The Crucible- Act I

“We cannot look to superstition in this, the devil is precise”

SPEAKER: Reverend Hale

ABOUT: investigation into witchcraft @ salem

CONTEXT:

• hale arrives as an expert on witchcraft → approaches logically

• Believes signs of the devil can be identified

SIGNIFICANCE:

• Hale trusts court & witch trials

• Irony of believing superstition can be “scientific”

“If you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know now”

SPEAKER: Reverend Parris

TO WHOM: Abigail

CONTEXT:

• betty has fallen oddly ill → girls were caught dancing in the woods

• Parris questions Abby → fears witchcraft → worries about rep in Salem

SIGNIFICANCE:

• shows Parris cares deeply about his status & image

• fear of witchcraft → drives the story

• atmosphere of paranoia & suspicison

“I have seen some reddish work done at night”

SPEAKER: Abigail

TO WHOM: Mercy & Mary

CONTEXT:

• Abigail threatens the girls after rumors about forest start spreading

• she warns them to not tell wha actually happened

SIGNIFICANCE:

• reveals abigails violent & manipulative nature

• shows how fear is used to control others

• foreshadows danger & hysteria

“You are no wintry man”

SPEAKER: Abigail

TO WHOM: John Proctor

CONTEXT:

• Abigail speaks privately with Proctor about their affair

• She tries to remind him of their passion & convince him that he still still loves her

SIGNIFICANCE:

• confirms affair between Abigail and Proctor

• show’s Abigail’s obsession w/ Proctor

• main story conflicts

“We vote by name in this society, not by acerage”

SPEAKER: John Proctor

TO WHOM: (Thomas) Putnam

CONTEXT:

• Putnam agrees about land ownership and influence @ salem

• Proctor Criticises Putnam’s greed & desire for power

SIGNIFICANCE:

• reveals tensions/divisions within Salem

• show’s proctors honesty and willingness to change authority

• themes → greed & power

“ You will confess yourself or… I will whip you to your death”

SPEAKER: Reverend Parris

TO WHOM: Tituba

CONTEXT:

• Paris pressures Tituba to confess witchcraft after accusations started

• Titubas is terrified & fasley confesses

SIGNIFICANCE:

• fear & violence force false confessions

• Abuse of authority

• beg of mass accusations

“ We never touched, ____”

SPEAKER: John Proctor

TO WHOM: Abigail

CONTEXT:

• proctor tries to deny/minimize their past relationship

• he wants to end things to stay loyal to Elizabeth

SIGNIFICANCE:

• shows Proctor’s guilt & inner conflict

• reveals tension between truth & conflict

• Abigail’s emotional hold over him