Cause and Effect in The Crucible

Common Core Standards: In literature, as in life, events are often linked in cause-effect relationships. Common Core Standards: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.3 Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.9 Demonstrate knowledge of eighteenth-, nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century foundational works of American literature, including how two or more texts from the same period treat similar themes or topics.

EFFECT: Tituba is charged with witchcraft CAUSE: Tituba and some of the girls in Salem have a ritual in the forest. EFFECT: Tituba is charged with witchcraft

CAUSE: Reverend parris sends for reverend hale EFFECT: serious inquiries and accusations about witchcraft begin

CAUSE: proctor denies abby his love. EFFECT: abby becomes desperate in an attempt to destroy elizabeth

CAUSE: reverend hale pressures tituba to confess to witchcraft EFFECT: titba names sarah good and others as witches

CAUSE: john proctor forgets the commandment against adultery EFFECT: hale questions the sincerity of proctor’s commitment

CAUSE: giles corey says his wife reads books EFFECT: martha corey is arrested

CAUSE: mary warren gives elizabeth a poppet EFFECT: elizabeth proctor is arrested for stabbing Abigail williams

CAUSE: proctor presents a petition, with signatures, to danforth EFFECT: danforth insists that all those who signed the petition will be summoned to court

CAUSE: mary warren testitfies against the other girls EFFECT: the girls all scream and plot against mary in court.

CAUSE: elizabeth proctor lies about her husband’s infidelity EFFECT: john proctor’s allegations against abby are discredited.

CAUSE: abigail fakes a vision of mary’s spirit attacking in the form of a yellow bird. EFFECT: mary sides with the girls and accuses john proctor of witchcraft

CAUSE: abigail vanishes from salem with reverend parris’ money. EFFECT: parris allows hale to minister the prisoners. He fears for his life.

CAUSE: giles corey refuses to confess to witchcraft EFFECT: giles is not hanged by pressed to death; his children can inherit his property.

CAUSE: danforth refuses to delay the executions. EFFECT: innocent people are executed.

CAUSE: john proctor tears up his confession. EFFECT: proctor is hanged; he goes to death with dignity.