By the end of Act 1, the girls dancing in the woods (and dabbling in other things they should not have been doing) turned into a litany of people being charged with witchcraft. Who, in your opinion, is most responsible? Whom do you blame for the hysteria that occurs, and why do you blame him/her/them?

I think Tituba and Abigail are the most responsible for the witchcraft accusations. If Abigail hadn't blamed Tituba of dealing with the devil in the forest, Tituba wouldn't have begun to bluff and say that she had been corrupted by the devil and someone she couldn't recognize. Abigail then took the opportunity to say that she had also seen some people with the devil, before listing off people she didn't like. The rest of the girls joined in not long after chanting who they saw with the devil. Tituba is guilty mainly because she is the adult and could have easily called out the girls on their bluff, but she didn't. In addition, she should have not brought the girls to the forest in the first place. Overall, Tituba should have been more responsible as the adult who knows the full story, and shouldn't have allowed the situation to escalate. Abigail is also responsible for the situation because Abigail was the first person to blame someone. Abigail blamed Tituba for leading them into the forest and overall was the first person to continuously blame people, causing emotions all over the place, which in tern caused everyone to start blaming other townsfolk. Everything could have been avoided if Abigail hadn't lost her temper and simply confessed to what they were doing in the forest in the first place.

Act 2- Find a quote that reveals what Elizabeth and John Proctor's relationship is like. Explain the significance of the quote.

Elizabeth and John Proctor's relationship is strained and the romance in their marriage is dying. Proctor says, "It's winter in here yet". Wintertime represents a lack of life, where everything is cold, dead, and dark. The winter inside the Proctor household represents the death of the love in Elizabeth and Proctor's marriage. In addition, it is spring outside, which represents love and new life, but everything is dead and cold inside the Proctor household.

Act 2- Find a quote that reveals Abigail is gaining power in Salem.

Proctor explains, "I am only wondering how I may prove what she told me, Elizabeth. If the girl's a saint now, I think it is not easy to prove she's fraud, and the town gone so silly". Abigail had told specifically John Proctor that the girls weren't sick, she's a "fraud", and that they were dancing in the forest, meaning that Proctor has this information about Abigail that no one else knows. Abigail has managed to turn the town to feel sympathy for her and the girls by claiming they've been corrupted by the devil, and now holds the cards in her hands as a "saint" because she knows that no one can turn against her now. Everyone in the town has gone hysteric and "so silly", so no one can think rationally about the situation and figure out that the girls are lying.

Act 2- Find a quote that reveals Mary Warren's change in Act 2 and how she is no longer the "subservient and timid" girl.

Mary Warren used to be "subservient and timid", but how now grown into a confident and independent woman. Elizabeth says, "It is a mouse no more". A mouse represents being shy, timid, and scared, but since Mary Warren is a "mouse no more," she is being more confident. She defied Elizabeth's orders to not go to Salem and went anyway, showing that she is no longer timid and afraid, but that she can stand up for herself and what she thinks is right.

Act 3- How does Mary Warren contribute to the mob mentality that takes over the courtroom in Act Three? What's significant about this scene? Discuss what Abigail and the girls do that makes Mary Warren go back on the girls' side rather than Proctor's.

Mary Warren gives in to Abigail's theatrical performance that was specifically meant to call her out, target her, and intimidate her. Once Abigail started talking about spirits and copying her, implying that she is working with the Devil to possess her friends, her confidence level slowly dwindled as she didn't want to be accused of going against Abigail and being a witch. Mary Warren ended up being too intimidated by Abigail to stand up for what is right and followed the crowd in not going against Abigail and her lies. In addition, by siding with Abigail, she would be freed from Proctor's threats.

Act 3- What does Hale do by the end of this act? Would you say that Hale is a dynamic character (one who has changed), or a static character (one who has not changed)?

Hale quits the court, and in turn, his siding with God by the end of the Act. He realizes that corruption, irrationality, and hysteria are taking over the court, so he quits the court out of frustration. Hale is a dynamic character because in the beginning of the play he wants to condemn the witches at the beginning of the play, but by the end, he realizes the corruption of Salem in the judges, leaders, and witnesses.

Explain how Governor Danforth and Reverend Hale are foils in the play.

Danforth is a constant force that constantly pushes to make other's opinions heard through his authority, but doesn't always necessarily choose the right voices to project. He is also a strict rule follower Hale is a dynamic character who is able to realize the corruption in Salem and is more empathetic. Danforth is also a strict rule follower whereas Hale is more fluid and willing to hear everyone's thoughts before reaching a conclusion.

Thematic Paragraph example

One of the main themes is respect and reputation, and how different characters interpret respect and reputation to mean different things. Certain characters have respect for higher powers or people they know are good. Some sacrifice themselves to keep their reputation clean, while others accuse their neighbors to try not to ruin their reputation, knowing full well that their reputations would be destroyed if their deeds to uphold their reputation were told to the public. Abigail had been trying to ruin Elizabeth Proctor, once accusing Elizabeth of tainting her name in the village (Miller 22), even though Abigail had slowly been destroying her own reputation through her efforts to rid Proctor of his wife. In addition, Ann Putnam also attempted to destroy the reputation of Rebecca Nurse, saying that Rebecca killed her unborn children, as she had many of her own children to enjoy. Ann Putnam was extremely jealous of Rebecca Nurse, leading to Ann Putnam being a hothead against her. Throughout the play, many of the people who acquire power and authority become corrupted because they want to protect their newfound reputations, such as Danforth and Parris. Parris and Danforth want to keep their names clean at any cost, and are willing to sacrifice many lives to do so. Hale, realizing just how corrupt Parris and Danforth have become because of their efforts to preserve their reputations, loses all his respect for them.

What are the major themes in The Crucible?

Deception, respect and reputation, hysteria and conformity, power/authority and corruption, compassion and forgiveness