Crucible

Question 1

Why did Arthur Miller write the Crucible?

Answer 1

It was the time of McCarthyism, where people feared of communism coming to America (red scare), and they began to question/accuse people of being communist. People were losing jobs, getting blacklisted, placed in jail, etc.
This reminded Arthur Miller of the Salem Witch Trials and how history repeats itself because back then people were being accused of being witches and it cost people their lives.

Question 2

Themes

Answer 2

Fear sets followers 
Power 
Attack the vulnerable 
Extremism 
Religion

Question 3

How does fear relate to the characters?

Parris and the girls

Answer 3

Parris scaring people into religion with hell and fire

Girls afraid of getting caught so they begin to blame other people and then they soon become powerful

Question 4

Why does Ann Putnamn accuse rebbeca nurse of being a witch

Answer 4

jelous that she has all her children and Ann has lost all but one

Question 5

why is sarah good accused of being a witch by mary warren

Answer 5

mary felt sick after sarah left her house mumbling

Question 6

why does Parris have a bad relationship with some members of the community

Answer 6

he asks for too much money and talks about hell

Question 7

who is accused of trying to gain land by claiming George Jacobs is a witch

Answer 7

Thomas Putnam

Question 8

This is a likely reason for the grudge against the Nurse family

Answer 8

Francis bought his rental landand the family supported the other minister in town

Question 9

Proctor’s profession

Answer 9

farmer

Question 10

This is the lone commandment forgotten by Proctor when questioned by Hale

Answer 10

Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery

Question 11

This is the reason why Proctor does not go to church on Sundays

Answer 11

he cannot stand Rev. Parris

Question 12

This is what Proctor is accused of doing on Sundays instead of attending services

Answer 12

plowing

Question 13

This is why Proctor cannot tell Cheever about what Abigail said about the girls lying

Answer 13

it was his word against hers as they were alone

Question 14

This is who quits the court when Proctor is accused of witchcraft by Mary Warren

Answer 14

Rev. Hale

Question 15

This is why Danforth and Hathorne refuse to listen to Proctor and Corey and Nurse

Answer 15

they think they are trying to overthrow the court

Question 16

This judge is the Deputy Governor and has great power in the trials

Answer 16

Danforth

Question 17

This is Danforth’s reason for not releasing the accused even after Abigail has left town

Answer 17

that it would not be fair to those who have already died - already gone too far

Question 18

This is what Danforth requires from Proctor after his “confession” of witchcraft

Answer 18

his signature on the confession

Question 19

This is the number of children Elizabeth and John have in the play

Answer 19

3

Question 20

This is the reason why Abigail lives with Parris

Answer 20

she’s an orphan and his “niece”

Question 21

This is why Elizabeth and Proctor had a troubled relationship even before Abigail arrived

Answer 21

she was very ill after the birth of their third child

Question 22

the length of time between Abby and John’s affair and Elizabeth’s trial

Answer 22

8 months

Question 23

This is what Abigail did inthe woods in order to cause Elizabeth’s death

Answer 23

drank blood

Question 24

This is the religion of the residents of Salem Town and Salem Village

Answer 24

Puritanism

Question 25

This is the definition of “spectral evidence”

Answer 25

evidence that cannot be seen but exists in the spirit world

Question 26

This is the year in which the trials took place

Answer 26

1692

Question 27

what Betty tries to do when she “awakens” from her swoon

Answer 27

fly out the window

Question 28

This is who was naked in the woods when Parris found the girls

Answer 28

Mercy Lewis

Question 29

how does power relate to the characters?

Answer 29

Abigail and the girls realize they can run the town by accusing ppl of being witches

Question 30

how does fear relate to the characters?

Answer 30

parris scares people into religion by using hell

girls scaring people

Question 31

how does guilt relate to the characters

Answer 31

john proctos feels ashamed abt his affair with ABby and he tries to pretend like it never happened - he tries and makes it up to Elizabeth, but his anger is projected onto her,
Hale - feels guilt fr accusing people of witches, which he now believes are innocent

Question 32

how does reputation relate to the characters

Answer 32

1) in the beginning Parris doesn’t believe that there are “unnatural” causes for Betty’s illness bc he doesnt want to lose the favor of the people if he’s connected to witchcraft
2) Proctor at first doesn’t say anything about the affair btwn him and ABigail, bc he doesn’t want to ruin his rep. But then he realizes its the only way he can belitle her, and save his wifes life.
3) Proctor is willing to die instead of providing a false confession.

Question 33

Mary Warren - who does she work 4

what did she do in court

Answer 33

Proctor

She went to confess that everything is fake until she was accused as a witch then she took it back

Question 34

whats happening in andover

cows

Answer 34

the people realized the truth that witches aren’t real and they protested against the court and won.
the cows roaming around shows that they killed too many people and theres barely anyone there to keep control

Question 35

why is Parris crying

Answer 35

Abigail took him money and ran away

Question 36

why is parris worried abt whats happened in andover

Answer 36

cows = People are being thrown out of court and riots are forming

Question 37

How does Proctor change

Answer 37

At first, he was willing to protect his reputation, but then he admits his relationship btwn him and Abigail.
And he refuses to admit to a false confession, so he die in the name of truth.

Question 38

how does Hale change

Answer 38

He was the witch hunter, but then he realized how it was fake and how many innocent lives have been lost.

Question 39

how does Giles change

Answer 39

He accidently called out his wife, by syaing she reads mysterious books. BUt then he neither confesses or denies anything - allowing for his son to earn his property, and when he’s getting stoned - he asks for more dying a christian.