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.