Crucible Study Guide
Act 3:
1.
Q: Where does Act III take place, and why is this location important to the events of the act?
A: Act III takes place in the meeting house in Salem, where the court is being held. This is important because John Proctor, Mary Warren, Giles Corey, and Francis Nurse come there to challenge the accusations and prove that the court is wrong.
2.
Q: What is Martha Corey being accused of, and what does Giles Corey claim about the accusations against her?
A: Martha Corey is accused of witchcraft. Giles Corey claims that the accusations are connected to Thomas Putnam's desire to gain more land. Giles says someone told him that Putnam was encouraging his daughter to accuse people.
3.
Q: Why does Giles Corey refuse to identify the person who told him that Thomas Putnam was encouraging accusations?
A: Giles refuses because he does not want the person to be arrested or punished. He wants to protect the person's identity.
4.
Q: What evidence does Francis Nurse bring to the court in an attempt to defend Rebecca Nurse and the other accused women?
A: Francis brings a petition signed by 91 people who testify that Rebecca Nurse, Martha Corey, and Elizabeth Proctor are good, Christian women who have behaved honorably.
5.
Q: How does Deputy Governor Danforth react to the petition supporting the accused women?
A: Danforth is suspicious of it. Instead of accepting it as evidence of their good character, he orders the 91 people who signed it to be questioned. This shows that he sees people who challenge the court as suspicious.
6.
Q: What does Reverend Hale begin to realize about the court and its proceedings?
A: Hale begins to realize that the court is not fairly searching for the truth. He sees that innocent people may be getting punished and that the judges are more interested in defending the court than considering evidence.
7.
Q: Why does Mary Warren come to the court?
A: Mary comes to tell the court that the girls were pretending to be bewitched. She wants to admit the truth and help save the innocent people who have been accused.
8.
Q: What does Mary Warren tell Danforth and the other officials about the girls' accusations?
A: She tells them that the girls were pretending when they claimed to see spirits and that there were no actual supernatural spirits attacking them.
9.
Q: How does Abigail respond when Mary Warren claims that the girls were pretending?
A: Abigail denies Mary's claims and pretends that Mary is attacking her with witchcraft. The other girls join Abigail and pretend that Mary's spirit is threatening them.
10.
Q: Why does Danforth refuse to postpone the executions of the accused prisoners?
A: Danforth refuses because he believes postponing the executions would make the court look weak and suggest that the previous executions were wrong. He is more concerned with maintaining the court's authority than reconsidering the evidence.
11.
Q: How does Judge Danforth use his position of authority to control the courtroom? DID HE DO THE RIGHT THING?
A: Danforth controls the courtroom by questioning people aggressively, threatening them with arrest, deciding what evidence is acceptable, and insisting that people follow the court's rules. I don't think he did the right thing because he refuses to seriously consider evidence that challenges his decisions. His authority becomes more important to him than finding the truth.
12.
Q: What does Reverend Parris fear will happen if the court is shown to have made mistakes?
A: Parris fears that people will turn against him and the court. He is especially worried about his reputation and his position as minister of Salem.
13.
Q: How does John Proctor's attitude toward the court change during Act III? Be specific.
A: At first, Proctor enters the court hoping to reason with the officials and expose the truth. As Danforth refuses to listen and Abigail continues lying, Proctor becomes increasingly angry and desperate. By the end, he openly condemns the court and realizes that the system is unwilling to admit that it is wrong.
14.
Q: Why does John Proctor decide to reveal his affair with Abigail?
A: Proctor reveals the affair because he knows that Abigail's relationship with him gives her a reason to want Elizabeth removed. He sacrifices his reputation in order to prove that Abigail is motivated by jealousy and revenge.
15.
Q: How does Elizabeth Proctor's testimony affect John's attempt to expose Abigail?
A: Elizabeth accidentally hurts John's case. Because she does not know that John has already admitted the affair, she lies and says there was no affair in order to protect his reputation. Her lie makes Proctor's testimony appear less trustworthy.
16.
Q: Why does Mary Warren eventually turn against John Proctor? WHY did she do this?
A: Mary turns against Proctor because she becomes terrified of Abigail and the other girls. When Abigail and the girls pretend that Mary's spirit is attacking them, Mary feels overwhelmed and fears that she will be accused of witchcraft herself. She gives in to the pressure and accuses Proctor of forcing her to work with the Devil.
17.
Q: How does Act III demonstrate the dangers of unchecked authority? Give at least one specific example.
A: Danforth has enormous authority and refuses to seriously question the court's decisions. For example, even when Proctor presents evidence that challenges Abigail's accusations, Danforth continues to believe the girls. His unwillingness to question his own authority helps lead to Proctor's arrest.
18.
Q: Several characters are more concerned with protecting their reputations than discovering the truth. Identify two characters and explain how this affects their actions.
A: Danforth is concerned about protecting the authority of the court, so he refuses to admit that it might be wrong. Parris is concerned about his reputation and position in Salem, so he worries about how the accusations and possible mistakes will affect him. Their concern with reputation prevents them from honestly examining the evidence.
19.
Q: How does fear influence the behavior of the girls and the officials in the courtroom? What does Miller suggest about the way mass hysteria can affect people's judgment?
A: Fear causes the girls to continue lying because they are afraid of being punished or exposed. The officials also become afraid of admitting that the court has made mistakes. Miller suggests that mass hysteria can overwhelm reason, causing people to believe accusations without sufficient evidence and make decisions based on fear rather than facts.
20.
Q: At the end of Act III, who do you believe is most responsible for the tragedy that is unfolding—Abigail, Danforth, Parris, the other girls, or someone else? Defend your answer using at least two pieces of evidence from the act.
A: I believe Abigail is most responsible because she starts the false accusations and continues lying even when innocent people are being harmed. In Act III, she refuses to admit that the girls were pretending and manipulates the court by pretending that Mary's spirit is attacking her. She also convinces the other girls to support her story. However, Danforth also bears major responsibility because he has the authority to stop the situation but repeatedly refuses to question Abigail's claims.
Act 4:
Q. Prior to the start of Act IV, what role has hysteria played in the play?
A. Hysteria has caused fear and panic to spread throughout Salem. People begin accusing others of witchcraft without real evidence, and the court accepts these accusations. Hysteria allows innocent people to be arrested and executed while the accusers gain power.Q. Is there anyone in the play thus far that you believe to be irredeemable? Explain your answer.
A. Abigail Williams could be considered irredeemable because she knowingly lies about witchcraft, manipulates others, and causes innocent people to be imprisoned and killed. She continues protecting herself even when she knows her accusations are false.Q. Look at the first line of Act IV (stage directions) and what significant detail do you notice?
A. The act begins in a jail cell in Salem, and it is described as being early in the morning. The setting is dark and depressing, showing how far Salem has fallen because of the witch trials.Q. They are explained a few times in this act, but what’s with the cows?
A. The cows represent the disorder in Salem. Because so many people have been arrested or have fled, normal life has broken down. The abandoned cows wander around because there is no one left to care for them.Q. What’s going on in Andover?
A. The people of Andover have begun rebelling against the witch trials. They refuse to cooperate with the court, showing that people are starting to realize the accusations and trials are unjust.Q. Why did the audience not hear from the girls in Act IV?
A. The girls, including Abigail, have fled Salem. Abigail has stolen Parris's money and disappeared with Mercy Lewis. Their disappearance shows that they are unwilling to face the consequences of their accusations.Q. Before the final scene, the audience is told how many individuals have been executed?
A. Twelve people have already been executed, and several more are scheduled to die.Q. Who returns to Salem?
A. Reverend Hale returns to Salem.Q. How long have the Proctors been in jail?
A. Elizabeth has been in jail for three months, while John Proctor has been imprisoned for several months as well.Q. Whom do you dislike more—Judge Danforth or Rev. Parris?
A. I dislike Judge Danforth more because he has enormous authority but refuses to admit that the court may have been wrong. Even when evidence suggests the trials are unjust, he focuses on protecting the court's authority.Q. What won’t Elizabeth promise Judge Danforth?
A. Elizabeth refuses to convince John Proctor to confess to witchcraft. She will speak with him, but she will not pressure him into making a decision he does not believe is right.Q. Who was “a fearsome man”?
A. John Proctor is described as a "fearsome man." He is physically and emotionally strong, and by Act IV he has become willing to stand up to the court.Q. Toward the end of the act, why might you become frustrated with Elizabeth? Should you?
A. You might become frustrated because Elizabeth does not immediately tell John what she thinks he should do. However, she is giving him the freedom to make his own decision. She realizes that she cannot decide whether he should confess or die.Q. Now do you see the importance of your reputation? Did John Proctor?
A. Yes. Reputation is extremely important in the play because characters are willing to lie or make terrible decisions to protect their names. John Proctor realizes this when he refuses to allow the court to use his confession publicly. He would rather die than have his name used to support the false accusations.Q. Who has remained the most consistent throughout the play?
A. Abigail Williams has remained one of the most consistent characters. From beginning to end, she is primarily concerned with protecting herself and getting what she wants, even when her actions hurt other people.Q. Develop, in YOUR own words, an appropriate theme that is supported by events of The Crucible.
A. Fear can cause people to abandon reason and morality, allowing lies and accusations to destroy innocent lives.Q. What role does symbolism play in The Crucible? Explain your response.
A. Symbolism helps Miller communicate the play's larger ideas. For example, the crucible itself symbolizes a severe test because the characters are placed under intense pressure and forced to reveal their true values. The cows symbolize the breakdown of normal society in Salem, while John Proctor's name symbolizes his reputation and personal integrity.Q. How well do you know the characters? Could you identify them by their speech, actions, and motivations?
A. The characters have distinct motivations. Abigail is manipulative and focused on protecting herself and getting John Proctor. John Proctor struggles with guilt but ultimately values honesty and integrity. Elizabeth is honest and loyal but also understands John's need to make his own choices. Danforth is focused on maintaining the authority of the court. Parris is primarily concerned with protecting his position and reputation. Hale changes the most because he goes from believing strongly in the court to realizing that innocent people are being harmed.Q. Look at the order of events that take place during the play. Is there one moment that stands out as being more significant than the others? Maybe two or three events? Explain your reasoning.
A. One of the most significant moments is John Proctor admitting his affair with Abigail in Act III. This destroys his reputation but also exposes Abigail's personal motivation for accusing Elizabeth. Another major moment is when Mary Warren turns against Proctor, showing how powerful the hysteria has become. Finally, John's decision to tear up his confession in Act IV is especially important because he chooses his integrity over saving his life.Q. How successful was Arthur Miller’s allegory? What do you believe audience members took away from his play?
A. Miller's allegory connects the Salem witch trials to the Red Scare and McCarthyism of the 1950s, when people were accused of being communists and pressured to name others. The play shows how fear, accusations, and pressure from authorities can cause people to betray others and abandon reason. An audience member could take away the idea that people should be careful about accepting accusations as facts and should be willing to stand up for truth even when doing so is difficult.