Act 1 The Crucible

Setting of The Crucible

Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, a strict Puritan community where religion controls daily life and there is a strong fear of sin, the Devil, and witchcraft.

Reverend Parris

Minister of Salem who is concerned about his reputation after finding the girls dancing in the forest.

Abigail Williams

Parris's niece who had an affair with John Proctor and manipulates others to protect herself.

John Proctor

A respected farmer who feels guilty about his affair with Abigail and wants to distance himself from her.

Tituba

Parris's enslaved servant from Barbados who gets blamed for the girls' actions and confesses to witchcraft under pressure.

Thomas Putnam

A wealthy and resentful member of the community who encourages witchcraft accusations.

Major Themes Introduced in Act 1

Reputation, fear, deception & lies, power, and guilt.

Abigail's motivations

Driven by jealousy and desire for revenge, influencing her to lie about witchcraft.

First accusations in Act 1

Abigail names Tituba, Sarah Good, and Goody Osburn to divert attention from herself and start a chain of accusations.

Super-simple Act 1 chain of events

Girls dance → Parris catches them → Betty gets sick → people suspect witchcraft → Abigail lies → Tituba is pressured → Tituba confesses → Abigail starts accusing people → witch-hunt begins.