The Crucible Character Definitions

Acts 1 & 2

John Proctor

A local farmer who values his integrity above all else. He had an extramarital affair with Abigail Williams, which haunts him, and he is deeply critical of Reverend Parris and the court's hysteria.

Abigail Williams

Reverend Parris’s 17-year-old niece and former servant for the Proctors. She instigates the witch trials to protect herself and eliminate Elizabeth Proctor so she can be with John.

Reverend Samuel Parris

Salem's insecure, power-hungry minister. He is obsessed with his reputation, wealth, and authority, and he aggressively supports the trials to protect his standing in the community.

Betty Parris

Reverend Parris’s 10-year-old daughter. She falls into a mysterious catatonic state after being caught dancing in the woods, fueling the initial rumors of witchcraft.

Tituba

Reverend Parris’s enslaved woman from Barbados. She performs spiritual songs and rites for the local girls in the forest and is the first person accused and forced to confess to witchcraft.

Mrs. Ann Putnam

Thomas Putnam's wife. She is consumed by grief over the deaths of seven of her infants at birth and blames supernatural forces and Rebecca Nurse for their deaths.

Thomas Putnam

A wealthy, bitter, and greedy landowner in Salem. He uses the witch trial accusations as a tactic to acquire his neighbors' forfeited lands.

Ruth Putnam

The Putnams' surviving daughter. Like Betty, she falls into a strange trance after dancing in the forest with Tituba and the other girls.

Mercy Lewis

The Putnams' servant girl and a close friend of Abigail. She participates in the forest dancing and actively joins in accusing townspeople during the trials.

Mary Warren

The timid 17-year-old servant girl in the Proctor household. She is easily influenced, participates in the girls' accusations, and presents Elizabeth Proctor with a fateful poppet in Act 2.

Elizabeth Proctor

John Proctor’s virtuous and honest wife. She is cold toward John following his affair, but remains fiercely loyal, becoming a primary target of Abigail’s jealousy.

Giles Corey

An elderly, outspoken, and feisty farmer known for filing lawsuits. He inadvertently brings suspicion on his wife, Martha, by mentioning her habit of reading strange books.

Martha Corey

Giles Corey’s wife, whose independent habit of reading non-religious books leads to her being accused of witchcraft.

Rebecca Nurse

A respected, gentle, and deeply religious elderly woman in Salem. She acts as a voice of reason early on, identifying the girls' condition as a silly phase, which angers Ann Putnam.

Francis Nurse

An influential, well-respected elderly landowner and husband of Rebecca Nurse. He is involved in land disputes with Thomas Putnam.

Reverend John Hale

A scholarly minister and expert on witchcraft called to Salem from Beverly. Initially eager to uncover demonic forces, he grows increasingly skeptical of the court's integrity by Act 2.

Ezekiel Cheever

A clerk of the Salem court appointed to issue arrest warrants. He strictly executes his duties, searching the Proctor home and arresting Elizabeth in Act 2.

Marshal Herrick

The local town marshal assigned to assist in arresting and guarding those accused of witchcraft.

Judge Hathorne

A rigid, arrogant judge who presides over the Salem witch trials alongside Deputy Governor Danforth, fully convinced of the court's infallibility.