The Crucible Act 3

Where does Act 3 take place?

The vestry room of the Salem meeting house, which serves as the anteroom of the General Court.

Why do Proctor, Giles, and Francis come to the court?

To prove their wives are innocent and that the girls are frauds.

Who is Deputy Governor Danforth?

The head judge. He puts the court’s authority above the truth and sees any challenge as an attack on the court.

What does Proctor’s petition do, and how does Danforth respond?

It has 91 signatures vouching for the accused women. Danforth has all 91 arrested for questioning.

Why is Giles Corey arrested?

He says Putnam is accusing people to get their land but refuses to name his source, so he is arrested for contempt of court.

What does Mary Warren tell the court?

She never saw spirits, and the fainting and accusations were all pretense.

How does Danforth test Mary?

He has her try to faint on command to prove she pretended. She can’t, so the court says she is lying.

What does Proctor reveal about Abigail to hurt her credibility?

She was put out of the meeting house twice for laughing during prayer, and she led the girls dancing in the woods, which Parris admits he saw.

How does Abigail turn the court against Mary?

She goes on the offensive, threatens Danforth, pretends a cold wind is attacking her, and blames Mary’s spirit. The other girls copy her.

Why does Proctor confess the affair, and what does it cost him?

He confesses to prove Abigail is a vengeful fraud and save Elizabeth. It costs him his good name, which he has guarded all play.

Why does Elizabeth lie, and why does it matter?

She doesn’t know Proctor confessed, so she lies to protect his name and says he is not a lecher. Danforth takes this as proof Proctor is lying.

What is the dramatic irony of Elizabeth’s lie?

The audience knows Proctor confessed, but Elizabeth doesn’t. Both try to protect each other, and it destroys them.

What is the “yellow bird” scene?

Abigail pretends a bird (Mary’s spirit) is attacking her from the rafters, and the girls mimic everything Mary says. Mary panics and Danforth threatens her with hanging.

Why does Mary turn on Proctor?

Fear of being hanged. She calls him the Devil’s man and runs to Abigail to save herself.

How does the act end?

Danforth jails Proctor and Giles. Proctor says everyone will burn together, and Hale denounces the proceedings and quits the court.

What are the main themes of Act 3?

Reputation vs. truth, fear and mob hysteria, self-preservation, and abuse of power.