The Crucible from Summary Act 1

Crucible

A severe test or trial, especially one that causes lasting change

Betty

Act 1: Reverend Paris is worried about his daughter, _______________, who appears to be sick. The doctor says the cause must be 'supernatural.'

Supernatural

Act1: the doctor says the cause of Betty's sickness must be ___________________

Abigail

Act 1: Reverend Paris saw his niece, ______________, and Tituba and his daughter and her friends in the forest dancing and is afraid they were involved in witchcraft.

Ruth

Who is Mr.s Putnam's daughter

Revered Hale

Act 1: Mrs. Putnam's daughter Ruth (a friend of Betty) is also ill. Who does Paris call to help? He calls "an expert in demonic arts" which is ___________________

Mrs. Putnam

Act 1:________________ admits she put Ruth and Tituba up to talking to the dead in order to discovery why her children keep dying.

Mrs. Putnam

Whose children keep dying?

Drank a charm to kill Elizabeth Proctor

Act 1: when the girls are alone, Betty wakes up. The girls are afraid. Abigail _________________________. She threatens the girls, telling them not to admit to anything but dancing.

A psalm is sung

Act 1: Abigail attempts to continue her affair with John Proctor, but he refuses.

Betty screams when __________________.

Rebecca Nurse

Act 1:______________________ believes the girls are faking

Proctor and Putnam argue about the firewood and who owns it

Act 1: Parris complains that he has no firewood, and ________________________________________

Leading a faction against him

Act 1: Parris accuses Proctor of ______________________.

If there were one, he'd join

Act 1: Parris accuses Proctor of leading a faction against him. Proctor admits that ___________________________________________

The deaths of Mrs. Putnam's children

Act 1: Reverend Hale ("an expert in demonic arts") arrives. He consults his books to see if witchcraft might be the reason for _______________________________________.

Giles

Act 1: _____________ asks Hale about his wife's reading habits. And They tell Hale the story of dancing in the forest.

Abigail blames Tituba

Act 1: the men tell Hale the story of dancing in the forest. Who blames Tituba?

Claims she saw the devil

Act 1: Out of fear for her life, Tituba _______________________

Sarah Good and Goody Osbourne with the devil

Act 1: Tituba says she saw _________________________________________________. Abigail and Betty add to the list of people they saw with the devil.

Allegorical play

The Crucible is an award-winning ___________________ play by American playwright Arthur Miller, and was first produced on Broadway in January 1953.

Between 162 and 1693 in Salem, Massachusetts

The Crucible is a tragic drama that relates the story of the Salem Witch Trials which took place ___________________________________.

The spread of McCarthyism during the 1950s in America

The Crucible, a tragic drama, relates the story of the Salem Witch Trials which took place between 1692-1693 in Salem, Massachusetts, metaphorically reflecting ___________________________________________________________.

The actual plays refers to this event but does not portray it on the stage

Note: the movie version opens with a forest scene where the girls dance and conjure boys, but

The bedroom of Reverend Samuel Parris's home in Salem, Massachusetts

Act 1 opens in _______________________________________________________________

Spring of 1692

The story opens what year

Reverend Parris's Negro slave

Act 1 Scene1: the curtain rises to referral Reverend Parris kneeling beside a bed in which his daughter, Betty age 10, sleeps. Tituba, who is ______________________________, enters, asking about Betty's condition and Reverend Parris chases her from the room in a fury before breaking down into sobs.

17

How old is Abigail Williams

The rumors of witchcraft have exploded in the town and her own intention to go deny them

Act 1 Scene 1: Abigail Williams, age 17, enters and relates the news that __________________________________________________

It was he who found Abigail and Betty, among others, dancing in the forest with the slave Tituba

Act 1 Scene 1: Reverend Parris claims he cannot go before the congregation, as __________________________________________________________________

Betty collapsed from shock when Reverend Parris leapt from the bushes

Act 1 Scene 1: Abigail denies any allegations of witchcraft and insists the girls only danced in the woods. Abigail claims _______________________________________________

Mrs. Ann Putnam

Act 1 Scene 1: ________________ enters, and she is described as "a twisted soul of forty-five, a death-ridden woman, haunted by dreams."

Rumors the child was seen flying like a witch

Act 1 Scene 1: Mrs. Ann Putna, enters and is followed by her husband and they remark upon Betty's condition and ____________________________________________

Their child, Ruth, is also touched by the devil

Act 1 Scene 1: The Putnams insist that ______________________________________ and ask about the arrival of Reverend Hale, a man with much experience in the demon arts.

Not to leap to the conclusion of witchcraft

Act 1 Scene 1: Reverend Parris begs the Putnams ________________________________, but it appears to be too late.

Mercy Lewis

Who is the 18-year-old servant of the Putnams?

Reverend Parris saw Mercy naked in the forest and tells her to reveal nothing about the encounter.

Act 1 Scene 1: Mercy Lewis, the eighteen-year-old servant of the Putnams, enters, claiming to see how Betty is doing. The Putnams plead with Reverend Parris to come down and pray with the congregation, but Parris refuses, claiming he needs solitude for a time. When Mercy and Abigail are left alone, Abigail reveals that ______________________________________________________________

Mary Warren

Act 1 Scene 1: ______________________, described as "seventeen, a subservient, naive girl," enters, exclaiming the whole country is crying witchcraft and they must do something (Act I, p. 18). Betty then begins to stir and claims Abigail drank blood, after which Abigail drags Betty back to the bed, telling her never to repeat herself. Betty claims Abigail drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife, and Abigail slaps her forcefully. Abigail turns to the group of girls as Betty sobs, and tells them, "Now look, you. All of you. We danced. And Tituba conjured Ruth Putnam's dead sisters. And that is all. And mark this—let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you." (Act I, p. 20). Abigail is able to manipulate and intimidate the girls who follow her every lead.

True

The opening of Act I establishes the exposition which drives the entire play. Reverend Parris has discovered his daughter and niece dancing in the woods with several other girls and his slave, Tituba. Tituba was speaking in her native language, singing, over a bubbling kettle, and Reverend Parris believes he saw one of the girls running naked in the forest. This information is revealed through the dialogue of Reverend Parris and Abigail Williams, and sets up the narrative for the central events.

Setting

The ____________ is likewise established in the opening scenes and the audience immediately senses the state of oppression in which the Puritans of 1692 lived. Women had little to no rights and the governmental system established in

A farmer in his mid-thirties

Act 1 Scene 2: As Act 1 continues, John Proctor, _____________________, enters.

She was just going home

Act 1 Scene 2: Upon seeing Mr. Proctor, Mary Warren explains that

springs into his path, asking him to give her a "soft word," but Proctor refuses, saying "No, no, Abby. That's done with" (Act I, p. 22).

Act 1 Scene2: Proctor demands to know if Mary is deaf, as he forbade her to leave the house, and asks what it is he is paying her for. Mary exits, followed by Mercy, and Proctor goes to Betty on the bed, asking Abigail what mischief is going on.

Abigail dismisses the rumors of witchcraft, telling Proctor she and the other girls were dancing in the woods when her uncle discovered them the previous night. As Proctor turns to go, Abigail _____________________________________________________________

Lashes out at Proctor, claiming his wife Elizabeth is slandering her in the town

Act 1 Scene2: Abigail fights Proctor's resistance, reminding him of their nights of passion together in the past. Abigail begins to weep and clutches desperately at Proctor, but he sympathetically and firmly pushes her away. Abigail then ________________________________________________________

Going up to Jesus

Act 1 Scene 2: As the words "__________________" are heard in the psalm from below, Betty awakens and begins screaming, causing Reverend Parris, Mr. And Mrs. Putnam, and Mercy to rush into the room.

Mrs. Putnam

_________________ believes Betty cannot bear to hear the Lord's name and marks it for a sign, as Reverend Parris sends Mercy to the doctor to relatable the news.

The girl can fly

Rebecca Nurse, age seventy-two, enters, and the Putnams and Reverend Parris beg her to go to Betty. Giles Corey, age eighty-three, also enters, saying he's heard

Betty will wake in some time

Rebecca revealed her thoughts that ________________________________

Rebecca

_________________, a patient mother of 11 kids, is the voice of reason-- she knows that the children are acting out and not really sick

Send back Reverend Hale as soon as he arrives

Rebecca also tells Reverend Parris he should _______________________________"This will set us all to arguin' again in the society, and we thought to have peace this year" (Act I, p. 28).

Parris

_____________ is worried that his reputation may be tainted by the claims of witchcraft and devil worship among his slave Tituba, daughter Betty, and niece Abigail. It would not bode well for the home of the minister to be subject to devil worship.

An argument breaks out between Reverend Parris and the townspeople regarding voting rights, the methods of Reverend Parris's preaching, and fairness of salaries. This argument escalates, with Putnam accusing Proctor of taking lumber from his land and squabbling over boundaries. Giles and Proctor begin to exit as Putnam threatens to have a writ clapped on Corey for abetting a theft.

Internal conflict

The entrance of John Proctor marks an important moment in Act I, not only because Proctor is the protagonist of the narrative, but because his interaction with Abigail in this scene establishes one of the central conflicts in the play. There is a tangible attraction between Proctor and Abigail, and Abigail's statements about their past together indicate they were once intimate. One of Miller's most powerful examples of imagery is also illustrated in this scene with Abigail's line, "I know how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I come near!" (Act I, p. 22). This scene establishes the ____________________ of the play's hero, and this conflict will resurface in Act II, between Proctor and his wife, Elizabeth.

Rebecca

Betty's awakening at the psalm and the reaction of Mrs. Putnam illustrate just how willing the people of Salem are to believe in the supernatural and the will of the Devil. Mrs. Putnam exhibits this superstition the greatest, likely due to her obsession over her lost children. Rebecca Nurse is also introduced in this section, and _________________ proves to be the opposite of Mrs. Putnam.

Leaping to conclusions of the supernatural

Rebecca dismisses Betty's illness as a common ailment that will go away in time and warns against _________________________________________

Bringing Reverend Hale into Salem

Rebecca dismisses Betty's illness as a common ailment that will go away in time and warns against leaping to conclusions of the supernatural. This foreshadows the fact that Rebecca will later become one of the accused herself, likely due to jealousy over her children having survived when Ann Putnam's did not. Rebecca also warns, correctly, about the dangers of _____________________________________________

Land rights, community organization, and the church

The arguments that ensue at the end of this section indicate an important element in the town of Salem: underneath the surface of this small Puritan community, there are constant squabbles regarding ______________________________________. All of these underlying conflicts will play a major part in the accusations of witchcraft that are to arise.

Reverend Hale

Act I: Scene 3. In the third section of Act I, Reverend John Hale of Beverly enters. _____________________ is described as "nearing forty, a tight-skinned, eager-eyed intellectual"

Weighted with authority

Hale enters carrying a half dozen heavy books, which he claims are

he had discovered the girl with ten or so others and the slave Tituba dancing in the forest.

Introductions are made amongst the townspeople and Reverend Hale; John Proctor leaves alone to tend to his lumber. Parris leads Hale to his daughter, explaining she has tried leaping from the window and was found this morning waving her arms as if she could fly. Reverend Hale responds to the signs of witchcraft, stating, "We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are as definite as stone, and I must tell you all that I shall not proceed unless you are prepared to believe me if I should find no bruise of hell upon her".

Reverend Hale asks when the strangeness with Betty was first discovered, and Reverend Parris responds, explaining

learn from Tituba who murdered her sisters.

Mrs. Putnam interjects that she sent her daughter Ruth to

Giles

Rebecca leaves the room as ____________ begins to question Hale about his wife's habit of reading strange books, an action he finds discomforting. "I'm not sayin' she's touched the Devil, now, but I'd admire to know what books she reads and why she hides them" (Act I, p. 41). Hale dismisses ______________, saying they'll discuss it further, and then goes about observing Betty. Betty remains limp and unconscious on the bed, and Hale turns to Abigail.

"She makes me drink blood."

Cornered by the questions of Reverend Hale and Reverend Parris, Abigail finally confesses it was Tituba who conjured the Devil during their ritual in the woods. Tituba is sent for and upon her entrance, Abigail exclaims ______________________________

Conjure for her, and Reverend Hale de,ands Tituba awaken Betty

Cornered by the questions of Reverend Hale and Reverend Parris, Abigail finally confesses it was Tituba who conjured the Devil during their ritual in the woods. Tituba is sent for and upon her entrance, Abigail exclaims, "She makes me drink blood!" (Act I, p. 44). Tituba responds that Abigail makes her __________________________________________

Someone else is bewitching the children

Tituba, threatened with hanging and beating, breaks down, telling the Reverends she believes

Sarah Good, Goody Osborn

Tituba, threatened with hanging and beating, breaks down, telling the Reverends she believes someone else is bewitching the children. Reverend Hale presses further, offering Tituba forgiveness and God's protection if she confesses to witchcraft and names those she believes are working as the Devil's agents. Tituba names _____________________ and _____________________ as the agents of evil.

She names the "witches"

Abigail realizes that Tituba escapes punishment because

Escapes punishment

Abigail realizes that Tituba ________________________ because she names the "witches" so suddenly Abigail exclaims as if enraptured, and confesses her sins of dancing for the Devil. "I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!" (Act I, p. 48). Betty stands up and joins in, "I saw George Jacobs with the Devil! I saw Goody Howe with the Devil!" (Act I, p. 48). Betty and Abigail continue to chant the names of more and more townspeople as the curtain falls.

Foreshadowing

The introduction of John Hale in Act I demonstrates many examples of

"The marks of his presence are definite as stone"

The introduction of John Hale in Act I demonstrates many examples of foreshadowing. One of these examples is in Hale's description of his books as "weighted with authority" (Act I, p. 36). It has been established at this point that John Proctor opposes authority, and particularly corrupt authority and the authority of the church. Hale's books, therefore, represent an opposing force

which Proctor will have to reckon with. Hale's initial warning to not leap to conclusions regarding witchcraft is two-sided when he states _____________________________________________

Concrete evidence

Hale's books, therefore, represent an opposing force

which Proctor will have to reckon with. Hale's initial warning to not leap to conclusions regarding witchcraft is two-sided when he states "the marks of his presence are definite as stone" (Act I, p. 38). This indicates the presence of evil is something that can be found in ________________________, when in actuality, the "evidence" used in the coming frenzy will be based on hearsay alone.

Mrs. Putnam's revelation that she sent her daughter Ruth to Tituba in order to conjure the spirits of her dead children represents the duality of spirituality during that era. While "witch doctors" or conjurers were considered to be an abomination of Christianity, many villagers during the period sought out their help for medicine, fortune telling, and healing. Thus, a paradox is in place wherein heathens were both castigated and feared, but also sometimes depended upon.

What is an example of the dual spirituality and paradox of the Salem townspeople

Apprehended as one of those accused of witchcraft

Giles Corey's questioning about his wife Martha's reading habits foreshadows the fact that she will later be

Pray

Giles Corey's questioning about his wife Martha's reading habits foreshadows the fact that she will later be apprehended as one of those accused of witchcraft. He tells Hale that he is unable to ______________ when Martha is reading her books

Hung as a witch

While Giles's inquiries are seemingly innocent, he is, in fact, presenting evidence that will be used against her in the future and will be part of the reason Martha is ________________________

Giles

Ironically, it is ________________ who suffers the greatest at the hands of his tormenters in order to preserve his family and pass his land to his sons.

Mrs. Putnam and the others

Abigail's naming of Tituba and the events that immediately follow mark the rising action of the narrative. Tituba's subsequent beating and the threat of hanging lead to her naming others in the town, although it should be noted that Tituba is fed the names by _________________________________

The power Abigail has over her peers

The frenzy which arises from Abigail and the other girls marks the beginning of the central conflict of the narrative and also demonstrates __________________________________

elevate them to almost a celebrity status, revering them.

Once the girls begin to name the "witches," the people of the town ____________________________________