the crucible

Setting of The Crucible

Salem, Massachusetts, in the spring of 1692.

Reverend Parris

Salem’s minister and Betty’s father, worried about his reputation.

Betty Parris

Parris’s 10-year-old daughter who becomes mysteriously sick after being caught dancing.

Abigail Williams

Parris’s 17-year-old niece, the main accuser during the witch trials.

Tituba

Parris’s enslaved servant from Barbados, blamed for witchcraft.

Parris's concern about the forest incident

He fears it will harm his reputation and position as minister.

Girls' activities in the forest

They were dancing and attempting to conjure spirits.

Participants in the forest dancing

Abigail, Betty, Tituba, Ruth Putnam, Mary Warren, Mercy Lewis, and other girls.

Thomas Putnam

A wealthy, bitter Salem man with land and political conflicts.

Ann Putnam

Thomas Putnam’s wife, who believes witchcraft caused the deaths of her seven babies.

Ruth Putnam

The Putnams’ daughter involved in trying to contact her dead siblings.

Reason Ann Putnam sent Ruth to Tituba

To contact the spirits of her dead babies.

Rebecca Nurse

A calm, respected elderly woman who believes Betty is simply ill.

Importance of Rebecca Nurse

Represents reason, goodness, and respect in Salem.

Giles Corey

An outspoken, elderly Salem farmer involved in the witch trials.

John Proctor

A respected farmer who regrets his affair with Abigail.

Elizabeth Proctor

John’s wife, disliked by Abigail.

Abigail's hatred for Elizabeth

She wants Elizabeth out of the way to be with John.

Abigail's claim about Elizabeth

That Elizabeth is cold and ruining her reputation.

John's rejection of Abigail

Regrets their affair and desires to remain faithful to Elizabeth.

Mary Warren

The Proctors’ servant, involved with the girls, later an official in the witch trials.

Mercy Lewis

The Putnams’ servant who participated in the forest incident.

Reverend Hale

An expert on witchcraft, called to Salem to investigate.

Hale's call to Salem

To determine if witchcraft is causing Betty’s illness.

Definition of theocracy

A government where religious authority and government power are combined.

Importance of Salem's theocracy

Religious disagreement can become a political or legal crime.

Fears of Salem

Fear of the Devil, witchcraft, outsiders, and religious threats.

Divisions in Salem before the trials

Arguments over land, church authority, money, politics, and personal grudges.

Thomas Putnam's resentment

Resents Salem’s decisions against his family and has conflicts over land.

Putnam's motivation for supporting witchcraft accusations

Gives him a way to attack people he dislikes and potentially gain land.

Abigail's questioning about the forest

Admits dancing but denies practicing serious witchcraft.

Abigail's blame on Tituba

She realizes accusing someone can protect herself from punishment.

Tituba's confession

Terrified of punishment, confesses and names other supposed witches.

Tituba's accusations

Sarah Good and Goody Osburn, among others.

Consequences of Tituba's confession

Abigail and Betty begin accusing more people.

Danger of the girls' behavior

Accusations treated as evidence, despite lies or pretenses.

Beginning of the Salem witch hunt

Officially starts at the end of Act One.

Location of Act Two

Mainly in John and Elizabeth Proctor’s home.

Condition of John and Elizabeth’s marriage

Tense and damaged due to John's affair with Abigail.

Elizabeth’s wish for John

To tell the court Abigail admitted the girls were pretending.

John's hesitation to expose Abigail

Fears he cannot prove her confession was private.

Mary Warren's gift to Elizabeth

A small doll called a poppet.

Definition of a poppet

A small doll, often used like a toy.

Abigail's claim about her injury

She claims someone stabs her with a needle through witchcraft.

Importance of the poppet

Contains a needle, used as evidence against Elizabeth.

True creator of the needle in the poppet

Mary Warren.

Abigail's manipulation of the poppet

Makes it appear that Elizabeth used witchcraft on her.

Elizabeth's arresting officers

Court officials including Cheever and Herrick.

Elizabeth's realization

Abigail is trying to have her killed.

Motivation for Abigail wanting Elizabeth dead

Believes Elizabeth stands between her and John.

Visitor to the Proctor home

Reverend Hale.

Hale's investigation

The Proctors' religious beliefs and possible witchcraft connection.

Hale's religious test for John

Asks him to recite the Ten Commandments.

Commandment John forgets

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

Importance of John's forgotten commandment

Adultery is the sin he committed with Abigail.

Accused individuals in Act Two

Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey.

Shocking nature of Rebecca’s accusation

She is one of the most respected people in Salem.

Giles on Martha Corey’s accusation

Partly accused because she reads books.

John’s realization at Act Two's end

He must expose Abigail and fight the court to save Elizabeth.

Major conflict in Act Two

John and Elizabeth trying to survive as Abigail uses trials against them.

Location of Act Three

In the Salem court.

Francis Nurse's aim

To prove the girls are lying.

Mary Warren's admission

She never saw spirits; the girls were pretending.

Mary's statement about the girls' accusations

They were pretending to see spirits.

Danforth's suspicion of Proctor

Proctor challenges the authority of the court.

Danforth's belief about the court

Represents God’s authority.

Proctor's evidence in court

Mary's signed statement claiming the girls were lying.

Fate of Giles Corey

Arrested after accusing Thomas Putnam.

Giles’ accusation of Putnam's motives

Using trials to gain land.

Danforth's stance on opposition to court

Treats it as suspicious and dangerous.

John Proctor's final admission

He had an affair with Abigail.

Reason for John's admission

To prove Abigail has personal motives to destroy Elizabeth.

Elizabeth's involvement in court

Brought in to confirm John's accusation against Abigail.

Elizabeth's action when questioned

Lies, saying Abigail was fired due to jealousy.

Reason behind Elizabeth's lie

Protect John’s reputation.

Consequence of Elizabeth's lie for John

Makes Abigail appear more credible.

Abigail's response to court doubt

Pretends to see a supernatural bird and claims Mary is attacking her.

Reactions of other girls

They imitate Abigail, pretending they too are being attacked.

Mary Warren's fate

Becomes terrified, ultimately accuses John Proctor.

Mary's accusation against John

Claims he is working with the Devil.

Reason for Mary turning against John

Overwhelmed by pressure and fear.

Outcome for John Proctor

He is arrested.

Outcome for Reverend Hale

Quits the court, no longer believing in accusations.

Location of Act Four

In the Salem jail.

Changes in Salem during Act Four

Suffering due to imprisonments, abandoned farms, and divided families.

Fate of Abigail

Disappears with Mercy Lewis and steals money from Parris.

Parris's fear

Fear of rebellion against the court.

Andover's significance

The people rejected the witch court.

Parris's request regarding executions

Wants them postponed.

Danforth's refusal

Refuses to postpone the executions.

Danforth's rationale for continuing executions

Would make the court appear wrong after many deaths.

Returning character in Act Four

Reverend Hale.

Hale’s reason for returning

Feels guilty and wants to save prisoners.

Hale's advice to prisoners

Confess to survive, even if they have to lie.

Fate of Giles Corey

Pressed to death with stones.

Reason for Giles's punishment

Refused to plead or provide information.

Giles Corey's final words

“More weight.”

Significance of Giles's death

Refused to cooperate with an unjust court.

Elizabeth's message about their children

They are alive and being cared for.

John's consideration for survival

Confessing to witchcraft.