The Crucible by Arthur Miller Mrs. A. Owens American Literature

Time Period Time Period Time Period Puritan New England- Salem, Massachusetts Puritan New England- Salem, Massachusetts

Map of Salem, Mass.

Characters John Proctor - A local farmer who lives just outside town; Elizabeth Proctor’s husband. A stern, harsh-tongued man, John hates hypocrisy. John Proctor - A local farmer who lives just outside town; Elizabeth Proctor’s husband. A stern, harsh-tongued man, John hates hypocrisy. Judge Danforth - The Deputy Governor of Massachusetts and the presiding judge at the witch trials. Judge Danforth - The Deputy Governor of Massachusetts and the presiding judge at the witch trials.

Characters Continued Reverend John Hale - A young minister reputed to be an expert on witchcraft. Reverend Hale is called in to Salem to examine Parris’s daughter Betty. Reverend John Hale - A young minister reputed to be an expert on witchcraft. Reverend Hale is called in to Salem to examine Parris’s daughter Betty. Reverend Parris - The minister of Salem’s church. Reverend Parris is a paranoid, power- hungry, yet oddly self-pitying figure. Reverend Parris - The minister of Salem’s church. Reverend Parris is a paranoid, power- hungry, yet oddly self-pitying figure.

Character Continued Abigail Williams - Reverend Parris’s niece. Abigail was once the servant for the Proctor household; Abigail is smart, a good liar, and vindictive when crossed. Abigail Williams - Reverend Parris’s niece. Abigail was once the servant for the Proctor household; Abigail is smart, a good liar, and vindictive when crossed. Tituba - Reverend Parris’s black slave from Barbados. Tituba agrees to perform voodoo at Abigail’s request. Tituba - Reverend Parris’s black slave from Barbados. Tituba agrees to perform voodoo at Abigail’s request. Ruth Putnam - The Putnams’ lone surviving child out of eight. Reverend Parris catches her and the other girls dancing in the woods at night. Ruth Putnam - The Putnams’ lone surviving child out of eight. Reverend Parris catches her and the other girls dancing in the woods at night.

Characters Mary Warren - The servant in John Proctor’s household and a member of Abigail’s group of girls. Mary Warren - The servant in John Proctor’s household and a member of Abigail’s group of girls. Betty Parris - Reverend Parris’s ten-year-old daughter. Betty falls into a strange stupor after being caught dancing Betty Parris - Reverend Parris’s ten-year-old daughter. Betty falls into a strange stupor after being caught dancing

Cotton Mather Minister of the Old North Church in Boston "found the study of witchcraft made to order for his neurotic and oversexed spirituality" Mather published in 1689 a bestselling book on the subject, Memorable Providences, Relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions, detailing an episode of supposed witchcraft a year earlier involving an Irish washerwoman named Goody Glover. Mather's account, describing the symptoms of witchcraft, was widely read and discussed throughout Puritan New England. The book was in the meager library of Samuel Parris, the Salem minister in whose house began the tragic events of 1692.

The Crucible All of the characters go through a cycle to become purified. They go through humility, patience, conviction, healing, redemption, and purification

Themes Guilt- remorseful awareness of having done something wrong Guilt- remorseful awareness of having done something wrong Hypocrisy- the act of feigning a virtue, an emotion, a conviction, or a creed in order to obtain public approval Hypocrisy- the act of feigning a virtue, an emotion, a conviction, or a creed in order to obtain public approval Revenge- inflict punishment in return for retaliation Revenge- inflict punishment in return for retaliation Hysteria- excessive or uncontrollable emotion, such as fear or panic Hysteria- excessive or uncontrollable emotion, such as fear or panic Authority- the power to command, enforce laws, exact obedience. Authority- the power to command, enforce laws, exact obedience.