Crucible Act I Flashcards

Tituba

Parris' slave woman from Barbados, accused of witchcraft, confessed to conjuring spirits to save her life.

Reverend John Hale

An expert in witchcraft who comes to Salem to help rid the town of witchcraft.

Salem Witch Hunts

A period of hysteria in Salem where many accused others of witchcraft as a form of revenge for personal grievances.

Parris' concerns

Reverend Parris wanted the deed to his house and firewood in addition to his salary.

Giles Corey's remark

'Think on it now, it's a deep thing, and dark as a pit' refers to the ingrained conflicts and issues within the Salem community.

Abigail Williams

Parris' niece, the main instigator of the witch hunt, who wanted to take Elizabeth Proctor's place as John Proctor's wife.

Rebecca Nurse

A kind and gentle woman who was accused of witchcraft by Ann Putnam due to land disputes.

Tituba's confession

She claimed to have met the Devil and signed his book to avoid execution.

Conflict between Putnam and Proctor

The argument over lumber and land ownership illustrates Putnam's greedy nature.

'Wheels within wheels'

A phrase describing the complex political and personal grudges intertwined with social and religious beliefs in Salem.

Mary Warren's perspective

Mary argues that telling the truth about the woods would result in mild punishment rather than severe consequences.

John Proctor

A strong, fit farmer in his thirties, even-tempered and authoritative.

Thomas Putnam

A bitter and greedy man whose candidate for minister was rejected, feeling superior yet often thwarted in his endeavors.

Betty Parris

Parris' daughter, who exhibited signs of witchcraft in the opening scene.

Putnam's beliefs about witches

Mrs. Putnam believes there are witches due to the loss of her newborns and her only surviving child's peculiar behavior.

'Books weighted with authority'

Hale's remark that reflects the misguided faith in unproven information about witchcraft and the devil.

Irony of Puritan beliefs

Puritans sought religious freedom but then persecuted others, creating a society similar to that which they fled.

Tituba's influence

Tituba's confession catalyzed the Salem witch trials, leading to mass hysteria and accusations.

Reverend Parris' role

As the town's minister, Reverend Parris was more concerned about his reputation than the truth.

Mass hysteria

The collective panic that gripped Salem, leading to irrational behavior and wrongful accusations.

Crucible of evidence

Testimonies and spectral evidence used to convict accused witches, often based on fear and superstition.

John Proctor's guilt

Proctor struggles with guilt over his affair with Abigail, impacting his decisions throughout the trials.

Public versus private self

Many characters in Salem struggle between their public personas and private beliefs, leading to conflicts.

Role of Women in The Crucible

Women in Salem faced oppression and were often scapegoated during the witch trials.

Judgment and morality

The witch trials challenge characters' moral judgments, revealing hypocrisy and true character.

Role of the court

The court in Salem became a tool for personal vendettas rather than a fair judicial system.

Fear as a weapon

Fear was manipulated by characters like Abigail to control others and achieve personal goals.