The Crucible: Characters

Reverend Parris

mid-40s, widower with children, lacked control in his household, paranoid and self-pitying, power-hungry, disliked by parishioners

Betty Parris

10 year old daughter of Reverend Parris, falls into "stupor," her illness sparks rumors of witch-craft

Abigail Williams

orphaned, niece of Rev. Parris, smart and cunning, "dissembling," vindictive, mysterious rumors about her purity, leader of the group

Tituba

from Barbados, cares about children, is the first accused of witch craft, confesses and repents

Elizabeth Proctor

John Proctor's wife, virtuous, eager to please her husband, timid, avoids conflict, often sad

Mary Warren

18 years old, Proctor's servant, easily influenced by others, worried

Thomas Putnam

50 years old, wealthy landowner, greedy, little concern for others

Ann Putnam

"haunted" and "twisted" soul, lost 7 infants, blames others for misfortunes, nosy

Ruth Putnam

only surviving daughter of the Putnams, falls into stupor

Mercy Lewis

sly and merciless, apathetic, "beat" Ruth when ill

Francis Nurse

respected in the town, target of jealousy, enemy of Thomas Putnam

Rebecca Nurse

gentle caretaker, experienced, reasonable, wants peace and tolerance in Salem

Giles Corey

"comical hero," deeply innocent, ignorant and uneducated

Martha Corey

enjoys reading, leads to her accusation of witch craft

Reverend John Hale

specialist in demonology, intellectual, his arrival sets hysteria in motion

Ezekiel Cheever

upright citizen, determine to perform duty for court

John Proctor

mid-30s, successful farmer, even-tempered, thinks for himself, respected in Salem, sees himself as a loner

Deputy
Governor Danforth

"good judge," allows humor, great respect for court, honest, true Puritan

Judge Hathorne

"bad judge," rushes to judgement, partial and unfair