The Crucible

1. The Crucible Act I

2. Scene I 1. Introduces the four most important themes Possession Deception Greed Quest for power

3. 2. The “unseen” scene in the woods A. sets the stage B. serves as a catalyst C. symbolizes the suppression of desire

4. 1. Interpretations of desire A. Desire refers to her sexual longing for Procter

5. B. Putnam desires land C. Parris desires control and authority

6. The Woods 1. Place where the girls can indulge in physical pleasure - dancing 2. Naked girl symbolizes sexual desire present in all Salem inhabitants 3. Puritans view them as Satan’s stronghold

7. Deception • Action in the woods • introduces deception as a • major theme 2. Abigail is the instigator

8. 3. Abigail has an agenda a. has slept with John Procter b. wants to kill Procter’s wife c. desire motivates her to drink blood and cast a spell on Elizabeth

9. d. uses intimidation to create an atmosphere of fear that pervades the entire play. e. threatens the girls P. 1268

10. Foreshadowing Foreshadows Abigail’s accusations against others Ultimate goal John Proctor

11. Abigail is the exact opposite of Elizabeth

12. Abigail represents the repressed desires possessed by all Puritans difference She doesn’t suppress her desires

13. She wants to take Elizabeth’s place Her only vulnerability John Proctor

14. 1. Abigail thinks Proctor still cares for her. 2. Proctor rejects her. 3. She blames Elizabeth.

15. 1. Proctor’s determination to remain faithful to Elizabeth establishes his moral character. 2. He is Abigail’s sole motivation throughout the rest of the play

16. Foreshadowing 1. Abigail knows that she must deal with Elizabeth or lose Proctor completely. 2. Realization foreshadows actions in scene 5.

17. Scene 4 1. Reveals old animosities that later drive the action of the play 2. Not uncommon for babies to die at birth, but seven is an unusually high number

18. Goody Putnam 1. Bitter woman Lost seven children 2. Self-righteous Believes she is a victim 3. Devotes her energies to finding out why 4. Solicits Tituba

19. 5. Focuses her jealousy on Rebecca Nurse 6. Goody Putnam’s anger foreshadows Rebecca’s arrest.

20. Scene 4 introduces greed and the quest for power as the other two major themes in the play. Parris’s argument with Proctor and Corey reveals that money causes disputes in Salem

21. Proctor accuses Parris of caring about material gain rather than ministering to the people of Salem. Obsessed with having golden candlesticks rather then pewter ones.

22. Proctor’s anger 1. Consistent with his character 2. Lives according to the morals and work ethic in the Bible. 3. Not perfect

23. Parris’s side 1. Job security 2. Wants deed to his house 3. Thinks like a secular person 4. Battle to obtain authority

24. Thomas Putnam 1. Feels animosity toward Proctor 2. Accuses Proctor of stealing wood from his land 3. Has a lucrative reason to accuse others of witchcraft 4. Foreshadows the arrest of Rebecca and Martha Corey

25. Scene 5 Pivotal for two reasons 1. Establishes expectation of witchcraft in Salem. 2. Abigail exerts her power and begins her quest to obtain Proctor

26. Witchcraft 1. Hale warns everyone that he will not examine Betty unless they acknowledge that witchcraft may not be involved. 2. Idea of discovering witchcraft is exciting and provides explanation for the unexplainable.

27. 3. Goody Putnam - easier to blame witchcraft than admit she gave birth to unhealthy children. 4. Betty and Ruth - ailments result from witchcraft easier than admitting that good Puritan girls were out dancing in the woods and attempting to cast spells.

28. Unnatural events 1. Betty’s illness 2. Ruth’s condition 3. Tituba’s ability to conjure spirits 4. Dancing in the woods 5. Death of seven Putnam children 6. Martha Corey’s strange books

29. 1. Tituba confesses to witchcraft 2. Black female slave - no power 3. Can’t defend herself against Abigail’s accusations Tituba 4. Implicates Sarah Good and Goody Osburne 5. Tells them what they want to hear

30. 1. Hale’s response to Tituba’s confession prompts Abigail’s admission of guilt 2. Realizes she can achieve immediate respect and authority by confessing. Abigail

31. 3. She now seeks redemption. 4. Demonstrates her keen sense of self-preservation. 5. Knows that she will be viewed as an expert witness. 6. Considered an instrument of God.

32. 7. She is now in a position to get rid of Elizabeth Proctor. 8. After Abigail renounces the devil, Betty wakes up. This event underscores Abigail’s authority and establishes her credibility.

33. The Crucible Act II

34. Act 2 provides the audience with the first glimpse of Elizabeth and John together.

35. 1. Abigail describes Elizabeth as a “cold, sniveling” woman who cannot satisfy Proctor or make him happy. 2. Proctor has vehemently defended Elizabeth.

36. Proctor Household 1. Seems to be the typical Puritan household 2. Tension exists in the home. 3. Elizabeth knows about the affair. 4. Elizabeth has forgiven - but doesn’t trust him 5. Proctor is sorry but feels that Elizabeth is constantly scrutinizing his actions.

37. Relationship 1. Tension and mutual frustration define it. 2. Elizabeth is frustrated with Proctor because of infidelity. 3. Thinks he still has feelings for Abigail. 4. Frustrated with herself.

38. 5. Demonstrates her faith in Proctor. 6. Time spent alone with Abigail shatters her confidence. 7. Automatically suspects Proctor of wrong-doing.

39. John Proctor 1. Regrets his affair with Abigail. 2. Wearied by his own guilt and Elizabeth’s recriminations. 3. Doesn’t know how to deal with her feelings or the distance between them.

40. 4. Has tried to please Elizabeth. 5. Current argument another example of the strained relationship. 6. Irritated with himself 7. Now he must face Elizabeth’s anger.

41. Scene 2 reveals the impact of the witch trials. 1. Townspeople revere the youth. 2. Anyone who has crossed the girls lives in fear of being accused of witchcraft

42. Abigail 1. Leader of the group 2. Achieved the power she wanted 3. Can use it to obtain Proctor.

43. Mary Warren 1. Servant to the Proctors 2. Paid for her services 3. Under the authority of John Proctor 4. Could be disciplined like a child 5. Acceptable and normal in Puritan society

44. After the witch trials 1. Social hierarchy becomes unstable 2. Powerless obtain power and refuse to submit to those who used to have power over them. Example: Mary refuses to take orders from Elizabeth and stands up to Proctor when he threatens to whip her.

45. Mary Warren 1. Begins to cry 2. Serving on the court has tired and upset her 3. Tries to convince herself that there is solid evidence against the accused. 4. Secretly questions the trials 5. Doesn’t want to be an outcast

46. Abigail 1. Scheme becomes apparent to Elizabeth and Proctor. 2. Central to the play 3. Before scene 2 both Proctor and Elizabeth knew that Abigail had lied about witchcraft.

47. 4. Both suspect that Abigail wants to get rid of Elizabeth. 5. Scene 2 confirms their fears. 6. Poppet that Mary Warren gives to Elizabeth foreshadows her arrest.

48. 7. Abigail accuses Elizabeth 8. Time becomes an important element 9. With each arrest Abigail gains credibility. 10. She is becoming irrefutable in the eyes of the court.

49. Proctor has two chances to save Elizabeth. 1. Convince Abigail that her plan will not work. 2. Speak to Hale before Abigail accuses her.

50. Scene 3 Rev. Hale 1. A fair individual who honestly tries to administer justice. 2. Remains uninvolved in the petty rivalries and power plays. 3. Several issues disturb him and makes him suspicious of the Proctors.