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The Crucible
the two is highly unlikely, to say the least. Miller was always open about the
BA
BACK
CKGR
GROUND
OUND INFO liberties he took with history, saying that he was writing "a fictional story
about an important theme."
AUTHOR BIO Some Like it Hot. Arthur Miller was not a star the way writers are stars today.
He was much, much bigger than that. After he wrote Death of a Salesman, he
Full Name: Arthur Miller was a tremendous national sensation. In fact, he was such a big star that he
Date of Birth: 1915 married Marilyn Monroe. The couple married in 1956, and stayed together
Place of Birth: New York City until 1961.

Brief Life Story: Arthur Miller was born to middle-class parents in 1915 in
New York City. Miller was unintellectual as a boy, but decided to become a PL
PLO
OT O
OVERVIEW
VERVIEW
writer and attended the University of Michigan to study journalism. There, he
received awards for his playwriting. His first play, The Man Who Had All the In the Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, the town minister,
Luck opened in 1944. Miller had his first real success with All My Sons (1947). Reverend Parris, discovers his daughter Betty, niece Abigail, and other girls
Death of a Salesman (1949) made Miller a star. The Crucible opened in 1952, dancing in the forest with his slave Tituba. Betty faints in fright at being
and was considered an attack on the anti-Communist McCarthyism then discovered, and will not wake. Rumors of witchcraft spread through the town
raging in the United States. Miller himself was brought before Congress in and a crowd gathers at Parris's house while Parris, nervous about his
1956 and convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate. The reputation, questions Abigail about what the girls were doing in the forest.
conviction was eventually overturned. Abigail says they were just dancing, though it soon comes out that Tituba was
trying to conjure dead spirits.
KEY FACTS
Parris runs off to calm the crowd, and a local farmer named John Proctor
Full Title: The Crucible winds up alone with Abigail. While Abigail was a servant in the Proctor
Genre: Tragic Drama household, she and Proctor had an affair. Abigail tells Proctor there was no
witchcraft, and insists Proctor still loves her. Proctor, guilt-ridden over the
Setting: Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, when it was a Puritan colony affair, tells her it's over. As the crowd downstairs begins to sing a hymn, Betty
Climax: The Crucible has an odd structure, in which each of the four acts ends starts screaming and Parris, Thomas Putnam, Ann Putnam, Rebecca Nurse,
on a climax. Act I: the girls scream out the names of witches. Act II: Proctor and Giles Corey come running into the room. An argument about whether
vows he will confront Abigail. Act III: Proctor reveals his adultery with Abigail, witchcraft led to Betty's condition soon transforms into an argument about
and Elizabeth Proctor lies. Act IV: Proctor rips up his confession. other local political issues. Just then, Reverend Hale, a noted investigator of
Protagonist: John Proctor witchcraft, arrives, and Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Giles Corey leave.

Antagonist: Abigail Williams Under threat of punishment if she refuses to confess, Tituba breaks down and
admits she communed with the devil. She begins to name other witches in the
HISTORICAL AND LITERARY CONTEXT town. Abigail, seeing that she'll be punished unless she joins Tituba in naming
names, leaps up and begins to name more witches. Betty wakes and joins in.
When Written: 1950-52
Eight days later, Proctor and his wife Elizabeth discuss the many people who
First Performed: 1953 have been charged with witchcraft by a court presided over by the deputy
When Published: 1953 governor of the province. They learn from their servant Mary Warren, one of
Literary Period: Realist Drama the girls accusing people in the town of witchcraft, that Elizabeth is herself
accused. Elizabeth wants Proctor to expose Abigail as a fraud, but she
Related Literary Works: In its depiction of Puritanism, The Crucible most suspects Proctor may still have feelings for the girl. As Proctor angrily denies
resembles Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. Both works show that not it, Hale arrives to investigate the Proctors. He's soon followed by Giles Corey
only is Puritanism harsh and strict, but that this harshness makes it blind, and Francis Nurse, whose wives have been accused of witchcraft and
cruel, hypocritical, and destructive. Hawthorne was actually a descendant of imprisoned. Moments later the authorities come and take away Elizabeth.
the notorious Judge Hathorne from the witch trials. Hawthorne added the "w" Once they're alone, Proctor demands that Mary expose the other girls as
to his name to distance himself from the judge. frauds and promises to confront Abigail if he must.
Related Historical Events: The Crucible is a fictionalized account of the Salem Proctor brings Mary to court to expose the accusations as lies. The girls, led by
Witch trials of 1692, in which 19 innocent men and women were killed by Abigail, deny the charge. Proctor reveals his affair with Abigail to show that
hanging and hundreds convicted before the panic subsided. Yet while The she's dishonest. To test Proctor's claim, Deputy Governor Danforth calls out
Crucible depicts one witch-hunt, it was written during another. In the 1950s, Elizabeth, who Proctor says will never lie. But when asked if Proctor had an
during the first years of the Cold War, a Senator named Joseph McCarthy rose affair with Abigail, Elizabeth denies it to protect her husband's honor. Abigail
to power by whipping the nation into a terror of Communists. McCarthy led and the other girls seize the moment to pretend Mary is attacking them with
the House Committee on Un-American Activities, which sought to find her spirit. Mary breaks under the strain and joins them, denouncing Proctor as
Communists in America. Those named as Communists were placed on an ally of the devil. Danforth orders Proctor's arrest. Hale, who now believes
"Blacklists" that prevented them from getting work. Eventually the fervor died Proctor, denounces the actions of the court.
down and McCarthy was censured, but not before the lives of hundreds of
people, particularly those in entertainment industries, were destroyed. The witch trials cause anger and riots in nearby towns. A few days before
Proctor and many others are scheduled to hang, Abigail steals money from
EXTRA CREDIT Parris and vanishes. Parris and Hale try to get the people convicted of
witchcraft to confess in order to save their lives, because Danforth refuses to
The Real Salem Witch Trials. In his depiction of the witch trials, Miller took stop or postpone the executions, saying it would not be fair to those already
many major departures from fact. For instance, John Proctor was nearly 60 hanged. But Danforth does allow Elizabeth, who's pregnant and therefore safe
and Abigail Williams only 11 at the time of the witch trials. Any affair between from hanging, to talk to Proctor. After speaking with his wife, Proctor agrees

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to confess, but refuses to incriminate anyone other than himself. Once he physical fights. Families related to Francis Nurse were involved in refusing to
signs his confession, he refuses to hand it over. His name is all he has left, he allow Putnam's wife's brother-in-law to become the minister of Salem, a slight
says, and he won't ruin it by signing lies. Danforth says that if Proctor is not that Putnam has not forgotten.
honestly confessing, then he won't accept the confession. Proctor tears up the Deputy Go Govvernor Danforth – A Deputy governor of Massachusetts who
statement. Parris and Hale are horror-struck as Proctor goes to the gallows, comes to Salem to preside over the witch trials. Though he's more open-
but Elizabeth says he has gotten his "goodness" back. minded and intelligent than Judge Hathorne, Danforth believes completely in
his ability to distinguish truth from fiction. He views those who disagree with
CHARA
CHARACTERS
CTERS him as suspect. In fact, he suspects that anyone who disagrees with him might
be working "against God."
John Proctor – A farmer, and the husband of Elizabeth. Proctor had an affair Judge Hathorne – An arrogant and unpleasant Salem judge who considers the
with Abigail Williams while she worked as a servant in his house. A powerful Puritan government to be absolutely right and just. As a representative of that
man in both build and character, Proctor refuses to follow people he considers government, he believes in the perfection of his own wisdom and judgment.
hypocrites, including Reverend Parris. Feared and resented by the many Mary WWarren
arren – A teenage girl and a servant in the Proctor household who
people in Salem he has made feel foolish, Proctor has a powerful sense of replaces Abigail Williams. She is a generally good and quiet girl. She fears
personal integrity. For this reason, his affair with Abigail makes him see himself wrongdoing, but she fears Abigail even more.
as a hypocrite.
Mercy LLewis
ewis – A teenage girl and a servant in the Putnam household. She is
Re
Revverend PParris
arris – The minister of Salem, Betty's father, and Abigail's uncle. Abigail's closest friend and confidant, and the second in command of the
Tituba is his slave. As a minister, Parris delivers harsh fire and brimstone group of girls behind the trials.
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 Betty P Parris
arris – Reverend Parris's teenage daughter. In many ways she seems
his reputation result from his near paranoid belief that someone is plotting to like a typical teenager rebelling against her overly protective father. A
persecute him, steal his position, ruin his good name, or harm him in some follower, she quickly falls in line with Abigail's plot.
other way. Tituba – A slave of Reverend Parris, she is originally from Barbados. Tituba is
Re
Revverend Hale – A minister in the nearby Massachusetts town of Beverly, and terrified of Parris, who generally blames her for everything that goes wrong in
an expert in identifying witchcraft. An intelligent man, Hale sees himself as a the house. As a black female slave, she represents the lowest rung of Salem
scientist and philosopher, a kind of physician of the soul. At the beginning of society.
the play he's something of an innocent, taking for granted that the world is Mrs. Osburn – One of the women Tituba first identifies as a witch. She served
black and white and that he, with his expertise, can tell the difference between as the midwife for three of Mrs. Putnam's ill-fated deliveries.
the two. By the end of the play his outlook has changed considerably. Unlike
Susanna W
Walcott
alcott – A girl in Salem, who works for the town doctor.
the other priests, his insistence on uncovering facts makes it impossible for
him to overlook the evidence indicating that those condemned of witchcraft in Sar
Sarah
ah Good – An old woman and town drunk who often goes begging from
Salem were innocent. door to door.
Elizabeth Proctor – The wife of John Proctor. She fires Abigail Williams as Ezekiel Chee
Cheevver – A court clerk during the Salem Witch trials.
her servant when she discovers that the girl is having an affair with Proctor. Marshal Herrick – Salem's town (police) marshal.
Elizabeth is a good woman known for never telling a lie. She loves her husband
Martha Core
Coreyy – The wife of Giles Corey. She never appears onstage.
deeply, but seems to have the sense that she doesn't deserve him, and
therefore often responds coldly to him. His affair with Abigail has both shaken
the trust she had in her husband and convinced her that she was right in her THEMES
assumption that she didn't deserve him.
Abigail Williams – The 17-year-old niece of Reverend Parris. Marauding In LitCharts each theme gets its own color. Our color-coded theme boxes
Native Americans killed Abigail's parents when Abigail was young. While a make it easy to track where the themes occur throughout the work.
servant in John Proctor's household, Abigail briefly became John's lover
before Elizabeth found out and fired her. Abigail is beautiful, intelligent, crafty, PURIT
PURITANISM
ANISM AND INDIVIDU
INDIVIDUALITY
ALITY
and vindictive. She's also a skillful liar. She is the leader of her group of Puritan society required that its members follow strict guidelines of social
girlfriends and is willing to do anything to protect herself. order. These rigid rules of conduct helped the Puritans endure the
Thomas Putnam – The husband of Ann Putnam, and one of the richest persecution they faced in Europe and, after they came to America, created a
farmers and landowners in all of Salem. Putnam is a bitter man who feels that close-knit community able to withstand the harsh weather and Native
the citizens of Salem have not given him the respect that he and his family American attacks common to New England in the 17th century. But
deserve. He seeks to gain respect and revenge by increasing his wealth, communities that focus primarily on social order leave no room for personal
landholdings, and influence however he can. freedom. Those who think or act independently are seen as a threat to the
community: they must therefore be swiftly stopped or eliminated.
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 An excessively strict social order also provides no outlet for personal
birth to has survived past infancy. grievances. Over time, unvoiced resentments build up among individuals,
primed to explode. The witch trials depicted in The Crucible can be considered
Giles Core
Coreyy – A farmer who owns a farm near Salem, Giles is an old man and
an attack against individuality: those accused and convicted of witchcraft were
somewhat of a rascal, but also very brave and moral at heart. In his many years
mostly people who prioritized their private thoughts and integrity above the
he's been involved in numerous court cases and lawsuits, and therefore knows
will of the community. The trials provided a legally sanctioned forum for the
the law inside and out. He is married to Martha Corey.
expression of anger and grievance. If your neighbor once sold you a pig that
Rebecca Nurse – The wife of the wealthy farmer Francis Nurse. Rebecca is a died soon after you bought it, and that neighbor stands accused of witchcraft,
much beloved and admired figure in Salem for her religiousness and good it seems only natural to bring up the dead pig as possible evidence. The trials
sense. She has also served as the midwife at many births. also gave people like the Putnams to chance to voice their festering bitterness
Francis Nurse – A wealthy farmer and landowner in Salem and the husband of by accusing those whom they had quietly resented for years.
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

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HYSTERIA and silence was considered an indication of guilt. Just as many non-witches
confessed to committing witchcraft, many non-Communists confessed to
In The Crucible, neighbors suddenly turn on each other and accuse people being Communists and falsely named others as Communists in order to evade
they've known for years of practicing witchcraft and devil-worship. The town punishment. The entire play The Crucible can therefore be seen as a symbol of
of Salem falls into mass hysteria, a condition in which community-wide fear the hysterical anti-Communism of the early 1950s, though it should not be
overwhelms logic and individual thought and ends up justifying its own seen as only a symbol. The themes it defines and explores are timeless and
existence. Fear feeds fear: in order to explain to itself why so many people are applicable beyond the time and place in which they were written or set.
afraid, the community begins to believe that the fear must have legitimate
origins.
In The Crucible, hysterical fear becomes an unconscious means of expressing
QUO
QUOTES
TES
the resentment and anger suppressed by strict Puritan society. Some citizens
The color-coded boxes under each quote below make it easy to track the
of Salem use the charge of witchcraft willfully and for personal gain, but most
themes related to each quote. Each color corresponds to one of the themes
are genuinely overcome by the town's collective hysteria: they believe the
explained in the Themes section of this LitChart.
devil is attacking Salem. And if the devil is attacking your town, then ensuring
that your neighbor is punished for selling you a sick pig suddenly becomes a ACT 1 QUOTES
religious necessity, a righteous act that protects the God you love and proves
that you're not a witch or a devil-worshipper. The Crucible shows how religious There are wheels within wheels in this village, and fires within fires!
fervor fuels hysteria and leads to conditions that sacrifice justice and reason.

THE D
DANGER
ANGER OF IDEOL
IDEOLOGY
OGY
I have trouble enough without I come five mile to hear him preach only hellfire
An ideology is a rigid set of beliefs that defines what an individual or and bloody damnation. Take it to heart, Mr. Parris. There are many others who
community thinks. In the Puritan theocracy of Massachusetts, a government stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God any
run by religious authorities, the dominant ideology held that the Puritans were more.
a chosen people that the devil would do anything to destroy. Since religious
men ran their government, the Puritans considered all government actions to
be necessarily "good," or sanctioned by Heaven. This meant that any attempt
to question, obstruct, or otherwise resist any of the government's actions, no I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my
matter how ludicrous, destructive, or ill-informed, was considered by the heart! I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I
government and other Puritans to be an attempt to overthrow God. was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! And now
Governments fueled by such rigid and absolute ideological convictions often you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot! You loved me,
fall into corruption and tyranny without even realizing it. In The Crucible, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!
Deputy Governor Danforth and Judge Hathorne believe that they're
emissaries of God, and therefore that everything they believe must be true
and everything they do must be right. They never see a reason to reassess
their thoughts and actions, which makes them easy targets for cynical and I want to open myself! . . . I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of
talented liars like Abigail Williams. Characters like Abigail recognize the Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him, I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I
court's narrow-minded worldview and manipulate it to their own selfish kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the
advantage Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!

REPUT
REPUTA
ATION AND INTEGRITY
Reputation is the way that other people perceive you. Integrity is the way you
perceive yourself. Several characters in The Crucible face a tough decision: to ACT 2 QUOTES
protect their reputation or their integrity. Parris, Abigail, and others to I'll plead no more! I see now your spirit twists around the single error of my
protect their reputations. Rebecca Nurse and, eventually, John Proctor, life, and I will never tear it free!
choose to protect their integrity.
In rigid communities like Salem, a bad reputation can result in social or even
physical punishment. The Crucible argues that those most concerned with
reputation, like Parris, are dangerous to society: to protect themselves, I like it not that Mr. Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of
they're willing to let others be harmed and fuel hysteria in the process. In God in that man. I'll not conceal it.
contrast, The Crucible shows that those who favor integrity by admitting
mistakes and refusing to lie just to save their own lives help defy hysteria.
Willing to die for what they believe in, they put a stop to the baseless fear that
feeds hysteria. I have seen too many frightful proofs in court—the Devil is alive in Salem, and
we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points!

SYMBOLS
Symbols appear in red text throughout the Summary & Analysis sections of I'll tell you what's walking Salem—vengeance is walking Salem. We are what
this LitChart. we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys
of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! This warrant's
THE CRUCIBLE vengeance! I'll not give my wife to vengeance!
The play The Crucible is itself a symbol. Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible in the
early 1950s, when intense American fears of Communism allowed Joseph
McCarthy, a United States Senator from Wisconsin, to rise to national power
through his Congressional investigations (called "witch-hunts" by McCarthy's ACT 3 QUOTES
opponents) of Communists in America. As in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692,
McCarthy and his followers created a hysterical fear among the population,

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Do you take it upon yourself to determine what this court shall believe and Susanna Walcott arrives with news Parris and Abigail are both trying to
what it shall set aside? . . . .This is the highest court of the supreme government that the town doctor can't figure out protect their reputations: Parris by
of this province, do you know it? what's the matter and suggests Parris stopping Susanna from talking about
look for spiritual causes. Parris says it what she's seen in his house, and Abigail
can't possibly be spiritual causes, by warning Susanna not to mention
though just to make sure he's asked what happened in the forest.
You must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be Reverend Hale from the nearby town
counted against it, there be no road between. This is a sharp time, now, a of Beverly to come investigate. As
precise time—we live no longer in the dusky afternoon when evil mixed itself Susanna leaves, both Abigail and
with good and befuddled the world. Now, by God's grace, the shining sun is up, Parris caution her to keep quiet about
and them that fear not light will surely praise it. what she's seen.
Abigail tells Parris about rumors that The gathered crowd suggests both a
witchcraft caused Betty's faint: a uniform social order asserting itself and
A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I beg you, crowd has already gathered the beginnings of hysteria.
sir, I beg you—see her what she is . . . She thinks to dance with me on my wife's downstairs in Parris's house. Abigail
grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and suggests Parris publicly deny the
there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore's vengeance. rumors of witchcraft.
Parris angrily asks if he should say he Witchcraft isn't just a sin, it's a threat
discovered his daughter and niece against Parris's job and reputation. He
dancing "like heathen[s]" in the forest. must control the rumors to save himself.
A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is Abigail admits they danced, but says The best way to control them is to deny
my face, and yours, Danforth! For them that quail to bring men out of that's all they did. Parris says that if them, or so he thinks at this point.
ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your the girls were conjuring spirits, he
black hearts that this be fraud—God damns our kind especially, and we will needs to know because his "enemies"
burn, we will burn together! will surely find out and ruin him. He
says there's a group in the town that
wants to drive him from his job as
minister.
ACT 4 QUOTES
Abigail insists there was no Abigail holds back information, trying to
It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Life, woman, life is God's most witchcraft, but Parris says he saw make herself look as good and innocent
precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it . . ..it Tituba chanting over a cauldron. as possible, although she's been caught
may well be God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride. Abigail says that Tituba was just doing something forbidden.
singing songs from Barbados, her
homeland. Then Parris says he thinks
he saw a naked body running away in
I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave the forest. Abigail swears no one was
a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs. Give them no tear! naked.
Tears pleasure them! Show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with
it! Parris asks Abigail why Elizabeth The charge of witchcraft, a religious sin,
Proctor dismissed her from her job as is here linked to other vague social
an assistant in the Proctor household transgressions. Parris and Abigail's
six months earlier. He's heard rumors strong concern about their reputations
Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie Elizabeth now rarely comes to church reveals how Salem's Puritan society
and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them because she refuses to sit near required people to act according to its
that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave Abigail. Parris also expresses concern rigid social and religious rules. A ruined
me my name! that since Elizabeth dismissed Abigail, reputation could mean a ruined life in
no other family has hired her. Abigail Salem.
says Elizabeth dismissed her because
she refused to act like a slave, and that
other women haven't hired her for the
SUMMARY & ANAL
ANALYSIS
YSIS same reason. She says her reputation
in the town is spotless, and calls
Elizabeth a cold woman and a
The color-coded boxes under "Analysis & Themes" below make it easy to track
gossiping liar.
the themes throughout the work. Each color corresponds to one of the
themes explained in the Themes section of this LitChart. Mrs. Ann Putnam barges into the The Putnams have influence in Salem.
room. Parris yells that no one should Parris craves their support.
ACT 1 enter, but when he sees who it is, he
Betty Parris has fallen into a strange Parris's treatment of Tituba reveals his invites her in.
coma. Around her hover Reverend angry and selfish character. The incident
Parris, her father and the minister of also shows Tituba's powerlessness: she's Mrs. Putnam tells Parris this event is Rumors of witchcraft become belief in
the Massachusetts town of Salem, his entirely at her master's command. a mark of hell on his house. She then witchcraft: hysteria works by building
17-year-old niece Abigail Williams, asks how high Betty flew. Parris upon irrational fear.
and his slave Tituba. When Tituba denies that anyone flew, but Mrs.
asks if Betty will be all right, Parris Putnam says witnesses saw her fly.
yells at her to get out of the room.

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Thomas Putnam enters and says it's a If there's no witchcraft, why do the girls Betty suddenly wakes and huddles Now it's revealed that Abigail really did
blessing that the "thing is out now." faint? The play suggests that the comas against the wall, calling for her dead push well beyond the strict religious laws
Putnam remarks that Betty's eyes are result in part from the girls' subconscious mother. Abigail tells Betty not to of Salem in hopes of killing Elizabeth
closed, while his daughter Ruth's eyes understanding that illness could help worry because she told Parris Proctor. Abigail is more than just a liar:
are open. Parris is shocked that other protect them from punishment for everything. But Betty says Abigail she's capable of murder.
girls are also sick. Mrs. Putnam says breaking Salem's strict social rules. didn't tell that she drank blood as a
they're not sick: they're being charm to kill Elizabeth Proctor.
attacked by the devil. Putnam asks if Abigail smacks her across the face.
it's true that Parris sent for Reverend She tells the other three girls that if
Hale from Beverly. Parris says yes, but they admit to anything more than
just as a precaution. Putnam is certain dancing and Ruth and Tituba's
there's been witchcraft, but Parris conjuring, she'll kill them. Betty
begs him not to say it. If witchcraft is collapses back into her strange coma.
charged Parris fears he may lose his
ministry. John Proctor enters. He reprimands Proctor is portrayed as strong-willed and
Mary, his servant, for leaving his moral.
At her husband's insistence, Mrs. Mrs. Putnam wants to have something to house when he ordered her not to.
Putnam, who's had seven babies die in blame for the deaths of her babies. She Mary and Mercy Lewis leave.
infancy, admits she sent Ruth to wants it to be witchcraft, though she
Tituba, who can conjure the dead, to may not realize consciously that she When he's alone with Abigail, Proctor Proctor's outward morality hides
find out why the babies died. Now that does. mentions the town's rumors of immoral thoughts and actions. Yet
Ruth is afflicted too, Mrs. Putnam is witchcraft. Abigail dismisses them, Proctor's self-hatred regarding his affair
certain that someone murdered her steps closer to Proctor, and says it's all with Abigail actually proves his morality:
babies. Putnam says a witch must be nothing more than mischief. She says he hates himself for being immoral. It's
hiding in Salem. they were dancing and Betty just now clear that Abigail wanted to kill
fainted. Proctor smiles, and says, "ah, Elizabeth Proctor to have her teenage
Parris turns to Abigail, who admits Abigail continues to lie to protect her
you're wicked yet, aren't y'!" Abigail crush to herself.
Ruth and Tituba conjured spirits, but reputation.
steps even closer and asks for a "soft
insists she wasn't involved.
word." She insists he still loves her.
Proctor admits he has some feelings
for her, but says the affair is over.
Parris moans that he'll be run out of Like Mrs. Putnam, Putnam wants Abigail, hurt and angry, insults
town. But Putnam says Parris won't witchcraft to exist, though it isn't yet Elizabeth, infuriating Proctor.
be if he stands up and declares he's clear why.
discovered witchcraft instead of Downstairs, Parris and the crowd sing Is it just a coincidence that Betty cries
letting others charge him with it. a psalm. Betty begins to wail. Parris out when the hymn begins? Or has she
and the Putnams run into the room. been swayed by all the talk of witchcraft?
Mercy Lewis, the Putnam's servant, Parris continues to believe that the best Mrs. Putnam says it's a sign of
enters with word that Ruth has way to protect himself is to argue against witchcraft: Betty can't bear to hear
improved slightly. Putnam and Abigail the presence of witchcraft. the Lord's name.
convince Parris he should speak to the
Rebecca Nurse and Giles Corey Rebecca Nurse speaks sensibly, but
crowd gathered downstairs. Parris
enter. Parris implores Rebecca to go Parris and the Putnams resent her
agrees to lead them in singing a psalm.
to Betty. She does, and Betty quiets wisdom, perhaps as part of a general
When Mercy and Abigail are alone, Abigail is established as a liar, and Mary down. Parris and the Putnams are resentment of Rebecca's high standing in
Abigail tries desperately to wake as frightened of Abigail. It's obvious that astonished. Rebecca says this is just the community.
Betty. At the same time she and Mary Warren, at least, believes there an example of children being children,
Mercy try to get their stories straight: wasn't any real witchcraft. Note that like and adds that she hopes Parris isn't
they all danced and Ruth and Tituba Parris, Abigail is at the moment putting really going to claim "loose spirits"
conjured spirits. Abigail tells Mercy all her effort into denying witchcraft. were the cause.
that Parris saw her naked. Another
A disagreement arises about whether Witchcraft provides a forum for venting
girl, Mary Warren, runs in. She's
Parris should have called Reverend all of the resentments of Salem's close-
terrified that the town will condemn
Hale to come search Salem for spirits knit oppressive society. Whether
them as witches. She says they have to
without first holding a meeting. The consciously or unconsciously, these
confess because the penalty for
dispute erupts into an argument resentments will impact all the
witchcraft is hanging, but if they
between Proctor, Putnam, Mrs. characters' interactions as the hysteria
confess to just dancing, they'll only be
Putnam, Rebecca Nurse, and Parris about witchcraft grows.
whipped.
about town politics and grievances.
The argument covers everything from
Putnam's meddling, to Mrs. Putnam's
envy that none of Rebecca Nurse's
children has died, to Proctor's dislike
of Parris' fiery sermons, to Parris's
belief that his salary is insufficient and
that there's a faction against him in
the town, to boundary disputes
between Putnam, the Nurses, Proctor,
and Corey.

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Reverend Hale enters carrying a Though a minister, Hale sees himself as a Hale asks Tituba when she made a Tituba discovers that nobody wants to
stack of religious books about doctor building up a diagnosis based on "compact with the devil." Tituba says hear denials, just as Abigail realized
witchcraft. He seems eager to flex his facts. His focus on facts makes him less she never has. Parris threatens to earlier. The religious authorities interpret
authority. Proctor departs, but not ideological than other ministers, less whip her to death unless she denials as lies, so Tituba gives them what
before saying he's heard Hale is a likely to impose his own beliefs on others confesses. Putnam yells that she they want: a confession. The men then
sensible man and that he hopes he'll or to need to protect his reputation. should be hanged. Tituba screams in encourage their shared delusion by
bring some sense to Salem. Hale terror that she didn't want to work for planting the names of possible witches in
examines Betty, but when Putnam the devil, but he forced her. She says Tituba's mind.
mentions witchcraft Hale stops him. many witches exist in Salem. Hale and
Hale says that the mark of the devil is Parris ask if she's seen them. Tituba
clear. He asks them all to agree not to says yes. Putnam asks: was it Sarah
push the issue of witchcraft if he finds Good, or maybe Mrs. Osburn? Tituba
no evidence. hesitates, but Hale tells Tituba not to
fear: if she confesses whom she saw,
Putnam, Mrs. Putnam, and Parris tell Note the resentment between the she will be blessed.
Hale of the recent events. Hale and Putnams and the Nurses. Salem society
Rebecca are shocked Mrs. Putnam had previously kept their bitterness Tituba identifies Sarah Good and Mrs. Mrs. Putnam finally gets what she wants,
would send her child to commune confined to silence. Osburn as other witches. Mrs. someone to blame: Mrs. Osburn.
with spirits, but Mrs. Putnam shouts Putnam shouts that she knew it!
that she won't allow Rebecca to judge Osburn was the midwife at the births
her. of three of her dead babies.
As Hale takes out a book about Proctor and Rebecca, two voices of Suddenly Abigail stands up and After Tituba gave names, Abigail sees
witchcraft and prepares to examine reason, leave before the investigation shouts that she too wants to confess, that she must do the same. Betty
Betty further, Rebecca departs, begins. Those who can stop hysteria from to return to God. She starts chanting believes she saw witches because
clearly dismissing all this fuss as growing often don't take it seriously until names of women she's seen with the authority figures like Hale believe her
foolish. Giles interrupts. He asks Hale too late. devil. Betty wakes and begins to chant when she says she did: a vicious cycle of
why his wife Martha reads books that names too. Parris, Putnam, and Hale hysteria.
she refuses to show him. Hale says call for the town marshal as the girls
they'll speak about it later, and gets to scream out the names of witch after
work. witch.
Betty doesn't respond to Hale's Abigail continues to lie to save her ACT 2
question, so he turns to Abigail. She reputation and her life, even as the
repeats that they were only dancing. evidence mounts against her. Eight days later, John Proctor returns Elizabeth thought Proctor went into
When Parris mentions he saw them home late from planting the fields. He town to see Abigail, but they've yet to
dancing around a kettle, Abigail says and Elizabeth talk about the coming discuss their feelings about his affair.
the kettle just held soup. Parris then crop as he eats the dinner she This bottling up of resentment to
says he thought he saw movement in prepared for him. A sense of preserve order mirrors what goes on
the soup. Abigail says a frog jumped separation exists between them. every day in Salem's Puritan society.
into the soup. Proctor asks his wife what's wrong.
She says he was out so late she
Troubled, Hale asks Abigail if she Abigail switches tactics once Hale makes thought he might have gone into
conjured the devil. Abigail says Tituba it clear he believes there might have been Salem. Proctor ignores the
did. As Mrs. Putnam goes to get witchcraft. Abigail gives him what he implications of her comment.
Tituba, Hale asks Abigail several wants: she says there was witchcraft,
questions: did she feel the devil's and portrays herself as its innocent Elizabeth continues: Mary Warren is It's now clear that hysteria is gripping the
presence, did she drink from the victim. in town, as an official of the court. town, extending even to the authorities.
kettle, did she sell herself to the devil? Proctor is astonished: what court? Proctor can no longer dismiss or ignore it.
Abigail denies everything. As soon as Elizabeth explains: judges have been Yet Proctor still resists going to the court
Tituba enters, however, Abigail sent up from Boston to try people for because he fears for his reputation.
screams that Tituba made her do it, witchcraft. Fourteen people are in jail,
that Tituba made her drink blood. and will be hanged unless they
confess. Proctor can't believe it, but
Tituba responds that Abigail begged Like Abigail did before, Tituba at first Elizabeth assures him it's true: Abigail
her to conjure. But Abigail says Tituba denies the presence of any witchcraft. leads the other girls in identifying
often "sends her spirit out" and makes witches. She urges a resistant Proctor
Abigail laugh at prayer in church. to go to the court and tell the judges
what Abigail told him: that it was
mischief, not witchcraft.

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As Elizabeth continues to push Proctor's anger at himself over his affair Suddenly Hale appears at the door, The first sign of Hale's integrity: he's
Proctor to go to the judges, it comes with Abigail makes him mix up his startling both Elizabeth and Proctor. uncomfortable with the trials. Unlike the
out that he was alone with Abigail at integrity and his reputation. His sense of Hale says that without the court's court, which demands confessions on
Parris's house. Proctor had left that lost integrity, his anger at himself, makes authority he's visiting each of the pain of death and then uses those false
part out when he told Elizabeth the him fear what others think about his families "somewhat mentioned" in the confessions to condemn innocent
story earlier. Elizabeth is hurt and reputation. trial to try to get a sense of them. He's victims, Hale searches for actual
angry, while Proctor quickly becomes just come from Rebecca Nurse's evidence.
furious that his wife is still suspicious house. Proctor and Elizabeth are
of him, even after he confessed his shocked. Rebecca Nurse is well known
affair and ended it. He tells her to stop as the most religious person in Salem.
judging him. Elizabeth responds that Hale says the devil can tempt anyone,
she's not judging him: he's judging but nonetheless says he's certain
himself. Rebecca won't be charged.
Mary Warren enters. Proctor, already Hysteria feeds itself and grows: now Hale asks some questions about the Puritan society denies the individual any
angry, threatens to whip her for people have confessed to non-existent "Christian character" of the house. He right to make his or her own judgments.
disobeying his order not to go to town witchcraft! But Sarah Good's confession asks why the Proctors don't often go The Puritans think they have God on
that day. Mary does not resist. Instead was the only way for her to save herself. to church, and why only two of their their side, and therefore cannot make
she goes to Elizabeth and gives her a (By the way: the Fifth Amendment to the three sons are baptized. Proctor mistakes. If a man has been ordained as
poppet (a doll) that she sewed for her U.S. Constitution is designed to eliminate explains he doesn't see the "light of a minister, then he must be good and
during the court proceedings. this sort of forced confession.) God" in Parris. Hale says that such a wise. And if someone disagrees with that
Elizabeth, though puzzled by this odd thing is not for Proctor to decide: assessment, then he or she must be
gift, accepts it. As Mary heads up to Parris is an ordained minister, against God.
bed, Proctor asks if it's true that therefore he has the "light of God."
fourteen people are in jail. Mary says Hale also asks Proctor to recite the
that now thirty-nine are in jail: Goody ten commandments. Proctor gets nine
Osburn has been convicted and will of ten, forgetting the one against
hang, while Sarah Good confessed to adultery. The missed commandment
witchcraft and thereby saved herself. troubles Hale, and he gets up to go.
Proctor says that Sarah Good is just a Hysteria isn't just a bunch of people Just as Hale is about to leave, Proctor describes the vicious cycle
"jabberer." But Mary says that Good lying: it's a blinding force that changes Elizabeth persuades Proctor to speak created by ideological power. That Hale
"sent her spirit out" during the trial to people's conceptions of reality. Mary up about Abigail. The news shakes perceived this problem and overlooked it
try and choke the girls accusing her. Warren, who knows there was no Hale, who points out that many have shows the Puritan authorities' inability
Mary adds that she now realizes Good witchcraft because she was in the woods confessed. Proctor counters by to question themselves.
had tried to kill her in the past: that night, now believes witchcraft exists. pointing out that they've confessed to
whenever Good came begging and save themselves from certain death.
Mary turned her away, Good would This realization has troubled Hale too,
mumble, and one time Mary felt but he's avoided facing it until now.
extremely sick just afterwards. Mary
adds that Judge Hathorne asked Giles Corey and Francis Nurse The hysteria provide a forum for
Sarah Good what she mumbled, and appear in Proctor's doorway with the expression of suppressed grievances. The
Sarah Good said she was reciting the news that their wives, Martha and Putnams dislike the Nurses, so Rebecca
Ten Commandments. But when Rebecca, have been charged and Nurse is charged.
Hathorne asked her to recite them, imprisoned. Rebecca was charged
she didn't know even one. with the murder of Mrs. Putnam's
babies.
Proctor considers this weak evidence Just as witchcraft gives Mrs. Putnam an
and tells Mary not to go to town again. object to blame for her bad luck, it gives Though troubled, Hale defends the Hale thinks the Puritan court is blessed
Mary refuses. When Proctor moves to the formerly powerless Mary a new sense court and says it will certainly send by God, and therefore believes that it will
whip her, Mary shouts that she saved of strength. This feeling of strength, in Rebecca home. Yet Hale has no make the right decision. But his doubts
Elizabeth's life: Elizabeth was accused turn, becomes a subconscious motive for answer when Corey says his wife was have begun to show.
of witchcraft, but Mary said she'd seen her to believe that the witchcraft is real. . charged by a man named Walcott as
no sign of it in her time living with the retribution for once buying a pig from
Proctors, so the court dismissed the her that soon died.
charge. Elizabeth asks who accused
her, but Mary refuses to say and goes
to bed.
Proctor and Elizabeth know Abigail is Though Proctor can sense the mounting
behind the accusation. Elizabeth says hysteria and knows that it's costing
Abigail wants to replace her as innocent people their lives, he's still most
Proctor's wife. She tells him to go concerned about protecting his
speak to her, to make it clear to Abigail reputation.
that she'll never take Elizabeth's place.
Proctor agrees to go, but is still angry
that his wife doesn't trust him.

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Ezekiel Cheever and Marshal Herrick The court, like Hale, believes itself to be Nurse says they have proof the girls Parris supports the court and gives into
appear at the Proctors' door with an blessed by God and that its judgments are frauds. Proctor and Mary Warren the hysteria to protect his reputation.
arrest warrant for Elizabeth. Cheever must therefore, by definition, be correct come forward. Parris tells Danforth Like Abigail, he's reversed his denials of
also asks Elizabeth to hand over any and just! The court therefore has no need that Proctor causes "mischief," while witchcraft.
poppets (dolls) in the house. Elizabeth for evidence. Mary's story completely Hale begs Danforth to hear the
says she's had no poppets since she discredits Abigail's claim that Elizabeth evidence.
was a little girl, but Cheever notices used witchcraft against her, but Cheever,
the poppet Mary gave her. As as an officer of the court, remains Proctor tells Danforth that Mary is Danforth is a more open-minded judge
Elizabeth goes to get Mary to explain, convinced of Elizabeth's guilt. prepared to testify she never saw any than Hathorne, slightly more willing to
Cheever discovers a needle stuck in spirits. Parris shouts that Proctor has accept the possibility he could be wrong.
the poppet's belly—just that night come to overthrow the court, but
Abigail fell screaming to the floor, and Danforth silences him. Terrified and
a needle was discovered stuck into barely able to speak, Mary steps
her skin. Abigail said Elizabeth's spirit forward and says that the girls were
pushed in the needle. Mary tells only pretending to see spirits.
Cheever she sewed the poppet and
stored the needle in it. Cheever is Danforth, shocked, considers In a society built on social order, any
unconvinced. whether to accept this testimony in deviation implies that you're against that
court. Proctor assures him his order. No one can tell if you're religious,
Proctor angrily rips up the warrant Proctor takes a stand against the evidence is valid, but Ezekiel Cheever so they judge you by whether you seem
and orders Cheever and Herrick to oppressive society that issued the mentions that Proctor earlier ripped religious. That's why reputation is so
leave his house, but Herrick and warrant. up the court's warrant, and Parris important in Salem.
Cheever have nine men outside and adds that Proctor seldom comes to
take Elizabeth. church. Hale argues that such
evidence hardly justifies considering
Hale assures Proctor that the court Hale's circular logic: the court's arrival in Proctor a threat to the court.
will recognize Elizabeth's innocence, Salem is God's will and therefore must be
and promises that he will testify in her justified. He can't fathom that the court's After a brief conference with Danforth tests Proctor's motives and
favor. He insists, however, that recent been deceived or misled. Hathorne, Danforth informs Proctor Proctor proves his integrity by refusing to
events in Salem must have some basis that Elizabeth is pregnant, and be satisfied with the protection of just his
in fact. Hale leaves. Corey and Nurse therefore can't be hanged. He asks if wife.
soon follow. Proctor will now let the proceedings
go on. Proctor replies that he can't
When they're alone, Proctor tells Proctor stops trying to protect his stand by: many of the condemned are
Mary she will testify against Abigail in reputation. He decides to tell the court his friends.
court tomorrow. Mary says that the truth. But Mary's terror, indicates
Abigail will charge Proctor with that her fear may be stronger than her Danforth agrees to hear the evidence. The accusations attack people's
lechery (excessive and indulgent integrity, foreshadowing disaster. First, Proctor shows him a petition reputations. Proctor tries to combat the
sexual behavior) if he tries to reveal signed by 91 landowners declaring attacks with proof of good reputations.
her lies. Proctor says only that then he their good opinions of Elizabeth,
and Abigail will "slide into their pit Rebecca Nurse, and Martha Corey.
together." Terrified, Mary sobs that
she can't testify. Parris declares this an attack on the Hale begins to perceive the court's
court. Hale questions why all ideological blindness.
ACT 3 attempts at defense are called attacks
on the court.
Offstage, Judge Hathorne and The court doesn't want evidence: it's
Deputy Governor Danforth question already decided that witchcraft exists in Danforth decides the landowners Since Danforth believes the court is
Martha Corey. Giles Corey suddenly Salem. The court, of course, failed to must be questioned, which infuriates always just, he cannot comprehend that
shouts that he has evidence that realize it forced false confessions by Nurse, who had promised them they it could be unfair. He considers fear of
Thomas Putnam is using the trials to threatening to hang innocent people would not be implicated. But Danforth the court an indication of guilt.
get more land. Corey is dragged from unless they confessed. says the people will not be harmed if
the courtroom (and onto the stage), innocent, and that everyone must be
followed by Francis Nurse, Hale, either with the court or against it.
Parris, Hathorne, and Danforth.
Hathorne and Danforth are furious Next, Corey provides a deposition Abigail and Putnam are The Crucible's
that Corey would disrupt and try to that quotes a witness who heard two main villains. Hysteria makes the
influence the court. Thomas Putnam say he had his townspeople actually believe and fear
daughter charge a man with witchcraft. But Abigail and Putnam
Francis Nurse steps forward. Since the judges view themselves as witchcraft in order to get his land. manipulate that hysteria and the
Danforth says that he's only heard allied with God and therefore always Danforth asks for the witness's name, blindness of the court for their own ends.
good things about Nurse's character right, they can't accept or even but Corey refuses to give the name,
and is amazed to see him in such an comprehend anyone disagreeing with for fear the man will be treated like
"uproar." Hathorne wants to arrest them. the signers of the petition. Hale
them all for contempt of court. observes that there's a great fear of
the court in Salem. But Danforth says
this fear is evidence of a plot against
Christianity in Salem, and has Corey
arrested for contempt of court.

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Proctor brings Mary forward. Hale Danforth here points out why the entire Abigail screams again that Mary's The vicious cycle of forced confession
says this argument is so important trial should be considered suspect—all spirit is attacking her. The girls start gets Mary to turn against Proctor.
Danforth should let a lawyer present the evidence is hearsay. Yet he thinks repeating whatever Mary says. Mary Danforth dupes himself.
it to him. Danforth takes this as an that because he's a Puritan Deputy begs them to stop. Danforth
insult to his ability to administer Governor, he'll be able to perceive the threatens Mary that she'll hang unless
justice, and says that lawyers are truth. she confesses. Mary runs to Abigail
unnecessary in cases where the only and says that Proctor is allied with the
evidence is the testimony of the devil.
victims.
Danforth demands that Proctor Saying God is dead is the ultimate act of
Danforth questions Mary. She's Proctor combats Abigail's attacks on confess his allegiance to Hell. In defiance against Puritan society.
frightened, but tells Danforth that the other people's reputations by attacking response, Proctor says God is dead. Danforth, blinded by absolute faith,
other girls are lying. The girls are her reputation. To protect his own Proctor then condemns himself as a thinks Proctor is just confirming his
brought out to face Mary. Abigail reputation, Parris had kept the girls' devil, because he resisted fighting alliance with the devil. Hale, focused on
denies the charge, but Proctor says dancing from Danforth. against what he knew to be false. He evidence rather than ideology, knows
Abigail has often laughed at prayer, also calls Danforth a devil for allowing better.
and that Abigail and the other girls a fraud to be perpetrated. Danforth
frequently danced in the woods. orders Proctor arrested. Hale
Parris is forced to admit he saw them denounces the court.
dancing. Danforth had not heard this
before, and begins to doubt. ACT 4
Hathorne comes up with an idea: if Hysteria changes people's perception of In a cell in the Salem prison a few The hysteria has so overwhelmed Tituba
Mary was pretending to see spirits reality. Mary wasn't lying before. When months later, Sarah Good and Tituba and Sarah Good that they now believe
and faint during the trial, she could do she said she saw spirits, she really think that the devil has come to take their false confessions were real.
the same now. But Mary can't. She thought she did because of the hysterical them to Barbados. But it's just
explains: before, when she was reactions of the people around her. Marshal Herrick, come to move them
surrounded by screaming girls and to a different cell.
judges who seemed to believe in the Hathorne and Danforth enter. They The judges' nervousness suggests the
spirits, she thought she actually saw wonder where Parris is and are trials have made them uneasy: they
spirits, and so could faint. Now she troubled to learn from Herrick that sense their own blindness even if they
realizes she never saw them, and can't he's with Hale, visiting those can't admit it.
faint. condemned to hang that morning,
Danforth seems to believe Mary and Proctor sacrifices his reputation to prove including Proctor and Rebecca Nurse.
turns back to question Abigail, but that Abigail is lying. In the process, he
Abigail suddenly shudders and claims regains his integrity: he tells the truth to Parris enters. To Danforth and Danforth thinks Hale has seen the error
to feel a cold wind. The other girls try to help the innocent… Hathorne's questions about Hale, he of his ways. He remains blind, unaware
follow suit. They say Mary is sending answers that Hale has returned to try of Hale's actual intentions.
her spirit to attack them. Furious, to convince those convicted of
Proctor calls Abigail a whore. Proctor witchcraft to confess their crimes and
admits his affair with Abigail and says save their lives. Danforth is surprised
Elizabeth dismissed her because of it. and pleased.
Abigail denies it, but Proctor says he
After a moment's indecision, Parris Finally, here is some proof that Abigail is
would not soil his own honor for no
reveals that Abigail robbed him of a liar. In the courts eyes, this proof should
reason.
thirty-one pounds and then ran off bring up the possibility that all of
Danforth sends for Elizabeth, whom …but Elizabeth doesn't know it was with Mercy Lewis. He thinks they left Abigail's accusations were lies. In
Proctor says will never lie. While they Proctor who confessed his adultery. She after hearing about a revolt against addition, the events in Andover show
wait, Danforth instructs everyone to dooms both Proctor and the other the witch trials in the nearby town of that the hysteria is waning. Could the
remain absolutely still and silent and innocent people by trying to protect Andover. Parris fears a similar riot in injustice be overturned?
to make no signs of any sort. When Proctor's reputation rather than Salem now that people with social
Elizabeth enters, Danforth asks her following her own natural instinct to influence, like Rebecca and Proctor,
whether Abigail and Proctor had an preserve integrity. are scheduled to hang. He begs to
affair. Elizabeth hesitates, agonizing, postpone the hangings.
then says no. As she's being led away,
Danforth refuses to postpone the No! Because Danforth believes his
Proctor shouts out that he confessed.
executions. He does say, however, that decisions reflect God's will, he can't
Elizabeth cries out in despair.
he's willing to work until dawn to change them. His rigid ideology makes
Hale says he believes Proctor, and Hale focuses on evidence and logic, but convince one of the convicted to him vulnerable to hysteria.
that Elizabeth was just trying to Danforth is no longer interested. confess, since a confession would
protect his reputation, but Danforth make those who don't confess look
will not hear it. like liars.
Danforth's position doesn't satisfy As usual, Parris cares most about his own
Parris. He's received threats well-being.
regarding his part in the trials and
fears for his safety.

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Hale enters, demanding pardons for Danforth won't postpone the hangings Proctor asks what Elizabeth would Elizabeth tells Proctor that only he can
the convicted. Danforth says 12 because he won't allow himself, his think if he confessed. Unlike Rebecca decide whether to sacrifice his integrity
others have already been hanged for government, or his God, to look weak. and Martha Corey, who refuse to lie to repair his reputation and save his life.
the same charge; pardons for the Ideology and reputation are more and damn themselves, Proctor At the same time, she shows her own
remaining convicts would therefore important to him than standing up to considers himself a liar already integrity by apologizing for driving
be unjust and crack the voice of God's hysteria or saving innocent lives. because of his affair with Abigail. So Proctor away from her.
law with "whimpering." Hale says a what's one more lie to save his life?
week's postponement would seem Elizabeth says she can't judge him. She
like mercy to the public, not weakness. says that regardless of what he does,
Danforth doesn't listen. he'll be a good man. She adds that she
has sins of her own: her coldness
Danforth does wonder, however, if Having lost faith in the church after drove him to adultery. She tells
they might be able to get Proctor to seeing innocents condemned, Hale Proctor to forgive himself.
confess, since Elizabeth is now well advises people to lie to save their own
along in her pregnancy. As Marshal lives. In other words, he's advising people Proctor decides to confess, though he Proctor sacrifices his integrity to save his
Herrick goes to get Elizabeth, to sacrifice their integrity, by lying, to knows he shouldn't. When they learn life. The judges' joyful reaction shows
Danforth asks Hale why he returned save themselves. the news, Danforth, Hathorne, and they know he's innocent, but must
to Salem. Hale replies bitterly that he Parris are overjoyed. They ask Ezekiel condemn him to maintain their own
came to convince Christians to lie and Cheever to write down Proctor's reputations and make their blindness
confess to crimes they did not commit confession. Proctor asks why it must seem like wisdom.
in order to save their lives. be written down. To post on the
church door, they tell him. They ask
Elizabeth enters. Hale tells her he will Hale knows his advice goes against his Proctor if he's seen the devil. He says
consider himself Proctor's murderer religion. He's become so embittered by yes.
if Proctor is hanged. Hale begs the blindness of Salem's religious
Elizabeth to convince Proctor to lie, to authorities that his only choice is to defy They bring in Rebecca in hopes that Unlike Proctor, Rebecca chooses integrity
give a false confession, in order to them. Proctor's confession will sway her. over life.
save himself. He says that life is God's She says a confession would be a lie,
great gift, and no belief or religion and prays for Proctor's soul.
should be followed if it harms life.
Danforth and Hathorne disagree. Danforth asks Proctor if he's seen Proctor sacrifices his integrity to save
Hale shouts that the confession must Rebecca with the devil. Proctor says himself, but he can't sacrifice the good
be a lie since Proctor is innocent. he hasn't. Danforth then asks if he's name of others to save his own life. He
Elizabeth agrees to speak with seen anyone with the devil. Proctor has too much integrity to harm others for
Proctor. again says no. Hale and Parris his own benefit.
convince Danforth to accept Proctor's
Proctor is brought from his cell and Lying is a sin. So Rebecca and Corey
confession anyway. Under pressure
the others leave so he can spend some protect their integrity and their souls by
from Danforth, Proctor signs the
time alone with Elizabeth. She tells refusing to confess. In its ideological
confession. Yet when Danforth
him that hundreds have confessed, blindness and insistence on social
reaches for the confession, Proctor
though Rebecca has not. She also control, the government unknowingly
grabs it and refuses to hand it over.
adds that Corey refused to speak at forced people to act against their religion
all, in accordance with a legal loophole and damn their souls to save their lives. Danforth says the village must have If God knows all, why should he need a
that ensured his farm would pass to proof. Proctor shouts that God has signed confession? Danforth doesn't care
his sons if he remained silent. Corey the proof, and that's enough. When about Proctor's soul: he just wants to
died while being pressed—stone after Danforth persists, Proctor shouts that protect his and his government's
stone was laid on him to make him he cannot bear to sign his name to lies, reputation.
speak, but all he said was, "More or through his confession to soil the
weight." good names of his friends who
refused to lie in order to save
themselves.
Danforth says if the confession is a lie, Proctor's choice (integrity) affirms his
then it is no confession at all. Proctor goodness and reveals the selfish
rips the confession to pieces. corruption of the ideological forces that
Danforth orders Herrick to take condemn him. His death ends Salem's
Proctor to the gallows. Parris and hysteria.
Hale beg Elizabeth to speak to
Proctor. But she says Proctor has his
goodness back now, and refuses.

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