Characters 

No new characters!

Questions

1. How have the townspeople been affected by the last several months of court proceedings? 

   Salem is falling apart because of how many people are in jail. Children and animals run free, and people are frightened that they will be accused next. 

2. What is Rev. Parris’ real reason for pleading for postponement of the executions? 

   Reverend Parris’ real reason for pleading postponement of the executions is to save his reputation and position as well as believing he is in danger. 

3. What makes Danforth anxious to obtain confessions? At the same time, why does he refuse to postpone the executions?  

   Danforth is anxious to obtain confessions because he knows that he made a mistake but does not want to look like a fool after arresting and hanging hundreds of people. He refuses to postpone the executions because it will look like he is hesitating and questioning his own decisions. 

4. Why has Rev. Hale returned to Salem? 

   Rev. Hale has returned to Salem to try and convince the accuse to confess and save their lives. Hale feels guilty that he has innocent blood on his hands. 

5. Why doesn’t Elizabeth beg John to sign the confession? 

   Elizabeth doesn’t beg John to sign the confession because she wants John to make his own choice and to have his goodness. 

6. How has Elizabeth changed during her imprisonment? 

   During her imprisonment, Elizabeth has forgiven John and apologizes for not forgiving his affair. 

7. How did Giles Corey die? Why did he refuse to answer the charges against him? 

   Giles Corey died from being crushed to death by stones because he didn’t want to subject anyone else from Thomas Putnam’s wrath over land by divulging their name. 

8. What makes John Proctor finally tear up the confession and decide it is better to hang? 

   John tears up the confession because he doesn’t want his confession nailed to the church door for the entire town of Salem to see. Proctor says all he has is his name and they won’t even allow him that. 

9. What happened to the following characters after the witch hunt madness ended?  

   A. Elizabeth Proctor 

   • Gives birth to her child 

   • Remarries several years later after the witch trials are over 

   B. Reverend Parris 

   • Reverend Parris left office (may have been voted out) 

   • Left Salem and was never heard from again 

   C. Abigail Williams 

   • Rumor has it turned up again in Boston as a prostitute 

   • Died young 

Plot 

• Herrick speaks to Sarah and Tituba when Danforth arrives with Judge Hathorne and Cheever 

• Hale is praying with those meant to be hung (with Mr. Parris) 

• Parris tells Danforth that Hale is bidding the women to confess and save their lives 

• Parris believes his niece (Abby) has vanished with Mercy and broke into Parris’s strongbox of 31 pounds 

• They believe there will be a riot in Andover 

• Parris suggests a postponement of the hangings and Danforth refuses 

  • People being hung have high respect 

    • John, Martha, Rebecca 

  • (why Parris wants a postponement) Parris is in danger (dagger in his door) 

  • Danforth won't postpone because it will make him look like he was wrong or seem that the others that have already been hung were innocent 

• Hale says Nurse refuses to confess 

• Elizabeth is truly pregnant 

• Danforth is sending Elizabeth to see John in an attempt to get him to confess 

• Hale declares he has returned to do the Devil’s work; that he come to counsel Christians that they should belie themselves (being sarcastic) and has actually returned because there is innocent blood on his hands 

• Elizabeth is hesitant to meet with John but she goes eventually 

• Elizabeth has not seen their children, Rebecca Samuel watches over them and John has been tortured 

• Elizabeth reveals Giles is dead 

  • They killed him by adding weights to his chest when he refused to answer questions 

• Elizabeth asks him if he will confess

• John tells Hathorne he wants his life 

• Rebecca refuses to confess 

• John refuses to say any names of people he has “seen with the Devil” saying he's never seen anyone with the Devil 

• John takes the document and refuses to give it to Danforth saying he will not condemn or sell his friends 

• John does not want to lose his name and says that he has given his soul and has lied and signed himself to lies and asks to keep his name 

• John rips up the paper and lets himself hang 

• Rebecca tells John they await further judgement (God) 

• Parris and Hale plead with Elizabeth to convince John to confess but she refuses and says that he has his goodness now and that she will not take it from him