The Crucible An in-depth look at the play

Basic Questions - Characters  Who was the old man crushed with stones?  Answer: Giles Corey

Characters  Who was the girl who led the accusations?  Answer – Abigail Williams

Characters  Who was the godly woman who was put to death as a witch?  Answer – Rebecca Nurse

Characters  Who was the slave that taught the children about ‘spirits?’  Answer - Tituba

Characters  Who came to Salem by request?  Answer – Reverend Hale

Characters  Who used the witch trials for personal vengeance?  Answer – Thomas Putnam

Characters  Who tried to stop the trials, then charged Proctor of witchcraft?  Answer – Mary Warren

Characters  Who did Abigail have an affair with?  Answer – John Proctor

Characters  Who tolerated no challenge to his authority?  Answer – Judge Danforth

Characters  Whose only concern was his reputation?  Answer – Reverend Parris

Plot  Reverend Hale questions the Proctors for a number of reasons.  Abigail was the instigator in the witch- hunt  Giles Corey was well-respected in the village.  Reverend Parris was only concerned with himself.

Plot  Reverend Hale questions the Proctors for a number of reasons.  Abigail was the instigator in the witch- hunt  Giles Corey was well-respected in the village.  Reverend Parris was only concerned with himself.

Plot  Elizabeth Proctor does not hang for witchcraft.  Rebecca Nurse confesses to witchcraft.  Proctor missed church because he disliked Parris.  Putnam owned a lot of land.

Plot  Elizabeth Proctor does not hang for witchcraft.  Rebecca Nurse confesses to witchcraft.  Proctor missed church because he disliked Parris.  Putnam owned a lot of land.

Plot  Mary Warren gave Elizabeth a poppet.  John Proctor died with his name.  Hathorne acted as a fair and objective court official.  Giles Corey was pressed to death.

Plot  Mary Warren gave Elizabeth a poppet.  John Proctor died with his name.  Hathorne acted as a fair and objective court official.  Giles Corey was pressed to death.

Plot  The conflict between the witches and the Puritans is like the fight between the communists and the democrats.  A witch could escape execution by confessing.  Elizabeth Proctor condemned herself by denying her husband’s affair.  John Proctor was absent from church because he was an atheist.

Plot  The conflict between the witches and the Puritans is like the fight between the communists and the democrats.  A witch could escape execution by confessing.  Elizabeth Proctor condemned herself by denying her husband’s affair.  John Proctor was absent from church because he was an atheist.

Plot  The accused were put to death by burning at the stake.  Elizabeth’s execution was postponed because she was pregnant.  Giles Corey escaped from being condemned a witch because he refused to answer the charge.  Parris desperately wants Proctor to confess because he wants to calm the villagers.

Plot  The accused were put to death by burning at the stake.  Elizabeth’s execution was postponed because she was pregnant.  Giles Corey escaped from being condemned a witch because he refused to answer the charge.  Parris desperately wants Proctor to confess because he wants to calm the villagers.

Plot  Danforth is unable to pardon Proctor because it would cast doubt on the guilt of those already executed.  John Proctor was a farmer.  Mary Warren withdraws her testimony because the girls accuse her of witchcraft.  Proctor confesses his affair to save his life.

Plot  Danforth is unable to pardon Proctor because it would cast doubt on the guilt of those already executed.  John Proctor was a farmer.  Mary Warren withdraws her testimony because the girls accuse her of witchcraft.  Proctor confesses his affair to save his life.

Plot  Hale investigated for witchcraft then denounced the trials.  Elizabeth thinks Abby wants to kill her to take her place.  John Proctor forgot the commandment about using the Lord’s name in vain.  Rebecca Nurse was charged for the marvelous and supernatural murder of Goody Putnam’s babies.

Plot  Hale investigated for witchcraft then denounced the trials.  Elizabeth thinks Abby wants to kill her to take her place.  John Proctor forgot the commandment about using the Lord’s name in vain.  Rebecca Nurse was charged for the marvelous and supernatural murder of Goody Putnam’s babies.

Plot  Cheever came to the Proctor house to arrest John.  The poppet with the needle is the deciding factor in Elizabeth’s arrest.  If Proctor tries to discredit Abby, she will accuse him of lechery.  Mary doesn’t want to testify about the doll because she is afraid of Abby.

Plot  Cheever came to the Proctor house to arrest John.  The poppet with the needle is the deciding factor in Elizabeth’s arrest.  If Proctor tries to discredit Abby, she will accuse him of lechery.  Mary doesn’t want to testify about the doll because she is afraid of Abby.

Plot  In Act 3, Giles and Francis want to see Danforth to persuade him that their wives are bad people.  Proctor uses the quote “do that which is good, and no harm will come to thee” to help Mary remain brave.  Giles accuses Putnam of killing his neighbors for their land.  Hathorne asks Mary to faint like she did in court.

Plot  In Act 3, Giles and Francis want to see Danforth to persuade him that their wives are bad people.  Proctor uses the quote “do that which is good, and no harm will come to thee” to help Mary remain brave.  Giles accuses Putnam of killing his neighbors for their land.  Hathorne asks Mary to faint like she did in court.

Plot  The girls pretend Mary’s spirit is coming to get them when she admits they were lying.  Hale comes back to Salem to hang more people.  Abigail steals Parris’ money and leaves on a ship.  Hale wants Elizabeth to get John to confess.

Plot  The girls pretend Mary’s spirit is coming to get them when she admits they were lying.  Hale comes back to Salem to hang more people.  Abigail steals Parris’ money and leaves on a ship.  Hale wants Elizabeth to get John to confess.

Plot  Elizabeth confesses that she also had an affair.  Proctor tore up the confession after signing it.  Proctor chose to die because he wanted to save Elizabeth.  Elizabeth Proctor had the last line in the play.

Plot  Elizabeth confesses that she also had an affair.  Proctor tore up the confession after signing it.  Proctor chose to die because he wanted to save Elizabeth.  Elizabeth Proctor had the last line in the play.

Quotations  “But you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between.”  -Judge Danforth

Quotations  “I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!”  -Reverend Hale

Quotations  “I am a good woman…and if you believe I may do only good work in the world, and yet be secretly bound by Satan, then I must tell you, sir, I do not believe it.”  -Elizabeth Proctor

Quotations  “How many I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name.”  -John Proctor

Quotations  “I have fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me, and now…you compromise my very character.”  -Reverend Parris

Quotations  “…then let us go to God for the cause of it. There is prodigious danger in the seeking of loose spirits.”  -Rebecca Nurse

Quotations  “What anarchy is this? That tract is in my bounds, it’s in my bounds, Mr. Proctor.”  -Thomas Putnam

Quotations  “She’ll kill me for sayin’ that!...I have known it, sir. She’ll ruin you with it, I know she will.”  -Mary Warren

Quotations  “And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot! You loved me, …you love me yet.”  -Abigail Williams

Quotations  “Why - ! The girl is murder! She must be ripped out of the world!”  -Elizabeth Proctor

Quotations  “He say Mister Parris must be kill! Mister Parris no goodly man, Mister Parris mean man and no gentle man, and he bid me rise out of the bed and cut your throat!”  -Tituba

Symbolism  What do the golden candlesticks symbolize?  Answer – Parris’ materialism

Symbolism  What does the poppet symbolize?  Answer – a plaything that is thought of as evil.

Symbolism  What does the dagger symbolize?  Answer – unrest in the village

Symbolism  What does Abigail symbolize?  Answer – evil and trickery

Symbolism  What does Parris symbolize?  Answer – theocratic leader

Symbolism  What does Proctor symbolize?  Answer – voice of reason

Symbolism  What does dancing symbolize?  Answer – forbidden pleasure

Symbolism  What does Rebecca Nurse symbolize?  Answer – goodness and godliness

Symbolism  What do the chains symbolize?  Answer - symbol of bondage

Symbolism  What does Hathorne symbolize?  Answer – total authority

Tragic Hero  What is a tragic hero?  How is John Proctor a tragic hero?

Character’s Motivations  What are the following characters’ motivations in the play: Abigail John Tituba Reverend Parris