Crucibles Test

Reverend Hale

Minister who is an expert in witchcraft; initially supports the trials but later denounces them.

Abigail Williams

Niece of Parris; former servant of the Proctors; instigates the Salem witch trials.

Reverend Parris

Minister of Salem's church; paranoid and concerned about his reputation.

Elizabeth Proctor

John Proctor's wife; virtuous and honest, but cold; accused of witchcraft by Abigail.

John Proctor

Farmer; main protagonist; struggles with guilt over an affair and stands up to the court.

Betty Parris

Reverend Parris's young daughter; falls into a strange stupor after being caught dancing.

Tituba

Parris's slave from Barbados; first to be accused of witchcraft.

Rebecca Nurse

Respected elderly woman; known for her kindness and piety; accused of witchcraft.

Goody Putnam

Mother who has lost seven children shortly after birth; believes witchcraft is responsible.

Giles Corey

Elderly but strong man; pressed to death with stones for refusing to name names.

Thomas Putnam

Wealthy, vindictive man who uses the trials to gain land from accused neighbors.

Danforth

Deputy Governor; presides over the witch trials and is inflexible in his judgments.

Ergot

A toxic fungus that can infect rye and may have caused hallucinations in Salem.

Hysteria

Exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement, especially among a group of people.

McCarthyism

The practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper evidence; refers to the anti-Communist movement in the U.S. during the 1950s.

Theocracy

A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a deity; used to describe the Puritan government of Salem.