Salem Witch Trials Characters and Key Events Analysis

John Proctor

A farmer who values honesty, has an affair with Abigail, and ultimately chooses integrity over life.

Abigail Williams

Reverend Parris's niece; manipulative leader of the girls; accuses others to protect herself and pursue John Proctor.

Tituba

Parris's slave from Barbados; accused of conjuring spirits; pressured into confessing witchcraft.

Rev. Samuel Parris

Minister of Salem; paranoid, self-serving; fears losing his power.

Betty Parris

Reverend Parris's daughter; falls into a 'trance' after the forest scene, sparking fear of witchcraft.

Thomas Putnam

Wealthy landowner; uses accusations of witchcraft to gain land.

Mary Warren

The Proctors' servant; part of the accusing girls; weak-willed and easily manipulated.

Giles Corey

Elderly farmer; outspoken critic of the court; pressed to death for refusing to enter a plea.

Rev. John Hale

Minister and supposed expert on witchcraft; arrives confident but later denounces the trials.

Dep. Gov. Danforth

Judge in charge of the trials; rigid and believes the court must be upheld at all costs.

Mercy Lewis

A servant in the Putnam household, a close friend of Abigail Williams, and one of the girls who accuse others of witchcraft. She later runs away with Abigail.

Rebecca Nurse

A respected, elderly, and deeply religious woman in Salem. She is falsely accused of witchcraft and executed, but remains honorable and refuses to confess.

Act 1 Location

The Parris' home.

Act 2 Location

The Proctors' home.

Act 3 Location

The Salem Courthouse.

Act 4 Location

The Salem Jail.

What event starts suspicion of witchcraft?

Dancing in the woods and Tituba's supposed necromancy.

What happens to Betty in Act 1?

She falls into a trance and the first accusations of witchcraft begin.

What argument do John and Elizabeth have in Act 2?

About John seeing Abigail again.

What news does Mary Warren bring to the Proctors?

She tells them about the court and the growing accusations.

Why is Elizabeth arrested?

A doll with a needle is found in the Proctor home, 'proving' Abigail's accusation.

What happens in court with Giles Corey?

He outbursts about his wife and reveals Putnam's scheme to gain land.

What does Abigail claim to see in court?

A yellow bird attacking her, pretending it is a spirit sent by Mary.

How does Giles Corey die?

He is pressed to death with stones for refusing to plead.

What choice is Elizabeth urged to make in Act 4?

She is asked to convince John to confess to save his life.

What decision does John Proctor make at the end?

He chooses to hold true to himself and is hanged rather than falsely confess.

Salem's view of itself

As pure and good, so evil must come from outside.

Community looking inward for evil

It turns into hysteria and paranoia, destroying trust.

Justice in the play

It can be twisted, especially when community values collapse.

Difference between guilt and responsibility

People confuse feeling guilty with true accountability.

key themes

•Hysteria and panic

•Misuse of the justice system

•The struggle to be true to one's beliefs