The Crucible

Question 1

John Proctor Integrity Act 4

Answer 1

“Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies.”

Question 2

Stage Directions for Proctor ripping his false confession to witchcraft Act 4

Answer 2

“His Breast heaving, his eyes staring, Proctor tears the paper and crumples it, and he is weeping in fury”

Question 3

Proctor to Abigail Wants to prove loyalty, cutting off hand is a punishment for adultery back then. Act 1

Answer 3

“Abbey, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I reach for you again.”

Question 4

Proctor to Parris Act 1, Parris concerned about devil and hell than he appears to be with god and goodness. Proctor suggest Parris is more obsessed with external punishment rather than Salvation. Also shows his arrogance.

Answer 4

“I may speak my heart, I think.”

Question 5

Proctor to Elizabeth Act 2 when avoiding truth of affair with Abigail

Answer 5

“You doubt me yet?”

Question 6

Elizabeth reminder John Proctor of the Ten Commandments which he suspiciously forgot when reciting them to Reverend Harris who was searching for Witchcraft in Salem Act 2

Answer 6

“Adultery John.”

Question 7

Proctor Act 3 when Abigail only accusing Proctor’s wife of witchcraft out of revenge but Proctor accused of lieing (about his affair) and witchcraft

Answer 7

“But it is a Whore’s vengeance”

Question 8

Abigail in response to be accuse of her affair with proctor Act 1

Foreshadows her shifting blaime by her witchcraft accusations and wanting revenge of Elizabeth by accusing her of witchcraft

Answer 8

“Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!”

Question 9

Act 2 Proctor shocked by Courts Witch Accusations

Answer 9

“On what proof. What Proof?”

Question 10

Danforth to Abigail as he knows that if Abigail proven to be a whore then the court will lose integrity because false accusations from Abigail which lead to Executions.act 2

Answer 10

“You deny every scrap and title of this?”

Question 11

Danforth needs some evidence (weak evidence usually works) Act 3-shows craziness of Salem

Answer 11

“But proof, sir, proof”

Question 12

Hale to Elizabeth Act 4 pleading her to lie to let Proctor live.

Answer 12

“I would save your husband’s life, for he is taken, I count myself his murderer.”

Question 13

Hale angers Danforth after trying to stop the court’s false witchcraft accusations to save lives. Act 3

Answer 13

“I dare not take another life without there be proof.”

Question 14

Proctor Act 3 Tests his faith as he can’t believe how gullible the courts is, he is close to mentally collapsing.

Answer 14

“I say God is dead”

Question 15

Act 4 Hale urges Elizabeth it is ok to damage his integrity to save life which is so precious. Prepared to compromise his beliefs as he realised dishonour of his earlier actions.

Answer 15

“Life, woman, life is God’s most precious gift, no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it.”

Question 16

Act 1 Hale believes in witchcraft and the Devil at this point. Logical but arrogant character at this stage.

Expert analysis: Hale says this to Parris when Parris asks him to inspect his daughter, Betty, for signs of witchcraft. Parris says that Betty’s hatred of hearing the Lord’s name is surely a sign of witchcraft, but Hale is more careful and deliberate in his examination of whether witchcraft is really afflicting the people of Salem. Hale is an expert in witchcraft, and he believes in the Devil’s marks; he believes that if Betty is really being afflicted by witchcraft, he will find marks of it on her, as the Devil is a careful worker who always leaves a distinct mark. He tells Parris that Parris must believe his word, even if he (Hale) finds no mark of the Devil on Betty. Hale is not just manipulating the rumors about witchcraft for his own ends; instead, he truly believes in the existence of the Devil and thinks the Devil shows his work on humans.

Answer 16

“The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone.”

Question 17

From the melodrama from this quote in act 1, Hale likes being the witch Hunter. Determined to do right for society and loves the attention he gets from it when searching in the Parris House

Answer 17

“Have no fear now – we shall find the devil out if he has come among us.”

Question 18

Hale in Act 1 still firmly believes in witchcraft and the devil as he wouldn’t have said something as stupid if he didn’t. Talking about Betty.

Answer 18

“Mr Putnam, stand close in case she flies.”

Question 19

Act 2 Hale believes he is doing good for the court and helping the trial process when seeing if the Proctors are good Christians and also showing he believes he is a good Christian man himself.

Answer 19

“My duty is to add what I may to the Godly wisdom of the court”

Question 20

Introduction

Answer 20

Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is a play which deals with the Salem witch trials. Used as an allegory to cast light on the suspicion and terror of the McCarthy red scare, it describes a community threatened by fear – of sin, of judgement and of revenge.