Act One

Characters

• Reverend Samuel Parris 

  The minister of Salem, Betty’s father, and Abigail’s uncle. Tituba is his slave. As a minister, Parris delivers harsh fire and brimstone sermons that sometimes turn off his parishioners. As a father and master, he's inattentive and quick to anger. Parris's insecurity and obsessive concern with his reputation result from his near paranoid belief that someone is plotting to persecute him, steal his position, ruin his good name, or harm him in some other way. 

  • Widower 

  • No interest in children 

  • Father of Betty 

  • Uncle of Abigail 

  • Says he's not getting paid enough 

    ---

• Betty Parris 

  Reverend Parris's teenage daughter. In many ways she seems like a typical teenager rebelling against her overly protective father. A follower, she quickly falls in line with Abigail's plot. 

  • Fainted in the woods 

    ---

• Abigail Williams 

  The 17-year-old niece of Reverend Parris. Marauding Native Americans killed Abigail's parents when Abigail was young. While a servant in John Proctor’s household, Abigail briefly became John's lover before Elizabeth found out and fired her. Abigail is beautiful, intelligent, crafty, and vindictive. She's also a skillful liar. She is the leader of her group of girlfriends and is willing to do anything to protect herself. 

  • Niece of Parris 

  • Was fired by Elizabeth because of her affair with John 

    ---

• Tituba

  Slave of Reverend Parris, she is originally from Barbados. Tituba is terrified of Parris, who generally blames her for everything that goes wrong in the house. As a black female slave, she represents the lowest rung of Salem society. 

  • Parris’s slave 

  • Sang songs for the girls in the woods 

    • Abigail 

    • Betty 

    • Ruth 

    • Mercy 

    • Mary 

  • From Barbados 

  • Confesses because she feared being hung 

  • Blames Sarah Good and Osburn of witchcraft because Putnam said their names earlier 

• Thomas Putnam 

  The husband of Ann Putnam, and one of the richest farmers and landowners in all of Salem. Putnam is a bitter man who feels that the citizens of Salem have not given him the respect that he and his family deserve. He seeks to gain respect and revenge by increasing his wealth, landholdings, and influence however he can. 

  • Father of Ruth Putnam 

  • One of nine sons 

• Ann Putnam 

  The wife of Thomas Putnam. Mrs. Putnam is as bitter as her husband, but for different reasons: just one of the many babies she has given birth to has survived past infancy. 

  • Mother of Ruth Putnam 

  • 7 out of her 8 children died in infancy 

  • Quick to believe Tituba’s claim of Sarah Good and Osborne being witches as they were her midwives to her dead children 

  • Sent Ruth into the forest to conjure her sisters' spirits to find out what happened to them 

• Ruth Putnam 

  • Daughter of Thomas & Ann Putnam 

  • Her mother sent her into the forest with the girls to conjure her dead sisters’ spirits to find out why they all had died during infancy 

• Mercy Lewis 

  A teenage girl and a servant in the Putnam household. She is Abigail's closest friend and confidant, and the second in command of the group of girls behind the trials. 

  • Servant of the Putnam’s 

  • 18 

  • Fat, sly merciless 

• Mary Warren 

  A teenage girl and a servant in the Proctor household who replaces Abigail Williams. She is a generally good and quiet girl. She fears wrongdoing, but she fears Abigail even more. 

  • 17 

  • Naive, lonely, subservient 

  • John Proctor’s servant

• John Proctor 

  A farmer, and the husband of Elizabeth. Proctor had an affair with Abigail Williams while she worked as a servant in his house. A powerful man in both build and character, Proctor refuses to follow people he considers hypocrites, including Reverend Parris. Feared and resented by the many people in Salem he has made feel foolish, Proctor has a powerful sense of personal integrity. For this reason, his affair with Abigail makes him see himself as a hypocrite. 

  • Farmer 

  • Middle 30s 

• Elizabeth Proctor 

  The wife of John Proctor. She fires Abigail Williams as her servant when she discovers that the girl is having an affair with Proctor. Elizabeth is a good woman known for never telling a lie. She loves her husband deeply but seems to have the sense that she doesn't deserve him, and therefore often responds coldly to him. His affair with Abigail had both shaken the trust she had in her husband and convinced her that she was right in her assumption that she didn't deserve him. 

  • John's wife 

• Francis Nurse 

  A wealthy farmer and landowner in Salem and the husband of Rebecca Nurse. Francis Nurse is generally considered by the Salem community to be a good man, but many people resent his recent rise to wealth. He's had arguments over land with Putnam that have risen even to the level of physical fights. Families related to Francis Nurse were involved in refusing to allow Putnam's wife's brother-in-law to become the minister of Salem, a slight that Putnam has not forgotten. 

  • Husband of Rebecca Nurse 

• Rebecca Nurse 

  The wife of the wealthy farmer Francis Nurse. Rebecca is a much beloved and admired figure in Salem for her religiousness and good sense. She has also served as the midwife at many births. 

  • 72 years old 

  • White haired 

  • Wife of Francis Nurse 

  • People had very high opinion of her 

  • 11 kids, 26 grandkids 

  • Disliked by Ann Putnam 

    • Because Ann is jealous that Rebecca’s children and grandchildren all survived childbirth

• Giles Corey 

  A farmer who owns a farm near Salem, Giles is an old man and somewhat of a rascal, but also very brave and moral at heart. In his many years he's been involved in numerous court cases and lawsuits, and therefore knows the law inside and out. He is married to Martha Corey. 

  • 83 

  • Canny, inquisitive, still powerful 

  • Making his wife sound like she is a witch 

    • Tells Hale that she has been reading books and when she is, he is unable to pray

• Reverend John Hale 

  A minister in the nearby Massachusetts town of Beverly, and an expert in identifying witchcraft. An intelligent man, Hale sees himself as a scientist and philosopher, a kind of physician of the soul. At the beginning of the play he's something of an innocent, taking for granted that the world is black and white and that he, with his expertise, can tell the difference between the two. By the end of the play his outlook has changed considerably. Unlike the other priests, his insistence on uncovering facts makes it impossible for him to overlook the evidence indicating that those condemned of witchcraft in Salem were innocent. 

  • Nearing 40 

  • Tight-skinned, eager eyed intellectual 

    Summoned to Salem to identify witches 

  • Later realizes that there is no witchcraft in Salem; only corruption 

  • Leaves and returns later 

Character Quotes 

• Reverend Parris 

• Tituba 

• Abigail Williams

• Thomas Putnam 

• Ann Putnam 

  • “There are wheels within wheels in this village, and fires within fires!”

• Mary Warren  

• John Proctor 

  “I have trouble enough without I come five mile to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation. Take it to heart, Mr. Parris. There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God any more.” 

  Arthur Miller

   

• Elizabeth Proctor 

• Francis Nurse 

• Rebecca Nurse 

• Giles Corey 

• Reverend John Hale 

Plot 

• Betty fainted the night before and has yet to wake up 

• Ruth has as well 

• 7 out of Ann’s 8 children died in infancy 

• Tituba conjured Ruth’s sisters to come out of the grave 

• Betty wakes up, saying Abigail drank blood 

• Says Abby killed John Proctor's wife 

• Abby threatens to kill them if any of them tell on her 

• John had an affair with Abby 

• Reverend Parris believes he is not being paid enough 

• Tituba confesses and tells names of witches 

  • The names were just names Putnam had said earlier 

    • Sarah Good & Osburn (Ann Putnam’s past midwives)

• Abigail and Betty then join in, naming others 

Questions

1. In his introduction to the play, how does Miller explain what really motivated the people of Salem to accuse their neighbors, friends, and relatives of witchcraft?

   Miller explains that personal grievances and greed motivated the people of Salem to accuse their neighbors, friends, and relatives of witchcraft.

2. What were Abigail and the girls doing in the forest when Rev. Parris saw them?

   Abigail and the girls were dancing in the forest without clothes while Tituba sang.

3. Why is Parris so worried about evidence of witchcraft being discovered in his own house?

   Parris is worried about evidence of witchcraft being discovered in his own house because he was worried about his reputation.

4. What does Rebecca Nurse think is wrong with the girls?

   Rebecca Nurse thinks the girls are faking witchcraft for attention.

5. Why is Mrs. Putnam so eager to prove there is witchcraft in the village?

   Mrs. Putnam is eager to prove there is witchcraft in the village because she has lost all but one of her children shortly after they were born and wants someone to blame.

6. What is the source of conflict between Rev. Parris and Proctor?

   The source of conflict between Rev. Parris and Proctor is that Proctor questions Parris’s beliefs and morals. John Proctor sees that Parris is more concerned with keeping his position as minister than practicing his true religion and devotion to God.

7. What is the relationship between Abigail Williams and John Proctor?

   John cheated on his wife, Elizabeth, with Abigail once. She is now obsessed with him, and wants him to be with her, but John refuses, feeling guilty.

8. How does Abigail feel about John’s wife, Elizabeth?

   Abigail is jealous of Elizabeth and despises her because of it.

9. What is unusual about Giles Corey?

   Giles never attended church before marrying his wife, Martha. He tells Hale that his wife reads books he doesn’t know about and files lawsuits regularly.

10. Why is Thomas Putnam such a bitter man?

    Thomas Putnam is a bitter man because he wants more land and power.

11. Who is Reverend Hale, and what does he accomplish?

    Hale is a reverend summoned to Salem to help identify witches.

12. Why does Tituba confess so readily? What does her confession initiate?

    Tituba confessed so readily because she fears being hung. Her confession causes Abigail and Betty to accuse other women as witches as well.

Vocabulary

1. Heathen (n.) -an irreligious or uncivilized person

2. Conjure (v.) - to practice magic

3. Faction (n.) - a group within a larger group

4. Abomination (n.) - a vile action, condition, or habit

5. Gibberish (n.) - meaningless talk; nonsense

6. Deference (n.) - respectful yielding to another

7. Naught (n.) - nothing

8. Dwindling (v.) - to shrink or diminish

9. Abyss (n.) - a vast chasm; Hell

10. Intimation (n.) - a hint; suggestion

11. Formidable (adj.) - strong; powerful; causing fear

12. Trepidation (n.) - tremulous fear, alarm, or agitation

13. Titillate (v.) - to excite agreeably

14. Notorious (adj.) widely and unfavorably known

15. Prodigious (adj.) - extraordinary; arousing admiration

16. Fathom (v.) - comprehend; understand

17. Defamation (n.) - the injuring of one’s reputation

18. Anarchy (n.) - confusion; chaos; disorder

19. Avidly (adv.) - enthusiastically, eagerly

20. Licentious (adj.) - sexually unrestrained; immoral

21. Blanched (adj.) - to become pale

22. Evade (v.) - to escape or avoid

Act Two

Characters

• Ezekiel Cheever 

• Marshal Herrick 

  • Early 30s 

Plot 

• Elizabeth knows about the affair, the town does not 

• John knows the witchcraft allegations are a hoax 

• Elizabeth thinks John is in love with Abby 

• Mary Warren says Sarah Good confessed to sometimes making a compact with Lucifer 

• Mary says she saved Elizabeth when accused 

• Elizabeth thinks Abby will keep accusing her because she wants Elizabeth’s place as John’s wife 

• John fails the test of saying the 10 Commandments 

• Tells Hale that Abigail told him there was no witchcraft 

• Rebecca and Martha (Giles’s wife) are in jail 

  • Rebecca charged with murder of Putnam’s babies 

  • Martha charged with bewitching Walcott’s pigs 

• Cheever has a warrant for Elizabeth’s arrest 

  • Abigail charged her 

• Parris found a needle in Abigail’s body in the same place as on the poppet that Elizabeth had (Mary Warren gave it to her) 

• Elizabeth is taken away by Herrick and Cheever 

• Proctor tells Mary she will go with him to court to tell the truth of Abigail, saying he will not let his wife and he goodness die for him 

  • Mary rocks back and forth repeatedly saying “I cannot.” 

Questions

1. What is the source of the tension in the Proctor household? 

   John Proctor’s affair with Abigail Williams. 

2. What does Elizabeth fear about Abigail? 

   Elizabeth fears that Abigail will accuse her of witchcraft. 

3. Where has Mary Warren been? What does she report? What does she give Elizabeth?  

   Mary Warren has been at court and reports that 39 girls have been arrested for witchcraft. She brings Elizabeth a poppet she sewed in court (with the needle still in it). 

4. What is the only way a person accused of witchcraft can save his or her life?                       

   A person can confess to witchcraft (whether it is true or not) to save his or her life. 

5. How did Mary “save” Elizabeth’s life, but later cause her to be accused?        

   Mary saved Elizabeth’s life by testifying in court that she doesn’t think Elizabeth is doing witchcraft, but brings home a poppet that causes Elizabeth to be accused and brought to jail.                                                            

6. According to Proctor, what concerns Rev. Parris more than his duty to God?                       

   According to Proctor, Rev. Parris is concerned more with money than his duty to God.                                                                    

7. Why does Rev. Hale come to see the Proctors? 

   Hale comes to see the Proctors because he questions why they rarely attend church anymore, why only two of three sons have been baptized, and tests them by asking John and Elizabeth to repeat the Ten Commandments.  

8. Which commandment does John forget? 

   John forgets the commandment about adultery, which is ironic because it is the sin he committed. 

9. Why do Giles Corey and Francis Nurse come to see John Proctor? 

   They come to see John Proctor because their wives have been accused and arrested on charges of witchcraft. 

10.  Explain: “... vengeance is walking Salem!” 

    The quote signifies that there is no witchcraft in Salem, and it is only personal vendettas and grudges driving the trials forward. 

11. What happens to Elizabeth? 

    Elizabeth is accused by Abigail of witchcraft and is arrested. 

12. What does Proctor demand of Mary Warren? 

    Proctor demands Mary to tell the truth about Abigail to the court for Elizabeth’s sake. 

Vocabulary

1. Daft (adj.) - foolish; crazy; mad 

2. Taint (n.) - to infect or contaminate  

3. Quail (v.) – to lose courage 

4. Inept (adj.) – lacking skill, incompetent 

5. Abundant (adj.) – well supplied 

6. Befuddle (v.) – to confuse 

7. Effrontery (n.) – shameless boldness 

8. Immaculate (adj.) – free from moral impurity 

9. Qualm (n.) – a feeling of uncertainty 

10. Probity (n.) – integrity; honesty 

11. Callous (adj.) – insensitive; unsympathetic 

12. Base (adj.) – morally low; contemptible 

13. Slovenly (adj.) – untidy; careless 

14. Unperturbed (adj.) – not disturbed 

15. Gaunt (adj.) – thin and bony 

16. Agape (adv.) – with mouth open (often in shock) 

17. Conciliatory (adj.) – tending to agree 

18. Beguile (v.) – to mislead; to deceive 

19. Reprieve (v.) – to delay or relieve punishment 

20. Retaliate (v.) – to respond appropriately 

21. Adamant (adj.) – unyielding; inflexible 

22. Cleave (v.) – to adhere closely 

23. Tantalize (v.) – to tease by arousing expectations

Act Three

Characters 

• Judge Hathorne 

• Martha Corey

  • Is being tried at the beginning of the act

• Deputy Gov. Danforth 

  • A grave man in his sixties 

  • Of some humor and sophistication that does not, however, interfere with an exact loyalty to his position and his cause 

• Judge Stoughton 

• Judge Sewall 

Plot 

• Mary tells Danforth that they were all lying 

• Cheever tells Danforth John damned the court and ripped the warrant and Danforth questions if he has seen the devil 

• Danforth reveals Elizabeth claims she is pregnant 

• John Proctor has a testament signed by 91 people saying Rebecca, Martha, and Elizabeth are good women 

• Giles has been in court 33 times 

• Giles claims Thomas sent his daughter to cry witchcraft so he can buy more land 

  • Giles refuses to give the name and is arrested for contempt of the court 

• Danforth tells Mary if she lied in court she will go to jail for perjury 

• Abigail remains in her stance and says that Mary is lying  

• Abigail says Elizabeth had always kept poppets 

• Proctor tells about how Abigail and the girls were found dancing in the woods 

• Mary is asks to pretend to faint now and she says she cannot do it 

• Abby accuses Mary of sending a shadow on her and John attacks her, and reveals the affair John and Abby had in the past 

• Elizabeth is brought in the room to see if she talks about the affair (she doesn’t tell, unknowing that John said that he did have an affair to save John’s reputation) after already saying that Elizabeth would never lie 

• The girls all start to repeat Mary to make it seem she is possessing them 

• They say Mary’s spirit is a bird that is swooping down to hurt them 

• Mary starts to lie saying Proctor is the Devil’s man and that he would murder Mary if she didn’t help him overthrow the court 

• Mary cries to Abby and hugs her 

• Danforth tells Marshal to bring Proctor and Corey to the jail 

• Hale denounces the proceedings of what happened and quits the court 

  • Hale had started to believe John, Giles, and Francis (especially after Elizabeth lies for John, as a lie for his reputation would make sense to him)

Questions

1. Of what does Giles Corey accuse Thomas Putnam? 

   Giles Corey accuses Thomas Putnam of telling his daughter to accuse Corey’s wife, Martha, of witchcraft so he could buy Corey’s land. 

2. Who does John Proctor bring to the court to testify on behalf of Elizabeth, Martha, and Rebecca? 

   John Proctor brings Mary Warren to the court to testify on behalf of Elizabeth, Martha, and Rebecca. 

3. How does Reverend Hale change as the proceedings progress? 

   Reverend Hale begins to see that Salem’s church and court are corrupt. 

4. Why will Elizabeth’s life be spared for at least a year? 

   Elizabeth’s life will be spared for at least a year because she is pregnant, and they will not kill an innocent child. 

5. What does Proctor reveal in an effort to discredit Abigail? 

   Proctor reveals that he committed adultery and had an affair with Abigail in an attempt to discredit Abigail. 

6. Part A – Highlight the correct response. 

   Which of the following is not an example of irony from Act 3? 

   A. Elizabeth Proctor lies about John’s affair with Abigail Williams. 

   B. Mary Warren turns on John Proctor and accuses him of being the Devil’s man. 

   C. Abigail Williams takes Mary Warren back and comforts her. 

   D. Rev. Hale quits the court. 

   Part B -- Highlight the correct response. 

   What passage of the play best supports your answer to part A? 

   A. “Mary Warren: I cannot, they’ll turn on me—” (Act 2 lines 986-987) 

   B. “Proctor: But if she say she is pregnant, then she must be! That woman will never lie, Mr. Danforth.” (Act 3 lines 263-264) 

   C. “They all watch, as Abigail, out of her infinite charity, reaches out and draws the sobbing Mary to her…” (Act 3 lines 1136-1138) 

   D. “Rev. Hale: I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!” (Act 3 lines 1164-1165) 

7. Why does John Proctor say, “God is dead!” 

   John Proctor says, “God is dead!” in response to Danforth’s belief in the girls. He is saying that if Danforth believes he’s working with the devil, then there must be no God at all. 

8. Explain the following lines from Act 3 by John Proctor:  

   “A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! (A) For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, (B) and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud—(C) God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together (D). 

A. Proctor is saying that both he and Danforth are devils. Proctor for committing adultery and Danforth for believing the girls. 

B. Proctor is calling them cowards for being ignorant and believing that there are witches in Salem. 

C. John is saying that Danforth and the others know in their hearts that Abigail and the girls are liars, but choose to believe them. 

D. Proctor is saying that God does not like liars or those who commit adultery, and therefore they will burn in hell together. 

12. At the end of Act 3 in the film there is a visual Biblical allusion made. Describe it.  

    The visual Biblical allusion made at the end of Act 3 in the film is that John is posing as if on the cross. 

Act Four

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