Letter 3: To Hale from Parris asking him to come to Salem

Dear Reverend Hale,

I am honored to be writing to such an intelligent man. It was called to my attention that you spent a great deal of your time contemplating the supernatural world. I was also informed you encountered a witch in your parish recently. Although I highly doubt the devil’s presence in Salem, outlandish events have been occurring. My innocent daughter, Betty, is lying in an unresponsive state. Just recently, Doctor Griggs informed Susanna Walcott, that there was no medicine in his books for her sickness. I would prefer not to look at unnatural causes for her illness, but I witnessed such events. I saw my niece Abigail, my daughter Betty, and a few other girls dancing and singing in the forest late at night. Although Abigail informed me no harm was done, I am suspicious. She warned me that the townspeople have been discussing the possibility of witchcraft in Salem. Since I have a higher position in society, I do not know much of what goes on among the townspeople.

Although Thomas Putnam has a daughter with similar symptoms as Betty, he concluded the reason for their suffering is witchcraft. Putnam is a wealthy member in society and he holds feelings of resentment towards many other families in Salem. There must be a reason for why he jumped to the conclusion of witchcraft, but I am unsure right now. Therefore, I refuse to declare the discovery of witchcraft until I have further evidence.

Reverend, I fear my position and reputation. Lately, citizens have been staying away from church because they dislike the way I preach. Many of them are angry that I called you without having a meeting. I am worried and concerned something worse will come of this situation. I believe it will not be long before the town goes wild or there will be a rebellion. My daughter’s life and my ministry are at stake right now. I would greatly appreciate if you would be of assistance and come forth to help us in this difficult time.

Thank you,
Reverend Samuel Parris

Letter 2: To Elizabeth from Proctor after he dies

Dear Elizabeth,

Surely it will not be easy, but please forgive me. I made a terrible mistake and now I must pay the consequences. Do you remember when I said that your spirit twists around the single error of my life, and I will never be able tear it free? You responded by saying I will tear it free- when I come to realize that you will be my only wife, or no wife at all. Elizabeth, you are my only wife. I committed a terrible sin; I broke one of the commandments. I thought fondly of Abigail for a time; but I never had love for her. You know I am an honest man and I would never lie.

There are a few things you must promise me. First, you will never blame yourself for my actions. You kept our house warmer than all of the homes in Salem. It was my entire fault because I took advantage of your kindness. I did not realize how wonderful you were until I almost lost you. Secondly, you must promise me you will always keep your honesty and integrity. When we were in court you almost cost me my life, but you were trying to protect my name. For that, I am forever grateful. Lastly, promise to be a wonderful mother for our children. Take care of them and help them to make good decisions. I want them to grow up to be better than me.

Even if I was not the loving husband I should have been, I always meant to please you, Elizabeth. No farmer could ever ask for a better wife. Right before I die, I will be praying for you and everything you have done for me. When I am gone, be brave and do not shed a tear; that is what they want from you. The town has been corrupted; we did our best to save it. Even though we failed, we succeeded. You helped me to discover what was inside myself and I will always appreciate that. Most importantly, always remember, “Do that which is good, and no harm shall come to thee.” I love you Elizabeth, I always have and I always will.

Sincerely your husband,

John

Letter 1: To Proctor from Abigail before she leaves

My Dear John,

It’s not too late, don’t worry. We can still be together, forever. All you have to do is confess to Danforth. John, I want you to understand, I never wished for any of this to happen. I just sought to free you from your dreadful wife. I knew you would never leave her. You are a good man. Goody Proctor is an evil woman. It was necessary that I replace her. I would have succeeded too, but you accused me. Vengeance? How could you think I wanted vengeance? Why did you blacken my name, John? You took my kind actions for granted and tried to ruin me. Even worse, you tried to ruin your own name. I forgive you though. You have shown me what goodness is. Goody Proctor is holding you back. Oh how I wish you could switch places with her right now. You would be free and she would be suffering. Please forgive me for saying such a cruel thing, but your wife brings me no joy.

I must tell you, I am going away. Staying in Salem is not safe for me right now. I’m sure you will understand. After your attempt to destroy me, everyone has become suspicious. Andover has overthrown their court, they do not believe in witchcraft. I am fearful that will occur in Salem. If it does, I will be hanged. By the time you read this, Mercy Lewis and I will be ready to board the ship. Don’t wait; you must hurry if you want to meet up with us.

I’ll never forget the night you pulled me from my bed. I haven’t stopped dreaming and praying for the day we would be together again. Every night I hope you come by, but you never do. You already left me once, John. Please do not leave me again. To be alone would be unbearable. I promise it is not possible to have a better wife than me. The light from heaven will shine upon us when we meet again.

All my love,

Abigail

The Crucible Essay #1

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try" (Beverly Sills). John Proctor was the only one in Salem who knew the reason behind the trials, vengeance. Abigail Williams needed to get revenge on Proctor’s wife, if she wanted to be with Proctor. One tragic event would lead to another tragic event, creating a domino effect. John Proctor was the first one to set off this chain reaction and by the time he tried to stop it, he was too late; therefore, Proctor deserves the most blame for the Salem witch trials.

John Proctor, being a well-respected married adult in Salem, should not have given into the temptation of a seventeen year old girl. Through having an affair with Abigail Williams, Proctor made a promise to her. Although John had no intention of being with her, Abigail thought differently. Elizabeth Proctor, John’s wife, helped clear this up for him, “Spoke or silent, a promise is surely made. And she may dote on it now- I am sure she does- and thinks to kill me, then to take my place” (Miller 61). Proctor forced Abigail to act this way, “I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart” (24). Through initially cheating on his wife, Proctor instilled false hope within Abigail’s mind.

Despite being young, Abigail was manipulative and intelligent. She knew the only way to shift the blame off herself would be to accuse someone else. She could not blame just anyone though; they had to be an outcast of society. If the person she held guilty admitted to being a witch, she would gain trust and respect from authority. Only out of fear for losing their lives, several people confessed. This showed the judges that Abigail was reliable and would be able to accuse anyone she wanted. It was inevitable that given the chance, Abigail would accuse Elizabeth of witchcraft, “She’d dare not call out such a farmer’s wife, but there be monstrous profit in it” (61). If Abigail had no intention of being with Proctor, there would be no reason to kill Elizabeth. Consequently, if there were no reason to kill Elizabeth, there would be no reason to kill anyone in Salem.

Since Salem was a theocratic society, religion meant everything to the townspeople, but not Proctor. He did not attend church, plowed on Sundays, and could not name the Ten Commandments. Proctor expressed to Parris, “There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God anymore” (29). This led the judges to believe, if Proctor was a victim of the Devil, it was likely that there were more people like him.

In regards to the trials, Proctor failed to take immediate action and hoped the problem would take care of itself. Even after Elizabeth warned him, “God forbid you keep that from the court, John. I think they must be told” (53) John was unwilling to confront the judges. He feared revealing the intentions behind Abigail’s actions because his reputation would be hurt. To Proctor, like most people in Salem, reputation was everything. If he admitted to having an affair with Abigail, his name would be ruined and his wife would be embarrassed. Not until his wife was accused of being a witch, did he get involved with the trials. Unfortunately, Abigail had already taken over the town, “She thinks to dance on my wife’s grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it; I set myself entirely in your hands. I know you must see it now” (110). When asked if this was true, Abigail responded, “If I must answer that, I will leave and I will not come back again” (111). By the time he confessed and stood up for what was right, everyone had succumbed to Abigail, including the judges. Proctor knew his inability to speak up resulted in unnecessary deaths; therefore, Proctor admitted he was responsible for the witch trials.

Although several people in Salem felt responsible for the trials, Proctor felt the most. If remaining silent was not a sin, Proctor would not feel the need to be punished, “For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed…God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together”(120). Proctor lived by the motto, “Do that which is good, and no harm shall come to thee” (95). He did something bad, caused the witch trials, and harm would come to him, he would die.

Proctor sparked Abigail’s desire to get revenge on Elizabeth. This motivated other members of society to get revenge on their enemies. If Proctor did not have an affair with Abigail, she would not have the longing to be with him. Proctor was the only one who knew why Abigail accused people of being witches. Proctor thought the problem would take care of itself; he was wrong. Through giving into temptation and remaining silent in a time of tragedy, Proctor was responsible for the Salem witch trials. “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it, is really cooperating with it” (Martin Luther King Jr.).

The Crucible HW 9

Pages 129-145

"Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them died till now. While I speak God’s law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering." (129)

No one in Salem wanted to risk hurting their reputation, especially Danforth. He knew he was wrong about the executions, but he was fearful of admitting his mistake. Living in a theocratic society, Danforth believed he was above everyone else and represented God on earth. Lies became the truth to him. Admitting his ignorance would lead people to believe he was uncertain of himself and innocent people were persecuted. If this occured, the town would be a step closer to a rebellion. Hale made it clear that there was no excuse for taking the life of anyone, “No principle however glorious, may justify the taking of it.” (132) Danforth’s pride took over his actions. If he had the courage to admit he was wrong, less people would have been killed.

"I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough!"(142)

Why should John Proctor sign his name, when he already confessed to the highest judge, God? Proctor admitted his sins; he should not have to write his name on a piece of paper to be hung in the church for everyone to see. Proctor already gave up his soul, but Danforth wanted more from him. Proctor, not influenced by the people around him, was not willing to lie and shift the blame. Elizabeth supported Proctor until the end, “He have his goodness now.” (145) It did not matter if the judge sentenced Proctor to death. Proctor would rather die with honor and respect, than live a life filled with guilt and remorse. If God was ruling Salem, instead of Danforth, Proctor might have been saved.

Questions:
Why is Proctor persecuted even though he confessed?
What does Hale do after the execution?

The Crucible HW 8

pages 113- 127

"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! For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud- God damns our kind especially, and we will burn together!” (120)

In the heat of the moment, people often say things they would later regret. For example, Mary accused Proctor as, “the Devil’s man!” (118) Fearing her own life, she immediately blamed Proctor for her actions. John Proctor, now furious, used this opportunity to take his frustration out on the court. Saying, “God is dead!” (119) was not the best way for Proctor to defend himself. Proctor used this phrase meaning, God no longer had control over Salem, the people did. Danforth misinterpreted this; he was confident that Proctor was follower of the Devil. Proctor did nothing to prevent the Salem witch trials; therefore, he felt he would be going to hell. Danforth would also be going to hell because he witnessed and allowed them to occur, knowing they were based on a lie. Not only did this cause Hale to quit the court, but it might cost Proctor his life.

“I’ll tell you what is said here, sir. Andover have thrown out the court, they say, and will have no part of witchcraft. There be a fraction here, feeding on that news, and I tell you true, sir, I fear there will be riot here.” (127)

Reverend Parris, fearful since the start of the trials, predicted a rebellion against the court. The possibility of this occurring was very likely, especially since a riot in Andover triumphed over authority. If the townspeople were intelligent, they would realize they could do the same. The court cannot persecute everyone in the town until there are no people left. The citizens had a better chance of overthrowing the court, than the court did of overthrowing them. The events in Andover connected to the reason for Abigail’s departure. She, along with Parris, was fearful and doubtful. Abigail had done everything she wanted; there was no reason for her to stay. If she stayed too long, the town would turn on her, and she would be the one hanged.

Questions:
1.) Herrick says Proctor prays with those who will be hanged. Is he also against the witch trials?
2.) If Abigail comes back to Salem will she be rewarded or hated?

The Crucible HW 7

pages 98-113

“Excellency, I have signed seventy-two death warrants; I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it.” (99)

Reverend Hale struggled with decision to protect his name or defend those who were innocent. His view on the Salem witch trials has changed; he can no longer support them. Being an outsider, Hale knew very little about individuals in Salem, but he got a sense of who they were through questioning them. Hale entered Salem hoping to cure the town from the devil. Killing everyone in Salem would not solve this problem. With the help of Proctor, Hale felt guilty about his actions and joined sides with Proctor. Hale admitted he would never take the life of a human without sufficient evidence. Contradictorily to Hale, Danforth believed witchcraft, “by its nature is an invisible crime” and “therefore we must rely upon her victims.” (100) In Danforth’s opinion the only evidence they had were the young girls. What if Mary was right and the girl’s were lying? Hale feared standing up for himself and taking a firm stance against authority. As a result, he saved no one and more people suffered.

“I have been hurt, Mr. Danforth; I have seen my blood runnin’ out! I have been near to murdered every day because I done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people- and this is my reward? To be mistrusted, denied, questioned like a-” (108)

Abigail’s manipulative nature allowed her to, once again, get her way. Being overly dramatic and heartless, she was able to defend herself and remain innocent. Abigail was determined to stand up for herself, even if it meant lying. Demonstrated by John Proctor, those who were honest would be rewarded. However, Abigail did not have an honest bone in her body, and she was the only one who succeeded in Salem. The other characters should have learned from Abigail’s evil ways and used it to their advantage. Mary Warren was one of the few to stand up for herself. Although, standing up for yourself to someone who threatened they could, “make you wish you had never seen the sun go down,” (20) might not be the best idea. Abigail knew who she was working with and knew what she could get away with. Abigail tried to make others, especially Danforth, sympathize her, and she was able to, “Child, I do not mistrust you-”(108) She had everyone wrapped around her finger. Consequentially, she would be able to get what she desired most… revenge.

Questions:
Why does Danforth not make Abigail respond to whether Proctor is telling the truth or not?
Why can Mary not faint for Danforth, especially if she has done it many times before?

The Crucible HW 6

Pages 83-98

“Does it not strike upon you that so many of these women have lived so long with such upright reputation, and-” (91)

Why now are women accused of being witches when they have lived righteously their whole lives? John Proctor brought this up in an attempt to defend and stand up for his wife. Unfortunately, he was unable to finish his statement, because he was interrupted with a question from Reverend Parris. Parris, making an effort to show Proctor's ignorance asked, “Do you read the Gospel, Mr. Proctor?” (91) Like most men in Salem, Proctor did read the Gospel. Parris feared being connected with the devil, and therefore, felt the need to show his intelligence, “I think not, or you should surely know that Cain were an upright man, and yet he did kill Abel.” (91) This connect to the theme of reputation. Parris pointed out the flaws in others to put himself above them. Parris also indicated that through not knowing the Gospel, Proctor and his wife might have a connection with the devil.

"Indeed not, but strike hard upon me that she will dare come here with such a tale. Now, Mr. Proctor, before I decide whether I shall hear you or not, it is my duty to tell you this. We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment.” (89)

Wanting to save his wife, John Proctor brought Mary Warren to the court scene with him. She openly confessed that she and the other girls were lying, “It were pretense, sir.” (89) The judge was puzzled by her statement and unsure of what to do. One thing was for sure though; “a vile lie would not be spread in open court.”(89) The judges were filled with stress, anxiety, and tension. Most likely, they were afraid of being wrong. They would not take the blame for taking the lives of innocent people. Danforth demonstrated that the government was under a lot of pressure, but they were still striving to reveal any secrets.

Questions:
If the judges do not believe Mary, who will they believe?
Does Hale support the Salem witch trials?

The Crucible HW 5

Pages 67-83

“I cannot think the Devil may own a woman’s soul, Mr. Hale, when she keeps an upright way, as I have. I am a good woman, I know it; and if you believe I may do only good work in the world and yet be secretly bound to Satan, then I must tell you, sir, I do not believe it.” (70)

John and Elizabeth Proctor were part of a small group in Salem that did not believe in witches. They understood Abigail’s evil intentions behind her actions. Elizabeth did nothing wrong, and therefore, had no reason to be accused of being possessed by the devil. Abigail's plan to kill Elizabeth would work though. Elizabeth did not believe in witches, which meant she would never confess to being one. This ensured that once Elizabeth was accused, she would put to death.

“I’ll tell you what’s walking Salem- vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! The warrant’s vengeance! I’ll now give my wife to vengeance!” (77)

John Proctor was the only one in Salem who knew the true nature of the girls. Abigail first accused Sarah Good and Goody Osburn because they were the outcasts in society. The main reason Abigail wanted power was to get revenge on Elizabeth Proctor. Nothing about Elizabeth Proctor has changed; she has always been religious and never worshipped the devil. Unfortunately, the judges were manipulated by the girls. They believed everything they said and regarded their fantasies as true. Their imaginations became evidence. No one wanted to hurt their reputation by standing up for what was right. The people accused were not witches, but just had bad relationships with Abigail and her friends.

Questions:
Did Mary know Abigail’s plan when she gave Elizabeth Proctor the doll?
If everyone in Salem believes in witches, why don’t the Proctor’s?

The Crucible HW 4

Pages 49-67

"The town’s gone wild, I think. She speaks of Abigail, and I thought she were a saint, to hear her. Abigail brings the other girls into the court and where she walks the crowd part like the sea for Israel. And folks are brought before them, and if they scream and howl and fall to the floor- the person’s clapped in jail for bewitchin’ them." (52)

The people in Salem are obsessed with witchcraft and the idea that the Devil is present in their town. They believed and did whatever it took to free themselves from the Devil. Abigail was granted the authority to decide who deserved to live and who deserved to die. If Salem did not put their trust in a few teenage girls, the witch trials could have been easily avoided. Originally, Abigail was fearful that she would be accused of being a witch, so she immediately pointed her finger at someone else, usually an outcast of society. Abigail was intelligent and had the ability to manipulate others. These people succumbed to her, and as a result, she was able to gain control over the town. No one dared to oppose her because they risked losing their own life.

I’ll plead no more! I see now your spirit twists around the single error of my life, and I will never tear it free! (62)

Salem was filled with tension, not only between neighbors, but between husbands and wives. John Proctor could not understand how much he affected his wife by cheating on her. Although, it was one of his few mistakes, Elizabeth could not forgive him. She lost all her trust and faithfulness in him. This is unfortunate because with chaos in Salem, Elizabeth and John might need each other’s support. John’s “single error” had a much larger impact then he realized. John gave Abigail hope that they would be together one day, as long as Elizabeth was not around. Elizabeth fired Abigail from her job because she had an affair with her husband. This led to Abigail’s hatred for Elizabeth. The only reason Abigail practiced witchcraft was to kill Elizabeth. Proctor was not aware that the Salem Witch Trials were a consequence of his single mistake. Accusing Elizabeth of being a witch would be the best way to get rid of her. John Proctor was correct; he would never be able to free himself from the turmoil he caused.

Questions:
When naming the commandments, why did John Proctor forget adultery, after he just discussed it with his wife and knew it was the only commandment he broke?
Since Sarah Good confessed to witchcraft, she was not hanged and only had to sit in jail. If Abigail confessed to witchcraft why doesn’t she have to sit in jail?

The Crucible HW 3

1.) “We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone, and I must tell you that I shall not proceed unless you are prepared to believe me if I should find no bruise of hell upon her.” (38)

Reverend Hale is considered to be an expert on witchcraft. Reverend Parris called for him to save his daughter. Hale believes the cause for suffering is not always a result of witchcraft. The Devil’s actions are clear, and death is not always an action of the Devil. Reverend Hale is sincere and does not want the people in Salem to be upset if he is wrong. Honesty is important to him; unlike the citizens in Salem, and he wants to be sure they trust him. Supposedly, Hale encountered a witch in his own parish and was able to cure her. The people admire his intelligence and hope he has the ability to save their town.

2.) “I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him; I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!” (48)

This quote is significant because it is the start of the Salem witch trials. These were the first accusations and encouraged other girls to join in. Abigail and her friends could not decide whether telling the truth was the right decision. When faced with a difficult question from her uncle, Abigail immediately blamed Tituba. This demonstrates Abigail’s dishonesty and untrustworthiness. Only after Abigail saw the praise Tituba received from confessing, Abigail was willing to confess. Hale stated, “God will bless you for your help.” If one admits to practicing witchcraft, they would redeem themselves. Noticing this, Abigail acknowledged her sins and accused other people for following the devil. This led to the assumptions that the town was filled with witches.

Questions:
1.) If all the people who were accused of being a witch confessed, would they still have been killed?
2.) If Corey Giles’s wife read (and at the time reading was prohibited) and he experiences the stoppage of prayer in her presence, is he accusing his wife of being a witch?

Character List

Abigail: a seventeen year old girl, an orphan, lives with her uncle Reverend Parris, had an affair with John Proctor, tries to win him back, but he doesn’t want her, practices witchcraft, danced and drank blood, accuses Tituba for making her do this, after Tituba confesses, she confesses too, and then blames people for being witches
Tituba: honest, slave from Barbados, practices witchcraft with the girls, confesses to this, and then accuses other people of being followers of the devil
Reverend Parris: the current minister of Salem, many people dislike his sermons, several of them want to replace him, his daughter is sick and he calls Reverend Hale to help her
Betty: Reverend Parris’s daughter, young, quiet, thought to be a victim of the devil, does not say much because she is lying in bed,once Abigail admits her sins and accuses people of being witches, she does the same
Mr. Putnam: doesn’t like the Nurse’s because they prevented his brother-in-law from becoming minister
Mrs. Putnam: seven children died in childbirth, only one surviving is very sick, she thinks they were murdered by “evil spirits”
Rebecca Nurse: Francis Nurse’s wife, kind, very religious
Hail: Reverend from Beverly, intelligent, can detect the devil easily, and supposedly an expert on witchcraft
Corey Giles: old, suspicious of his wife, Martha, experienced the stoppage of prayer
John Proctor: a farmer, married to Elizabeth, cheated on his wife with Abigail, doesn’t believe in witches
Elizabeth Proctor: John Proctor’s wife, fired Abigail from her job as a servant because she had an affair with her husband, Abigail wants to get back at her

The Crucible HW 2

1.) This will set us all to arguin’ again in the society, and we thought to have peace this year. I think we ought rely on the doctor now, and good prayer. (28)

Explanation:
The townspeople in Salem have bad relationships with each other. Many have strong opinions and are not willing to compromise. Rebecca makes an attempt to calm people down, but this only results in more arguing. In the past there have been many quarrels, but she is hoping this will change. Rebecca also expresses the importance and their reliance on prayer.

2.) I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! (24)

Explanation:
Abigail wants John Proctor to come back to her, but he is not interested. This expresses Abigail’s hatred for the townspeople in Salem. She considers them to be deceitful and insincere. She was raised to value religion and honesty. These people’s actions contradict their beliefs. Being a Christian does not mean anything, and people will often lie and mislead others to get what they want.

Questions:
Rebecca believes that God is the cause for all suffering. If religion is important to these people, why do they disagree with her?
Elizabeth Proctor wants to get revenge on Abigail because she had an affair with her husband. Are the witch trials a result of past arguments between a few people?

The Crucible Homework

1.) “Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you… I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down!” (20)
Abigail does not want anyone to know she is a witch or she will risk losing her life. This shows witchcraft is a serious issue that must not be talked about. Abigail will be furious if one of the girls shares what they did that night with anyone.

2.) “Let you strike out against the Devil, and the village will bless you for it! Come down, speak to them- pray with them. They’re thirsting for your word, Mister! Surely you’ll pray with them. (17)
Mr. Putnam shows the importance of religion in society. He hopes Reverend Parris is able to defeat the devil, or witchcraft. If he is able to save the people from suffering, he will be appreciated by the village. Hearing the Reverend speak and pray reassures the people that they will be protected from the Devil.

Questions:
1.) If Parris is so confident that his daughter is not sick from “unnatural causes,” why does he question Abigail about what she was doing in the forest ?
2.) If Mary, Betty, Abigail, Mercy, and Ruth know that practicing witchcraft is a terrible sin, why do they do it?

The Crucible Classwork

Reverend Samuel Parris~ middle-aged, religious, strict, doesn’t like children, used to be a merchant, but now a minister
“He believed he was being persecuted wherever he went, despite his efforts to win people and God to his side.” (3)
“He was a widower with no interest in children or talent with them.” (3)

Betty Parris~ Reverend Parris’s ten year old daughter, maybe dead
“He mumbles, then seems about to weep; then he weeps, then prays again; but his daughter does not stir on her back” (8)

Tituba~ Parris’s slave from Barbados, she is in her forties, thoughtful, careful, and compassionate
"She enters as one does who can no longer bear to be barred from the sight of her beloved, but she is also very frightened because her slave sense has warned her that, as always, trouble in this house eventually lands on her back." (8)
“My Betty be hearty soon…” (8)
“My Betty not goin’ die…”(8)

Abigail Williams~ an orphan and also Parris’s beautiful seventeen year niece


The Crucible takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692. This is the time of the Salem witch trials. The characters live in a small community and take their religion very seriously. “The people of Salem developed a theocracy, a combine of state and religious power whose function was to keep the community together, and to prevent any kind of disunity that might open it to destruction by material or ideological enemies.” (7) At this time, the people of Salem have a strict way of life and are not allowed to enjoy entertainment. Little is known about their daily lives because they were not allowed to read or write.

Although this play is not entirely historically correct, most events occurred and all the characters played the same or a similar role in history. This play will offer insight to the feelings and thoughts of the people during the Salem witch trials. “This predilection for minding other people’s business was time-honored among the people of Salem, and it undoubtedly created many of the suspicions which were to feed the coming madness.” (5) The community in Salem might have been stressed out from their strict lives and wanted to have fun. They started rumors and false stories to entertain themselves. Since everything in Salem was taken seriously, especially religion, all accusations were regarded as true. They believed anyone who went against church teachings deserved to be killed.