The Crucible Act 4: Tragedy and Allegory in Salem

2. The Crucible Act 4

3. Intro • Tragedy: dramatic form that was first developed in ancient Greece. Typically contains: • Main character involved in a struggled that ends in disaster (tragic hero) • Typically gains wisdom or insight by the end of play • Tragic hero’s downfall is usually the result of some combination of fate, error in judgment, or personality weakness (tragic flaw) • Downfall is typically inevitable • Allegory • Story with more than one layer of meaning • Literal meaning • One or more symbolic meaning

4. Vocab • Conciliatory: tending to soothe anger • Beguile: trick • Retaliation: act of returning an injury or wrong • Adamant: firm, unyielding • Cleave: adhere, cling • Tantalized: tormented, frustrated

5. Scene 1 • Opens in a jail sell, Marshall Herrick has opened the doors (nearly drunk) • Scene is opened with Sarah Good, Tituba, and Herrick • Sarah good mistakes Marshall for the devil coming to get them • Marshall is moving them to the north cell because that cell is now needed • Sarah Good informs him that her and Tituba are going to Barbados as soon as the devil comes for them • Tituba tells Herrick that if he wants to join shell speak to the devil for him. • He refuses • Tituba tells him that Salem makes the devil angry because of the cold but in Barbados he is happy • Tituba mistakes a cow for the sound of the devil

6. Scene 2 • Herrick, Danforth, and Judge Hathorne at the Jail • Danforth wants to know where Parris is • When did Hale arrive at the jail • Around midnight • He to will hang • With goody Nurse • Parris ordered him • Herrick is sent to fetch Parris • Danforth cant stand the smell of the jail • Herrick says he just emptied it • Herrick exits to get Parris • Danforth warns him about his intoxication • Says he is drinking because it is cold and there is no fire • Could also be his conscience

7. Scene 3 • Hathorne and Danforth • Hathorne feels Hale should be questioned • Danforth thinks it is strange that Parris is praying with him • Hathorne feels they shouldn’t let Parris around the prisoners so much • Making him unstable • Blames it on the cows who have no owners now • Parris enters the room • Danforth is unhappy with Parris for allowing Hale to be near the prisoners • Parris says Hale has returned to bring Rebecca Nurse back to God • R. Nurse has not spoken to Parris in the 3 months she has been there • R. Nurse, her sister, M.Corey, and a few others sit with Hale • He is trying to get them to confess so they can save their lives • They have not softened yet but are listening

8. Scene 3 Cont. • Parris informs Danforth that Abigail has disappeared • She has been gone for 3 nights • Claimed she was staying with Mercy Lewis • When Abigail did not return Parris sent a note to fetch her from the Lewis’s • Mr. Lewis informed him that Mercy had stated she was staying at his home • Both girls are missing • Danforth says he will send a party after them • Want to know there they could have gone • Betty heard them speaking of ships • Parris’s lock box has been broken into • 31 pounds is missing • He is now broke • Danforth calls him brainless

9. Scene 3 Cont. • Parris states the girls left out of fear • There is witch craft in Salem and reappearing in Andover • Parris says that Andover has overthrown the court • Having no part in witchcraft • Parris fears a riot • Hathorne does not believe Parris • Parris begins to realize the weight those jailed have in the town • R. Nurse is not Bridget who lived 3 years with Mr. bishop before marriage • John Proctor is not Isaac Ward who drank his family to ruin • If R. Nurse stands up and gives a prayer and it will start a vengeance against the court

10. Scene 3 Cont. • Parris wants to post pone the hangings • He refuses • Parris thinks there is hope since Hale returned • Believes that if one confesses the rest will follow • Parris is worried that his role may now have negative repercussions • Danforth reviews the list and then refuses postponement • More worried about the reputation of the court

11. Scene 3 Cont. • Danforth wants to know which ones might confess to God • He will strive with them till midnight • Dawn is not enough time • Parris cannot choose which ones there are hope for • Instead tells of a dagger • When he opened his door a dagger fell to the floor • Does not feel safe at night • Hale enters the room • Danforth welcomes Hale back • Hale is more stern than he has ever been • Hale says they must pardon the women because they will not budge • Cannot pardon when 12 others have already been hanged for the same crime • Rebecca will not confess and the sun is about to rise • He needs more time • Danforth says he will not speak of postponement anymore • Only concerned with the image of the court • Parris and Hale need to quit tricking themselves and do the work they are bound by heaven to do

12. Scene 3 Cont. • Hale has spoken will all but Proctor • Herrick says he is barely noticeable except he takes food from time to time • It is confirmed that Elizabeth is pregnant • Think that Proctor seeing Elizabeth might soften him and get him to confess • John cannot harm any for he is chained to the wall • Hale tries to make Danforth realize that if he were to postpone and say he was striving for their confessions the people would have mercy on him • Be in his side • Wants it postponed a week • Danforth says he cannot control the sun rising just like he cannot control those who deserve punishment • Hale says he is mistaken if he thinks God is expecting him to punish

13. Scene 3 Cont. • Rebellion is spoke of, Hale gives examples on why rebellion will happen • Because of all those jailed: • There are orphaned children begging • Cows wandering • Stink from rotten crops • Every man is afraid when his life will end • Danforth wants to know why Hale chose to return • He chose to return to help Christians save themselves

14. Scene 4 • Goody Proctor is brought in by Herrick • Danforth asks how she is- she is 3 months pregnant • Assures her they did not bring her there to take her life • Danforth does not know how to explain to her what is happening • Asks Hale to do it • Hale informs her he is there on his own-not with the court • Wants to spare John’s life • Goody Proctor wants to know what Hale wants of her • Hale explains he has spent 3 months with the lord and sought a Christian way of how to receive forgiveness • Needs forgiveness because he is a minister telling people to lie • Lie to save their lives • Believes the court is unjust • Hathorne objects- you cannot speak of lies

15. Scene 4 Cont • Hale explains to Goody proctor that clinging to your faith does you no good when wrong is being done • She needs to stand up for what she knows is right • Tells her the life is God’s most precious gift • No way to justify taking someone’s life • He wants Goody Proctor to get John to confess • Don’t let him throw his life away because of pride • God will not punish a liar as hard as someone who throws away their life • Hale believes that if John is going to listen to anyone it will be Elizabeth

16. Scene 4 Cont. • Danforth claims the devil is in Elizabeth because she does not weep at the thought of her husband dying • Elizabeth wants to speak with John • Danforth wants to know if she will plead for his confession • She promises nothing • John enters the room • Hale wants them to leave so they can talk in private • Everyone leaves the room

17. Scene 5 • John and Elizabeth are alone • John wants to know of the child • Their children are okay- Rebecca’s brother keeps them • John has been tortured • John wants to know if any have confessed • Elizabeth tells him about 100 confessed • Giles is dead • He was not hanged • He dies Christian under the law for not speaking • His sons will have his land • He could not be condemned a wizard without the answer of aye or nay • The pressed him to death • Great stones they lay on his chest until he pleaded aye or nay • He only ever said “more weight”

18. Scene 5 Cont. • John confesses that he has been thinking of confessing to the court, asks her what to do • Elizabeth tells him she wants him living and that she will not judge him • John justifies telling the lie of confession because he is already not a good man • He wants to know that he will have Elizabeth’s forgiveness if her were to confess • Says he does not need to look for forgiveness from her • John says those who have never lied should not lie now- die and go to heaven • But his is pretense • Elizabeth acknowledges that she will not be able to forgive him if he cannot forgive himself • She wants him to do what he thinks is right • She assures him that whatever he chooses he will be a good man • Elizabeth says that in the 3 months she has looked into her heart • She has her own sins to work on • A wife that is not loving enough “cold” allows for lechery to happen • John will not hear of Elizabeth talking down about herself

19. Scene 5 Cont. • Hathorne enters and wants to know what john’s decision is • decides to confess • John wants to know why Elizabeth is weeping • She says she cannot judge him • Tells him to do as he wishes • John wants to know if she would give the lie for him • She cannot answer • Says she is a saint and he is a fraud • The judges enter and are ready for the confession • Cheever is instructed to write it down • John wants to know why it has to be written • They are going to post it on the church door • Danforth begins to lead the confession • John confesses • Danforth wants to know what the devils demands were • Wants to know if he bid John to do his work • John agrees

20. Scene 5 Cont. • Rebecca nurse is brought in • Brought in to see John as an example • Trying to get R. Nurse to confess • R. Nurse cannot believe that John is confessing • After john’s confession, Danforth asks Rebecca Nurse is she wants to confess • Rebecca states that John is lying • She refuses to confess • Danforth questions John if when the devil came was R. Nurse with him • He says no • Danforth begins to go down the list to see if John saw anyone with the devil • He says no to them all • Danforth reminds john that if he believes he is lying his life will not be spared • John refuses because if the people have already confessed they are hoping to leaves the world as saints • He will not ruin their names • Danforth thinks that John has mistaken his purpose for being there • His soul alone is the only issue at hand • Accused of sending his soul out on Mary Warren • Danforth asks again who he saw with the devil • John is speaking of his own sins • He is not judging others

21. Scene 5 Cont. • hale speaks up and says he confessed now let him sign • Parris says that John has a weighted name and this will do a good service • Danforth calls John forward to sign • John hesitates and says is witnessing this not enough • Why do I need to sign it • Danforth accuses him of playing games • Proctor signs the confession • When Danforth reaches for the paper Proctor takes it • John refuses to give it up • John says you have heard me and seen me sign you need nothing else • Says God does not need his name nailed on the door • He will give penance • John refuses to let them use him to get other confessions • John worries how to teach his children to do correctly if his sins be posted • Tells Danforth that he is the high court and his word is good enough

22. Scene 5 Cont. • Danforth states that him telling everyone and john signing are the same thing • Wants to know if John plans on denying the confession when he is free • John says no • John does not want to give up his name • Cannot live without his name • He has given up his soul now leave his name alone • Danforth asks if the document is a lie • Will not accept it if it is • He wants an honest confession or John will hang • Proctor tears up the paper • Parris cannot believe what proctor has done • Hale tells him he will hang

23. Scene 5 Cont. • John says he now sees a shred of goodness in himself • Elizabeth is proud • Says not to give them tears because tears are what they want • Show honor and sink them with your stone heart • Rebecca says to fear nothing • Those who are doing wrong have another judgment to face • Danforth states that those who weep for these people are weeping for corruption • Parris wants Elizabeth to go to John and convince him • Hale wants Elizabeth to plead with John • Hale wants to know who will praise him- dirt? • Who will declare his truth- worms? • Wants Elizabeth to take away his shame • Elizabeth refuses because he has goodness now • He has found God • Refuses to deprive that from him

24. The Crucible Epilogue

25. Epilogue • Not long afterward, Parris is voted out of office. He leaves Salem, never to be heard from again. Rumors have it that Abigail became a prostitute in Boston. Elizabeth remarries a few years after her husband’s execution. In 1712, the excommunications of the condemned are retracted. The farms of the executed go fallow and remain vacant for years.

26. Act 4 Take Away • Months have passed, and things are falling apart • Danforth and Hathorne are becoming increasingly insecure • The cannot admit that they were wrong • Will not retract the sentences • Rely on confessions to save the people • t would not be “fair” to the twelve already hanged if the seven remaining prisoners were pardoned • The most important issue for the officials of the court is the preservation of their reputations and the integrity of the court • Danforth and Hathorne would rather preserve the appearance of justice than threaten the religious and political order of Salem • His unwillingness to sign his name to the confession results in part from his desire not to dishonor his fellow prisoners’ decisions to stand firm. • Proctor fixates on his name and on how it will be destroyed if he signs the confession

27. Act 4 Take Away • Proctor’s desire to preserve his good name earlier keeps him from testifying against Abigail • Leading to bad events • Now, he has finally come to a true understanding of what a good reputation means • Defending of his name in the form of not signing the confession, enables him to muster the courage to die heroically • His goodness and honesty, lost during his affair with Abigail, are recovered • Abigail probably ran off because she realized she will not have a life with John • Rev. Parris waited so long to report the girls missing because Abigail had made him out for a fool • Abigail is someone of little moral character • Proctor rips two documents: the warrant and his confession • The symbolic meaning of this is that they are both of official authority from the court and by ripping them up it represents an effort to destroy the power they have