'The Crucible' Key Quotations

Question 1

Reverend Parris shows concerns over his reputation when Betty cannot wake and the town suspects witchcraft. (Act 1)

Answer 1

“For now my ministry’s at stake, ministry and perhaps your cousin’s life.”

Question 2

Reverend Parris shows concerns over his reputation when Betty cannot wake and the town suspects witchcraft. (Act 1)

Answer 2

“For now my ministry’s at stake, ministry and perhaps your cousin’s life.”

Question 3

Abigail becomes enraged when her uncle questions her virtue. (Act 1)

Answer 3

“There be no blush about my name.”

Question 4

In his prose commentary, Miller highlights the air of superiority which Proctor possesses. (Act 1)

Answer 4

“In Proctor’s presence a fool felt his foolishness instantly- and a Proctor is always marked for calumny therefore.”

Question 5

In his prose insert, Miller also introduces the audience to Proctor’s inner conflict caused by his affair with Abigail. (Act 1)

Answer 5

“He is a sinner, not only against the moral fashion of the time, but against his own vision of decent conduct.”

Question 6

When he finds himself in the room with Abigail, Proctor acts as though he may have a slight affection for her still. (Act 1)

Answer 6

“(Looking at Abigail now, the faintest suggestion of a knowing smile on his face.)”

Question 7

Proctor denies the affair with Abigail and suggests it never happened. (Act 1)

Answer 7

“We never touched, Abby.”

Question 8

Abigail tries desperately to rekindle their affair but Proctor makes his feelings on the matter clear. (Act 1)

Answer 8

“I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach for you again.”

Question 9

Proctor’s rejection sparks a rage in Abigail, against him and against the whole of Salem.

Answer 9

“I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew what a pretence Salem was.”

Question 10

Abigail, after Tituba’s forced confession, seizes the opportunity to save her own skin and to begin her destructive tirade through Salem, by confessing to seeing the devil. (Act 1)

Answer 10

“I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus!”

Question 11

Proctor argues with Elizabeth when she asks him to go to court and reveal that she told him it were all ‘sport’. (Act 2)

Answer 11

“I have good reason to think before I charge fraud on Abigail, and I will think on it.”

Question 12

Proctor feels he is constantly judged by Elizabeth for his affair and cannot atone for it, no matter what he does. (Act 2)

Answer 12

“I’ll plead no more! I see how your spirit twists around the single error of my life, and I will never tear it free!”

Question 13

However, Elizabeth points out that it is John’s own guilt about the affair which causes him the most turmoil. (Act 2)

Answer 13

“The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you.”

Question 14

Proctor reveals his reasons for disliking Parris and why one of his children have not been baptised by him. (Act 2)

Answer 14

“I see no light of God in that man. I’ll not conceal it.”

Question 15

Proctor confronts Mary Warren after Elizabeth’s arrest and tells her that they will go to the court and she will testify against the girls to save Elizabeth. (Act 2)

Answer 15

“I will bring your guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me!”

Question 16

Judge Danforth warns Proctor of the situation in Salem before he proceeds to offer evidence that the girls are lying.

Answer 16

“You must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between.”

Question 17

When Danforth offers Proctor the chance to proceed no further with his allegations because Elizabeth, pregnant, will be spared. He declines, though this is hard for him.

Answer 17

“[In conflict, PROCTOR glances at Francis and Giles] I- I think I cannot.”

Question 18

When pressed on the matter, John reveals the truth about his and Abigail’s affair.

Answer 18

“[trembling, his life collapsing about him] I have known her, sir.”

Question 19

Danforth, reluctant to believe Proctor, sends for Elizabeth and Proctor tries to draw attention to the fact that the very sacrifice of his name should be proof enough for Danforth. (Act 3)

Answer 19

“I have made a bell of my honour! I have rung the doom of my good name”

Question 20

Elizabeth, unsure who has made the claim of lechery- Proctor or Abigail- lies about the affair in an attempt to save John’s reputation. (Act 3)

Answer 20

“[in agony] My husband- is a goodly man, sir.”

Question 21

Hale, repulsed by the court’s clear denial of logic in an attempt to preserve its own reputation, quits the corrupt court. (Act 3)

Answer 21

“I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!”

Question 22

Despite pleas from court officials who fear for their lives as the town loses faith in the witch trials, Danforth refuses to halt the executions. (Act 4)

Answer 22

“There will be no postponement.”

Question 23

John initially decides to confess in order to save his life but when the court officials insists his confession will be nailed to the church for all to see, protests before tearing the confession up. (Act 4)

Answer 23

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

Question 24

After crying out the reasons why he cannot sign his confession, Proctor cries out the real sacrifice he has made, but reiterates his wish to keep his name. (Act 4)

Answer 24

“I have given you my soul; leave me my name!”

Question 25

After ripping up the confession, John proclaims that he has finally, in admitting what he has done but refusing to admit to a crime he has not committed, gained some redemption. (Act 4)

Answer 25

“I think I do see some shred of goodness in John Proctor yet!”

Question 26

Amongst final, anguished pleas from the court officials, Elizabeth refuses to beg her husband to change his mind and ends the play. (Act 4)

Answer 26

“He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!”