevents anyone from speaking for an
instant).’
- “(with great force of will, but not quite looking at her): I have been thinking I would confess to them, Elizabeth.”
- “(for the first time he turns directly to her.) I would have your forgiveness, Elizabeth.”
- ‘(He moves as an animal, and a fury is riding in him, a tantalized search)’
- “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 hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my
name!”

Elizabeth Proctor
- Proctor’s wife Elizabeth is first introduced in Act 2 of ‘The Crucible’.
- Elizabeth and John’s relationship is shown to be strained in Act 2 and this alters her behaviour and emotion. Elizabeth is a
CHARACTER who arcs over time and changes from a stoic woman to one of great passion and strength when, in the final
scenes, she counsels John with humble wisdom and shows an understanding for his desires to pay penance and cleanse his sins.
- Elizabeth closes the play with the words “He have his goodness now” demonstrating her love for John, by placing his need above
her own wish to have him live.
- Importantly, Elizabeth is Abigail Williams’ opposite. She is timid and unsure until her one desire (John) is taken away from her.
Only then does she realise her own wants and needs.

Key Words to describe: Loyal, gentle, devout, reserved, restrained, careful, calm, solemn, humble, virtuous, honest, moral, dependable,
motherly, determined, good and stoic. Later on, as the play reaches its conclusion, we see Elizabeth become passionate and selfless.

Important moments and Key actions:

 Kicks Abigail out of the house when she suspects John of adultery
 Encourages John to reveal Abigail’s deceitful accusations
 Gets arrested for witchcraft
 Pregnancy is revealed (can’t be hung)
 Lies in-front of the court to save Proctor
 Helps Proctor forgive himself in the end

Key Ideas: Relationships/ Loyalty/ Religion/ Truth/ Conscience/ Morality/ Religion/ Identity/
Function and role within the play:
- Proctor’s rock – he turns to her to see what he should do.
- Honesty – keeps the plot grounded.
- Hope – revelation of pregnancy.

Key quotations/ Stage directions:

- ‘(Elizabeth is head softly singing to the children)’
- ‘(with a smile to keep her dignity)’
- ‘Abigail brings the other girls into court, and where she walks the crowd will part like the sea for Israel.’
- ‘Adultery, John’
- ‘I am not your judge, I cannot be’
- ‘I do not judge you.’
- ‘Why-! The girl is murder! She must be ripped out of the world!’
- ‘He have his goodness now, god forbid I take it from him’

Abigail Williams
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Abigail Williams is Reverend Parris’ orphaned 17 year old niece. As a child, she witnessed her parent’s murder at the hands of the
native Indians and so Parris has reluctantly taken her in. Abigail is without parental guidance and is somewhat of an outcast; she
attempts to be respectful to Parris but ultimately becomes confrontational. She merely tolerates the other girls and threatens them with
violence in order to gain control. Abigail previously worked as the Proctor’s servant, until Elizabeth put her out after her affair with
John Proctor.
John Proctor is Abigail’s desire. He symbolises her need for attention and the desire to be loved. She is obsessive about him and casts
a spell to make Proctor love her, when dancing with the other girls and Tituba.
Tituba’s powerful Christian confession and ‘return to god’ is the catalyst for Abigail – a chance for control, power and respect. Thus
showing that Abigail is the effect of oppression within the puritan society and she shows that eventually something has to give.
Abigail has never known love and in some ways this allows the audience to feel somewhat sympathetic towards her desire for
Proctor’s love. But Miller himself doesn’t seem to care for Abigail, stating early on in the stage directions: “Endless capacity for
dissembling” and writes her as someone constantly trying to manipulate others (Parris, girls, Proctor and court).
Importantly, Abigail is the complete opposite to Elizabeth Proctor’s character.

Key Words to describe: frightening, mean, controlling, defiant, strong, determined, manipulative, jealous, deceitful, devious, sly,
whore, powerful, motivated, lustful, attention-seeking.

Important moments and Key actions:

- Proctors' servant before Elizabeth fired her for having an affair with John
- Dances with Tituba and the other girls (seen by Parris)
- False accusations against other women after Tituba’s ‘confession’
- Accuses Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft and attempting to kill her
- Deceives the court about Mary Warren and stops her deposition being taken seriously
- Tries to accuse Hale’s wife of witchcraft
- Steals Parris’ money and runs away with Mercy
- Later found to be a prostitute

Key Ideas: Hysteria/ Morality/ Metaphor/ Femme Fatale/ Deceit/ Injustice/ Theology and its weaknesses/ Power/ Control/ Desire/ Fear/
Function and role within the play:
- Catalyst for the trials and accusations
- Represents the hysteria and false accusation at the time of Salem and McCarthyism (allegory)
- Symbolic of man’s weakness and sin
Key quotations/ Stage directions:
- “Uncle the rumour of witchcraft is all about; I think you’d best go down and deny it yourself”.
- “There be no blush about my name”
- “It’s a bitter woman, a lying, snivelling, woman and I will not work for such a woman!”
- “I will not black my face for any of them!”
- “(in a temper) My name is good about the village!”
- “she took fright is all”
- “Give me a word John, a soft word”
- “I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and the covenanted men!”
- “She made me do it!”
- ‘Abigail rises, staring as though inspired, and cries out “I want to open myself… I want the light of God…”
- “(in an open threat): Let you beware, Mr Danforth. Think you be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits?”
- “(Looking about in the air, clasping her arms about her as though cold): I –I know not. A wind, a cold wind, has come (her eyes fall
on Mary Warren)”
- “(Crying to Heaven) Oh, heavenly father, take away this shadow
- “Why -? (She gulps) why do you come yellow bird?”

Reverend Hale
Key Ideas: Theocracy/ Religion/ Faith/ Logic/ Morality/ Truth/ Power/ Fear/
Key Quotations and stage directions:
- “(setting down his books): …They are weighted with authority”
- “Now mark me, if the Devil is in her you will witness some frightful wonders in this room”
- “Glory to God! It is broken, they are free!
- “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!” (Act 2)
- “ If Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then there is nothing left to stop the whole green world from burning!” (Act 2)
- “Man remember until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven” (Act 3)
- “It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Life, woman, life is God’s most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may
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justify the taking of it . . ..it may well be God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride.” (Act 4)
- “ Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook my own. I came into this village like a bridegroom to his beloved, bearing gifts of high
religion; the very crowns of holy law I brought, and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died; and where I turned the eye of
my great faith, blood flowed up.” (Act 4) 

Reverend Parris
Key Ideas: Greed/ religion/ power/ fear/ injustice/ lies/
Key Quotations and stage directions:
- ‘In history he cut a villainous path, and there is little good to be said for him’
- ‘though we cannot hear his words, a sense of confusion hangs about him.’
- “(his eyes going wide): No – no. There be no unnatural cause here.”
- “That my daughter and niece I discovered dancing like heathen in the forest?”
- “There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit.”
- “my own household is discovered to be the very centre of some obscene practice. Abominations are done in the forest –“
- “Your name in the town – it is entirely white, is it not?”
- “I pray you, leap not to witchcraft… We cannot leap to witchcraft. They will howl me out of Salem for such corruption in my house”
- “There is either obedience or the church will burn like hell is burning!”
- “You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba!”
- “They’ve come to overthrow the court, sir!”
- “All innocent and Christian people are happy for the courts in Salem! These people are gloomy for it”
- “Excellency, I would postpone these hangin’s for a while”
- “Go to him! (He rushes out the door, as though to hold back his fate) Proctor! Proctor!”

Judge Danforth
Key Ideas: identity/ religion/ injustice/ fear/ intolerance/ hysteria/ allegory/ theocracy
Key Quotations and stage directions:
- “Do you know who I am, Mr Nurse?”
- And do you know that near to four hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn, and upon my signature?”
- “And seventy-two condemned to hang by that signature?”
- “The voice of heaven is speaking through children”
- “And the other girls... they are also pretending?”
- “I judge nothing… I have seen marvels in this court.”
- ‘(– it is the reflection of himself he resents)’
- “The pure of heart need no lawyers”
- “there is fear in the country because there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country!”
- “But witchcraft is ipso facto, on its face and by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not?”
- "You deny every scrap and little of this?"
- “I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law”
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Key Quotations
Act 1
1. Opening stage directions of the play: Parris is shown praying by Betty’s bedside
‘A small upper bedroom in the home of Reverend Samuel Parris, Salem , Massachusetts, in the spring of the year 1692. There is a
narrow window at the left. Through its leaded panes the morning sunlight streams…’
Room simply furnished – reflecting theocratic and simple way of life. Staging is intentionally claustrophobic to aid the creation of tension
as many characters enter and exit. Small space and lots of action helps to mirror the sense of the fever gripping as the hysteria takes hold.

2. Abigail’s first appearance: She announces to her Uncles that Susanna Walcott has arrived with a message from Dr Griggs about Betty’s
‘illness’
‘An endless capacity for dissembling. Now she is all worry and apprehension and propriety.’
Show later in the play as she is at the heart of ripping Salem to pieces when she drives the persecution of the women forward.
Her manipulative character is shown as she acts as though she has no knowledge of anything happening in the woods.

3. Susanna Walcott has indicated that Dr Griggs can find no medical explanation for Betty’s inability to wake. Parris’ eyes go wide as he
responds.
“Parris: No – no. There be no unnatural cause here. Tell him I have sent Reverend Hale of Beverly, and Mr Hale will surely confirm
that.’
Parris’s insistence that there must be a medical explanation suggests that he is genuinely worried that something unnatural is afflicting
Betty – we are aware of the consequences of this for him.
The very fact that he confirms he’s sent for Hale – a man renowned for seeking out witches – confirms his worry. Tension is mounting

4. Parris is aware that many in the village want him out of his post and he is concerned that any mark against his name – such as this – will
force him out.
“Parris: My own household is discovered to be the very centre of some obscene practice. Abominations are done in the forest –‘

Anger with Abigail conveyed and the people’s worries about the danger that lies out with the boundaries of the community is highlighted.

5. Parris interrogates Abigail about the goings on in the woods. He challenges her about having seen someone dancing naked and she refutes
this.
“Parris: Now tell me true, Abigail. And I pray you feel the weight of truth upon you, for now my ministry’s at stake, my ministry
and perhaps your cousin’s life.’
Sentence Structure reveals Parris’ self-preservation – repetition of ‘my ministry’ and placement of ‘your cousin’s life’ at the end indicates
she is of less importance than his ministry.

6. Parris asks Abigail how she is thought of in the village. There have been some whispers following her dismissal from the Proctor’s and
nobody else has employed them.
“Abigail: There be no blush about my name’
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The importance of name is a key theme running throughout the play. This is a straight lie.

7. Abigail explains why she was discharged.

“Abigail: It’s a bitter woman, a lying cold snivelling, woman, and I will not work for such a woman.”
Elizabeth is described before she is introduced in Act II. Abigail’s hatred towards her is suggested. We begin to see a reason for Abigail
speaking out against Elizabeth later in the play.

The ‘witches’ get together

8. Mercy suggests hitting Betty to wake her.
“Abigail: No, He’ll be comin’ up. Listen, now; if they be questioning us, tell them we danced – I told him as much already.”
Reveals Abigail’s self-preservation - Abigail stops Mercy hitting Betty so if Paris hears them he won’t know what they have done.

9. Mary warren arrives. She urges the others to confess.

“Mercy: ‘what a grand peeping courage you have’
Mary brings with her fear. This contrasts with her behaviour in Act II when she talks to Proctor and when she is taken to speak out against
the girls in court.

10. Betty awakes momentarily and shouts at Abigail.

“Betty: You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor’
This emphasises Abigail’s hatred. This also sets Abigail’s story up for future use as it indicates that Abigail calls out against Elizabeth
Proctor for her own gain.

11. Abigail is threatening Betty.

“Abigail: I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you’
I have seen some reddish work done at night, and I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down!
This shows that Abigail is completely in control over Betty, and clearly shows how evil Abigail can be. This brings in the themes of fear
and evil.

Abigail and Proctor are alone together

12. Abigail is talking to John.
“Abigail: You clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I come near’
This indicates the physical nature of the relationship. Suggests Abigail feels that Proctor still likes Abigail a little.

13. Abigail is talking to John.

“Abigail: You are no wintry man. I know you, John. I know you.
That Abigail feels she knows him well. Proctor had once warmed to her. Points to the present state of the Proctor’s relationship as he later
tells Elizabeth that it is ‘winter yet’ in his house.

14. Proctor sets Abigail in her place.

“Proctor: I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched Abby.”
Proctor makes it clear that he has no intension of going back to her. His tone is severe and forceful so Abigail will forget about it.

15. Abigail still lusts after John and she explains to him what their relationship meant to her.
“Abigail: I never knew what pretence Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught…’
Proctor has long been aware of the pretence of Salem and has told Abigail of the lack of Christian values.

16. Abigail still lusts after John.

“Abigail: And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot!’
The mention of light represents the goodness that Abigail sees in Proctor. Abigail is angry and refuses to give up on the idea that she may
be with Proctor.

The arrival of Hale

17. Parris announces that Hale – a reverend from Beverly who is well versed in the processes for seeking out witches – is coming to Salem

“Rebecca: I think you best send Reverend Hale back as soon as he come. This will set us all to arguin’ again’
Much wisdom in this comment. Indeed the whole process does set the community to arguing as they try to gain land and exact revenge.

18. Rebecca and Hale are introduced and they discuss what he is to do in the town.
“Rebecca: There is prodigious danger in the seeking of loose spirits. I fear it, I fear it. Let us blame ourselves and –‘
The danger is soon revealed at the end of the Act when Hale’s questioning of Tituba triggers a series of accusations.
Rebecca is right to be frightened as she is later accused – fear is a key theme of the play.
She is also right the community should ‘blame ourselves as they literally rip their community apart.

19. As above.
“Hale: Have no fear now – we shall find him out if he has come among us, and I mean to crush him utterly if he has shown his
face!’
‘The Crucible’
Illustrates Hale’s determination and belief at the start. This changes dramatically as the play progresses.

20. Hale questions Tituba after Abi reveals that she conjured spirits.
“Tituba: No, no, don’t hang Tituba! I tell him I don’t desire to work for him, sir.’
Tituba’s position as a slave makes her the perfect person for Abigail to accuse.
Structure of questioning – deny, sense persecution as inevitable, confess, accuse others to save yourself – is introduced here and remain the
same throughout the play.

21. Tituba is confessing. Hale uses leading questions.

“Tituba:‘It was black dark, and I –‘
Tituba is playing for time. She didn’t see anything so she is unsure what to say/who to say she saw. Putnam mentions Goody Good and
Goody Osborne so she takes advantage and mentions them. It is natural for Tituba to lie as she wishes to save her life.

22. Abigail has witnessed Tituba’s confession

“Abigail: ‘I want to open myself! I want the light of god, I want the sweet love of Jesus.’
Hysteria takes hold. Abigail begins to take advantage and name other names

End of the Act

23. The first arrests are made.
“Hale: Let the Marshall bring the irons”
This event will be repeated many times as the jails are filled – theme of fear.

Act Two
24. First time Johns and Elizabeth are together in the play.
Stage Directions: ‘He lifts out the ladle and tastes. He is not quite pleased. He reaches to a cupboard, takes a pinch of salt, and
drops it into the pot.’
This is representative of his dissatisfaction with his wife. Also highlights his willingness to please her as when he tastes the food he praises
her on the quality of the seasoning.

25. Elizabeth is telling John how she could not stop Mary going to Salem.
“Elizabeth: It is a mouse no more. I forbid her go, and she raises up her chin like the daughter of a prince and says to me, ‘I must
go to Salem, Goody Proctor; I am an official of the court!”
This reveals that Mary now has a great sense of importance; this establishes that all the children who are involved feel this way. The
transformation is Mary is revealed in that she is compared to a mouse changing into ‘the daughter of a Prince.

26. Elizabeth is explaining the extent of the town’s hysteria.

“Elizabeth: The town’s gone wild…she speak of Abigail, and I thought she were a saint, to hear her…where she walks the crowd
part like the sea for Israel.”
This emphasises her power over everyone. Allusion to the bible.

27. Elizabeth told John to go to Salem and speak against Abigail.

“Proctor: I am only wondering how I may prove what she told me Elizabeth. If the girl’s a saint now, I think it is not easy to prove
she’s a fraud, and the town’s gone so silly.’
Everyone believes her lies so it is hard for anyone to speak out against her. Highlights the hysteria that has gripped the town.

28. Elizabeth is saying that she does not judge John

“Elizabeth: The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you.’
This emphasises that John has a great sense of personal integrity.

Mary arrives
29. Proctor is criticising the methods used to determine who is a witch. Criticise the hanging of old women.
“Mary: They will not hang if they confess…it’s god’s work we do’
Shows Mary belief in that she isn’t doing wrong. Audience recognise the flaw in the questioning methods.
Shows Mary’s belief that the court is right. Again self-importance and delusion owing to the hysteria.

30. Elizabeth name has been mentioned in court by Abigail

“Elizabeth: Oh the noose, the noose is up’
Fear of Abigail

31. Sarah Good has confessed to witchcraft. Mary claims Sarah Good tried to kill her.
“Mary: I never knew it before. I never knew any of it before…she sit there denying and denying and I feel a misty coldness
creeping up my back, and I feel a clamp around my neck and I cannot breathe air; and then I hear a voice..”
The power of mass hysteria is revealed as this climate of fear brings out strange feelings from the girls.
‘The Crucible’
32. Elizabeth finds out her name was mentioned in court. Proctor tries to reassure Elizabeth by saying this isn’t the case but we recognise, from
Abigail’s earlier comments that it is.
“Elizabeth: She’d dare not call out a farmer’s wife but there be monstrous profit in it. She thinks to take my place, John’
Fear of Abigail and why Abigail is risking calling her name in court.

33. John’s reluctance to go speak to the court

“Elizabeth: She has an arrow in you yet John Proctor and you know it well!’
Shows John still has feelings for Abigail or at least an influence on him.

Hale arrives at the Proctor’s house

34. Hale comes to Proctor’s house to tell them that Elizabeth’s name will be mentioned in court.
Stage Directions ‘There is a quality of deference, even of guilt about his manner now.’
“Hale: I come of my own, without the court’s authority.’
This is the first indication that Hale is changing and that he is going against the court. He is taking a risk by going to the Proctor’s house
without permission.

35. Talking about commandments and the power of the court.

“Hale: Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small.’
Things are getting awkward and Hale’s feeling worried.
Abigail is in fact tearing the community apart at this stage.

36. Proctor is trying to prove a point, that nobody deserves to be hung.

“Proctor: There are them that’ll swear to anything before they’ll hang; have you never thought of that?’
The atmosphere is tense as Proctor points out the flaws in the court’s methods.

37. Cheever arrives to seek evidence against Elizabeth and Arrest her.
“Cheever: she testify it were your wife’s familiar spirit pushed it in’
This highlights that Abigail is willing to use a range of acts associated with witchcraft to make her tales sound genuine. She has been
particular manipulative to try to support the claims against Elizabeth.

38. Proctor defends his wife – argues with Cheever.

“Proctor: Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this morning as clean as god’s fingers? I’ll tell them what’s walking
Salem – vengeance is walking Salem.’
Proctor rightly questions this though it is very difficult to prove.

39. They take Elizabeth away

“Proctor: Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands of this.’
Reference to the bible – calls Hale a traitor. At this point Hale doesn’t truly realise that he’s on the wrong side.

40. Proctor convinces Mary to go to the court to confess that it is all pretence. Mary explains that Abigail spoke of her affair.
”Proctor: Good. Then her saintliness is done with. We will slide together into our pit; you will tell the court what you know.”
Proctor is still unwilling to confess his sins – he directs Mary to the court to condemn herself but he is not yet willing to reveal his own sins
to save his wife.

41. End of Act II

“Proctor: Hell and heaven grapple on our backs, and all our old pretence is ripped away – make your peace!...we are only what we
always were, but naked now. Aye naked! And the wind, God’s icy wind, will blow!’
His determination to save his wife is revealed as Mary weeps in the background.

Act Three
42. Proctor challenges the evidence
“Danforth: We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment.’
Relates to the definition of what a crucible is.
The irony is that the court encourages concealment and puts its full faith in the girls.

43. Cheever speaks of his visit to arrest Elizabeth in Act II

“Cheever: He damned the court and ripped your warrant.’
Proctor rips up his confession later – again to show his anger at the proceedings and lack of faith in the court.

44. Hale challenges Danforth

“Hale: I cannot think you may judge the man on such evidence’
The change in Hale is shown as he begins to recognise that the evidence is flawed.
‘The Crucible’
45. “Danforth: I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them struck by pins
and slashed with daggers. I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me’.

Ironic as he has not ‘seen’ anything. This long list highlights the full range of deceits that have taken place.

46. Danforth reveals Elizabeth’s pregnancy and that she will be allowed to live a month – by which point the hysteria may have died down.

“Proctor: These are my friends. Their wives are also accused’

Shows Proctor’s personal integrity as, despite the chance his wife will be safe because of her pregnancy, he looks to save the other accused
by challenging Abigail.

47. Abi feels threatened but shows her power and confidence by challenging Danforth.
“Abigail: I done my duty pointin’ out the devil’s people and this is my reward! To be mistrusted, denied, questioned lie a –‘
Think you be so mighty that the power of hell may not turn your wits? Beware of it!’
Angry tone in Abigail’s dialogue.
She directly threatens Danforth. She is forceful in her accusations.

48. In anger Proctor reveals that he has committed lechery.

“Proctor: I have made a bell of my honour! I have rung the doom of my good name – you will believe me, Mr Danforth!’
Proctor emphasises the extent of his sacrifice – he has lost his good name.
The importance of a name is dealt with in the final scene.

49. Proctor believes Elizabeth will tell the truth in court.

“Proctor: In her life, sir, she have never lied.’
Important as Elizabeth does lie in this situation. This leads to both Proctor and his wife being condemned.

50. Elizabeth has just left the court room; she has lied about Proctor committing lechery.
“Hale: Excellency, it is a natural lie to tell: I beg you stop now before another is condemned! I may shut my conscience to it no
more – private vengeance is working through this testimony…’
Hale strongly objects to the way in which proctor is treated and accurately sums up the situation - private vengeance is at work.

51. Abigail diverts attention from Mary’s accusations.

“Abigail: Oh Mary this is a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it’s god’s work I do.’
Exploits her knowledge of the things that a witch would be expected to do/exploits the lack of need for clear evidence.
Repetition to highlight the hysteria

52. Abigail says she sees Mary as a bird.

Mary, Abigail and the girls repeat what Mary says ‘stop it!’ etc
Builds to hysteria and shows that Abigail is in control.

53. Abigail has control over Mary.

“Proctor: A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face and yours Danforth!
‘You are pulling down heaven and raising up a whore’
Danforth believes the girls and it shows that anger of Proctor. The irony of Abigail saying she is in heaven now, whereas heaven is being
pulled down.

54. Hale ends the court meeting.

“Hale: I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!’
The court believes Mary’s accusation and accuse Proctor of witchcraft.

Act 4
Falling Action following the frenzied courtroom scene
Proctor is in jail Parris and Hale together - these characters were completely opposed in Act III. The fact that they are together now suggests a
dramatic change in the attitude of Parris. He feels guilty and looks to Hale to save the persecuted.

55. In conversation with Elizabeth

“Hale: I would save your husband’s live, for if he is taken I count myself his murderer. Do you understand me?
Underlines Hale’s guilt and change in character

56. As above
“Hale: Let you not mistake my duty as I mistook my own. I came into this village like a bridegroom to his beloved, bearing gifts of
high religion the very crowns of holy law I brought, and what I touched with my bright confidence – It died and where I turned the
eye of my great faith, blood flowed up.’
‘Life is god’s most precious gift’.
‘The Crucible’
Simile reveals that he saw the seeking out of witches as a happy quest/ an opportunity to test the theories in his books. Religion was
exploited to do evil/persecute the good.

Rule by the church = theocracy

57. Discusses the option of lying to save his life with Elizabeth.
“Proctor: I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is a fraud. I am not that man.’
Proctor acknowledges that he has flaws.

58. As above
“Elizabeth: Whatever you will do it is a good man does it.’
She shows forgiveness and acknowledges his goodness.

59. Proctor turns from Elizabeth to Hathorne

“Proctor: I want my life’
Confirms that he will lie.

60. Danforth had asked him to name names just as the others did when they confessed.
“Proctor: I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another. I have no tongue for it.’
His goodness/Personal Integrity are shown as he won’t name others.

61. He had signed a confession but refuses to have it nailed on the church door. He tears it up.
“Proctor: Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies…I have given my
soul; leave my name!’
Repetition of ideas, stresses and importance of a name.
Admits he lied.

62. Danforth calls for the Marshall. Hale begs him not to condemn himself.
“Proctor: You have made your magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a
banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs,’
Having overcome adversity, Proctor sees his goodness. Metaphor suggests he acknowledges that his flaws remain.
‘white’ connotes goodness.

63. Final line of the play.

“Elizabeth: He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!’
Confirms that good has overcome evil and the community has risen against the corrupt authority.

Example Essay Exam Questions

These are just examples – you will need to know quotations and the events of the play very well in order to
adapt your knowledge to a variety of potential questions

Main areas for you to be prepared for:

- Inner conflict (character struggling with the truth/conscience/to make the right decision)
- Conflict with another character
- A character who is good/moral/has integrity/changes over the course of the play
- Ending (dramatic/satisfying/shocking/important/clarifies theme etc.)
- Key scene (turning point/important truth is revealed/shocking/one which involves the audience etc.)
- Theme (good vs evil, fear, hysteria, abuse of power etc.)
- A play that you think is interesting/dramatic etc.
‘The Crucible’
1. Choose a play in which a character makes a brave decision. Briefly explain the circumstances which led up to the decision and then discuss
how it affects your views of the character.

2. Choose from a play a scene in which one character makes an accusation against another character. Explain the dramatic importance of the
scene and discuss how it affects your sympathy for either or both of the characters.

3. Choose from a play a scene in which you felt totally involved. Show how the skill of the dramatist caused you to be so involved.

4. Choose a play in which a character struggles with his conscience. Outline briefly the reasons for the character’s dilemma and go on to
discuss how successfully the dramatist engages your sympathy for her or him.

5. Choose from a play a scene in which the conflict between two characters is at its most intense. Outline briefly the reasons for the conflict
and then by examining the scene in detail, show how it gave you a deeper appreciation of the play as a whole.

6. Choose a play in which the main character is at odds with one or more than one of the people around him or her. Show how the dramatist
makes you aware of the character’s situation and discuss to what extent this led to a greater understanding of the concerns of the play.

7. Choose a play in which there is a scene which provides a clear turning point in the drama. Explain why it is a turning point and go on to
discuss the importance of the scene to your appreciation of the play as a whole.

8. Choose a play in which there is a breakdown in family relationship(s). Explain the reason for the breakdown and discuss the extent to
which it is important to the play as a whole.

9. Choose a play in which the dramatist explores the idea of rebellion against authority. Explain briefly the circumstances which give rise to
the rebellion and discuss how successfully you think the dramatist explores the idea.

10. Choose a play in which there is a scene involving intense emotion. Show how the dramatist makes you aware of the intensity of the
emotion in the scene and discuss the importance of the scene to the drama as a whole.

11. Choose a play in which a character is seeking the truth, avoiding the truth or hiding the truth. Explain to what extent the character
achieves this aim and discuss how the dramatist uses the situation to reveal important aspects of the character’s role in the play as a whole.

12. Choose a play which features one of the following themes: appearance versus reality; good versus evil; dreams versus reality; youth versus
age.

13. Choose a play in which the mood is mainly dark or pessimistic. Show how the dramatist creates this mood and discuss how appropriate it is
to the main idea(s) of the play.