The Opening of the play: The setting is established, Parris, Betty, and Abigail are introduced, Parris’ self-interest is shown, Abigail’s
name is questioned.
Reference
Act 1 (p1)
Context
Opening stage directions of the
play.
Parris is shown praying by Betty’s
bedside
Quotation
‘A small upper bedroom in the
home of Reverend Samuel Parris,
Salem , Massachusetts, in the
spring of the year 1692. There is a
narrow window at the left.
Through its leaded panes the
morning sunlight streams…’
Abigail’s first appearance. She
announces to her Uncles that
Susanna Walcott has arrived with
a message from Dr Griggs about
Betty’s ‘illness’
‘An endless capacity for
dissembling. Now she is all worry
and apprehension and propriety.’
Act 1 (p7)
Susanna Walcott has indicated that
Dr Griggs can find no medical
explanation for Betty’s inability to
wake. Parris’ eyes go wide as he
responds.
Parris
‘No – no. There be no unnatural
cause here. Tell him I have sent
Reverend Hale of Beverly, and Mr
Hale will surely confirm that.’
Act 1 (p8)
Parris is aware that many in the
village want him out of his post
and he is concerned that any mark
against his name – such as this –
will force him out.
Parris
‘My own household is discovered
to be the very centre of some
obscene practice. Abominations
are done in the forest –‘
Act 1 (p6)
Comment
Room simply furnished – reflecting theocratic
and simple way of life.
Staging is intentionally claustrophobic to aid
the creation of tension as many characters
enter and exit. Small space and lots of action
helps to mirror the sense of the fever gripping
as the hysteria takes hold.
Show later in the play as she is at the heart of
ripping Salem to pieces when she drives the
persecution of the women forward.
Her manipulative character is shown as she
acts as though she has no knowledge of
anything happening in the woods.
Parris’s insistence that there must be a
medical explanation suggests that he is
genuinely worried that something unnatural is
afflicting Betty – we are aware of the
consequences of this for him.
The very fact that he confirms he’s sent for
Hale – a man renowned for seeking out
witches – confirms his worry. Tension is
mounting
Anger with Abigail conveyed and the
people’s worries about the danger that lies out
with the boundaries of the community is
highlighted.
Sentence Structure reveals P’s self
preservation – repetition of ‘my ministry’ and
placement of ‘your cousin’s life’ at the end
indicates she is of less importance than his
ministry.
Act 1 (P8)
Parris interrogates Abigail about
the goings on in the woods. He
challenges her about having seen
someone dancing naked and she
refutes this.
Parris
‘Now tell me true, Abigail. And I
pray you feel the weight of truth
upon you, for now my ministry’s
at stake, my ministry and perhaps
your cousin’s life.’
Act 1 (p9)
Parris asks Abigail how she is
thought of in the village. There
have been some whispers
following her dismissal from the
Proctor’s and nobody else has
employed them.
Abigail explains why she was
discharged.
Abigail
‘There be no blush about my
name’
The importance of name is a key theme
running throughout the play. This is a straight
lie.
Abigail
It’s a bitter woman, a lying cold
snivelling, woman, and I will not
work for such a woman.
Elizabeth is described before she is introduced
in Act II. Abigail’s hatred towards her is
suggested. We begin to see a reason for
Abigail speaking out against Elizabeth later in
the play.
Act 1 (p9)
Act I: The ‘witches’ meet: Abigail’s true manipulative nature is revealed, Mary Warren is shown to be a mouse.
2
Reference
Act 1 (p14)
Context
Mercy suggests hitting Betty to
wake her.
Act I (p15)
Mary warren arrives. She urges the Mercy
Mary brings with her fear. This contrasts with
others to confess.
‘what a grand peeping courage you her behaviour in Act II when she talks to
have’
Proctor and when she is taken to speak out
against the girls in court.
Betty awakes momentarily and
Betty
shouts at Abigail.
‘You drank a charm to kill goody
This emphasises Abigail’s hatred. This also
Proctor’
sets Abigail’s story up for future use as it
indicates that Abigail calls out against
Elizabeth Proctor for her own gain.
Act I (p15)
Abigail is threatening Betty.
Act 1 (p15)
Evidence
Abigail
No, He’ll be comin’ up. Listen,
now; if they be questioning us, tell
them we danced – I told him as
much already.
Abigail
‘I will come to you in the black of
some terrible night and I will bring
a pointy reckoning that will
shudder you’
I have seen some reddish work
done at night, and I can make you
wish you had never seen the sun
go down!
Comments
Reveals Abigail’s self-preservation as Abigail
does not stop hitting Mercy hitting Betty.
Abigail stops Mercy hitting Betty so if Paris
hears them he won’t know what they have
done.
This shows that Abigail is completely in
control over betty, and clearly shows how evil
Abigail can be. This brings in the themes of
fear and evil.
Act I: Proctor and Abigail together.
3
Reference
Act 1 (p18)
Context
Abigail is talking to John.
Evidence
Act 1 (p18)
Abigail is talking to John.
Abigail
‘You are no wintry man. I know
you, John. I know you.
Act 1 (p18)
Proctor sets Abigail in your place.
Proctor
‘I will cut off my hand before I’ll
ever reach for you again. Wipe it
out of mind. We never touched
Abby.
Act 1 (p19)
Abigail still lusts after John and
she explains to him what their
relationship meant to her.
Abigail
‘I never knew what pretence
Salem was, I never knew the lying
lessons I was taught…’
Abigail
‘you clutched my back behind
your house and sweated like a
stallion whenever I come near’
Comment
This indicates the physical nature of the
relationship. Suggests Abigail feels that
Proctor still likes Abigail a little.
That Abigail feels she knows him well.
Proctor had once warmed to her. Points to the
present state of the Proctor’s relationship as
he later tells Elizabeth that it is ‘winter yet’ in
his house.
Proctor makes it clear that he has no intension
of going back to her. His tone is severe and
forceful so Abigail will forget about it.
Proctor has long been aware of the pretence of
Salem and has told Abigail of the lack of
Christian values.
Act I (p19)
Abigail still lusts after John.
Abigail
‘And now you bid me tear the light
out of my eyes? I will not, I
cannot!’
The mention of light represents the goodness
that Abigail sees in Proctor. Abigail is angry
and refuses to give up on the idea that she
may be with Proctor.
Act I: Hale’s arrival
Reference
Act I (p22)
Context
Parris announces that Hale – a
reverend from Beverly who is well
versed in the processes for seeking
out witches – is coming to Salem
Act I (p22)
Rebecca and Hale are introduced
and they discuss what he is to do
in the town.
Act I (p32)
As above.
Evidence
Rebecca
‘I think you best send Reverend
Hale back as soon as he come.
This will set us all to arguin’
again’
Rebecca
‘There is prodigious danger in the
seeking of loose spirits. I fear it, I
fear it. Let us blame ourselves and
–‘
Hale
Have no fear now – we shall find
him out if he has come among us,
and I mean to crush him utterly if
he has shown his face!’
Comment
Much wisdom in this comment. Indeed the
whole process does set the community to
arguing as they try to gain land and exact
revenge.
The danger is soon revealed at the end of the
Act when Hale’s questioning of Tituba
triggers a series of accusations.
Rebecca is right to be frightened as she is later
accused – fear is a key theme of the play.
She is also right the community should ‘blame
ourselves as they literally rip their community
apart.
Illustrates Hale’s determination and belief at
the start. This changes dramatically as the
play progresses.
Act I: Tituba is accused and confesses, and the hysteria takes hold.
Reference
Act I (p36)
Context
Hale questions Tituba after Abi
reveals that she conjured spirits.
Evidence
Tituba
‘No, no, don’t hang Tituba! I tell
him I don’t desire to work for him,
sir.’
Act I (p37)
Tituba is confessing. Hale uses
leading questions.
Tituba
‘It was black dark, and I –‘
Act I (p39)
Abigail has witnessed Tituba’s
confession.
Abigail
‘I want to open myself! I want the
light of god, I want the sweet love
of Jesus.’
Act 1 (p40)
End of the Act. The first arrests
are made.
Hale
Let the Marshall bring the irons
Comments
Tituba’s position as a slave makes her the
perfect person for Abigail to accuse.
Structure of questioning – deny, sense
persecution as inevitable, confess, accuse
others to save yourself – is introduced here
and remain the same throughout the play.
Tituba is playing for time. She didn’t see
anything so she is unsure what to say/who to
say she saw. Putnam mentions Goody Good
and Goody Osborne so she takes advantage
and mentions them. It is natural for Tituba to
lie as she wishes to save her life.
Hysteria takes hold. Abigail begins to take
advantage and name other names
This event will be repeated many times as the
jails are filed. FEAR.
The Opening of Act II: John and Elizabeth’s first scene together
6
Reference
Act 2 (p41)
Context
First time Johns and Elizabeth are
together in the play.
Act II (p43)
Elizabeth is telling John how she
could not stop Mary going to
Salem.
Act II (p43)
Elizabeth is explaining the extent
of the town’s hysteria.
Act II (p44)
Elizabeth told John to go to Salem
and speak against Abigail.
Act II p45
Elizabeth is saying that she does
not judge John
Quotation
Stage Directions
‘He lifts out the ladle and tastes.
He is not quite pleased. He reaches
to a cupboard, takes a pinch of
salt, and drops it into the pot.’
Elizabeth
‘It is a mouse no more. I forbid her
go, and she raises up her chin like
the daughter of a prince and says
to me, ‘I must go to Salem, Goody
Proctor; I am an official of the
court!”
Elizabeth
The town’s gone wild…she speak
of Abigail, and I thought she were
a saint, to hear her…where she
walks the crowd part like the sea
for Israel.
Proctor
‘I am only wondering how I may
prove what she told me Elizabeth.
If the girl’s a saint now, I think it
is not easy to prove she’s a fraud,
and the town’s gone so silly.’
Elizabeth
‘The magistrate sits in your heart
that judges you.’
Comment
This representative of his dissatisfaction with
his wife. Also highlights his willingness to
please her as when he tastes the food he
praises her on the quality of the seasoning.
This reveals that Mary now has a great sense
of importance; this establishes that all the
children who are involved feel this way. The
transformation is Mary is revealed in that she
is compared to a mouse changing into ‘the
daughter of a Prince.
This emphasises her power over everyone.
Allusion to the bible.
Everyone believes her lies so it is hard for
anyone to speak out against her. Highlights
the hysteria that has gripped the town.
This emphasises that John has a great sense of
personal integrity.
The Act II: Mary arrives home and reports that Elizabeth’s name is mentioned
7
Reference
Act II (p48)
Act II (p49)
Act II (p50)
Act II (p47)
Act II (p51)
Act II (p52)
Context
Proctor is criticising the methods
used to determine who is a witch.
Criticise the hanging of old
women .
Elizabeth name has been
mentioned in court by Abigail
Sarah good has confessed to
witchcraft. Mary claims Sarah
good tried to kill her.
Elizabeth finding out her name
mentioned in court.
Proctor tries to reassure Elizabeth
by saying this isn’t the case but we
recognise, from Abigail’s earlier
comments, that it is.
John’s reluctance to go speak to
the court
Quotation
Mary
‘they will not hang if they confess’
Comment
Act II (p48)Shows Mary belief in that she
isn’t doing wrong. Audience recognise the
flaw in the questioning methods.
‘it’s god’s work we do’
Act II (p49)Shows Mary’s belief that the court
is right. Again self-importance and delusion
owing to the hysteria.
Act II (p50) Fear of Abigail
Elizabeth
‘Oh the noose, the noose is up’
Mary
I never knew it before. I never
knew any of it before…she sit
there denying and denying and I
feel a misty coldness creeping up
my back, and I feel a clamp
around my kneck and I cannot
breathe air; and then I hear a voice
Elizabeth
‘She’d dare not call out a farmer’s
wife but there be monstrous profit
in it. She thinks to take my place,
John’
Elizabeth
‘She has an arrow in you yet John
Proctor and you know it well!’
The power of mass hysteria is revealed as this
climate of fear brings out strange feelings
from the girls.
Fear of Abigail and why Abigail is risking
calling her name in court.
Shows John still has feelings for Abigail or at
least an influence on him.
The Act II: Hale visits the Proctor’s home
8
Reference
Act II (p52)
Context
Hale comes to Proctor’s house to
tell them that Elizabeth’s name
will be mentioned in court.
Quotation
Stage Directions
‘There is a quality of deference,
even of guilt about his manner
now.’
Comment
This is the first indication that Hale is
changing and that he is going against the
court. He is taking a risk by going to the
Proctor’s house without permission.
Hale
‘I come of my own, without the
court’s authority.’
Act II (p55)
Act II (p56)
Talking about commandments and
the power of the court.
Proctor is trying to prove a point,
that nobody deserves to be hung.
Hale
‘Theology, sir, is a fortress; no
crack in a fortress may be
accounted small.’
Things are getting awkward and Hale’s
feeling worried.
Proctor
There are them that’ll swear to
anything before they’ll hang; have
you never thought of that?’
The atmosphere is tense as Proctor points out
the flaws in the court’s methods.
Abigail is in fact tearing the community apart
at this stage.
The Act II: Elizabeth is arrested and Proctor urges Mary Warren to go to court to speak out against Abigail.
Reference
Context
Quotation
Act II (p61)
Cheever arrives to seek
evidence against Elizabeth and
Arrest her.
Cheever
‘she testify it were your wife’s
familiar spirit pushed it in’
Act II (p63)
Defends his wife – argues with
Cheever.
Proctor
‘Is the accuser always holy now?
Were they born this morning as clean
as god’s fingers? I’ll tell them what’s
walking Salem – vengeance is walking
Salem.’
Proctor
‘Pontius Pilate! God will not let you
wash your hands of this.’
Proctor
‘Good. Then her saintliness is done
with. We will slide together into our
pit; you will tell the court what you
know.
Proctor
‘Hell and heaven grapple on our
backs, and all our old pretence is
ripped away – make your peace!...we
are only what we always were, but
naked now. Aye naked! And the wind,
God’s icy wind, will blow!’
Act II (p63)
Act II (p66)
Act II (p66)
Proctor convinces Mary to go
to the court to confess that it is
all pretence. Mary explains
that Abigail spoke of her
affair.
End of Act II
Comment
This highlights that Abigail is willing to use a
range of acts associated with witchcraft to
make her tales sound genuine. She has been
particular manipulative to try to support the
claims against Elizabeth.
Proctor rightly questions this though it is very
difficult to prove.
Reference to the bible – calls Hale a traitor.
At this point Hale doesn’t truly realise that
he’s on the wrong side.
Proctor is willing to give up his good name as
his affair with Abigail will inevitably come
out in court. He is happy to do this as it will
bring Abi down and possibly save Elizabeth’s
life.
His strength and determination are revealed as
Mary Weeps in the background.
The Act III: Mary and John speak out against Abigail.
Reference
Context
Quotation
Comment
Act III (p72)
Proctor challenges the evidence
Danforth
‘We burn a hot fire here; it melts
down all concealment.’
Relates to the definition of what a crucible is.
The irony is that the court encourages
concealment and puts its full faith in the girls.
Act III (p72)
Cheever speaks of his visit to
arrest Elizabeth in Act II
Cheever
‘He damned the court and ripped
your warrant.’
Proctor rips up his confession later – again to
show his anger at the proceedings and lack of
faith in the court.
Act III (p73)
Hale challenges Danforth
Hale
‘I cannot think you may judge the
man on such evidence’
The change in Hale is shown as he begins to
recognise that the evidence is flawed.
Danforth
‘I have seen marvels in this court.
I have seen people choked before
my eyes by spirits; I have seen
them struck by pins and slashed
with daggers. I have until this
moment not the slightest reason to
suspect that the children may be
deceiving me’.
Proctor
‘These are my friends. There
wives are also accused’
Ironic as he has not ‘seen’ anything. This long
list highlights the full range of deceits that
have taken place.
Abigail
Angry tone in Abigail’s dialogue.
Act III (p73)
Act III (p74)
Act III (p87)
Danforth reveals Elizabeth’s
pregnancy and that she will be
allowed to live a month – by
which point the hysteria may have
died down.
Abi feels threatened but shows her
Shows Proctor’s personal integrity as, despite
the chance his wife will be safe because of her
pregnancy, he looks to save the other accused
by challenging Abigail.
power and confidence by
challenging Danforth.
I done my duty pointin’ out the
devil’s people and this is my
reward! To be mistrusted, denied,
questioned lie a –‘
‘Think you be so mighty that the
power of hell may not turn your
wits? Beware of it!’
She directly threatens Danforth. She is
forceful in her accusations.
The Act III: Proctor calls Abigail for a whore. Elizabeth lies, Abigail diverts attention from her through the ‘bird’ incident, Hale
defends the Proctors and denounces the court.
Reference
Context
Quotation
Comment
Act III (p89)
Proctor has just revealed that he
has committed lechery.
Proctor
‘I have made a bell of my honour!
I have rung the doom of my good
name – you will believe me, Mr
Danforth!’
Proctor emphasises the extent of his sacrifice
– he has lost his good name.
The importance of a name is dealt with in the
final scene.
Act III (p89)
Proctor believes Elizabeth will tell
the truth in court.
Proctor
‘In her life, sir, she have never
lied.’
Important as Elizabeth does lie in this
situation. This leads to both Proctor and his
wife being condemned.
Act III (p91)
Elizabeth has just left the court
room; she has lied about Proctor
committing lechery.
Hale
‘Excellency, it is a natural lie to
tell: I beg you stop now before
another is condemned! I may shut
my conscience to it no more –
private vengeance is working
through this testimony…’
Hale strongly objects to the way in which
proctor is treated and accurately sums up the
situation - private vengeance is at work.
Act III (p92)
Abigail diverts attention from
Mary’s accusations.
Abigail
‘Oh Mary this is a black art to
change your shape. No, I cannot, I
cannot stop my mouth; it’s god’s
work I do.’
Exploits her knowledge of the things that a
witch would be expected to do/exploits the
lack of need for clear evidence.
Repetition to highlight the hysteria
Act III (p94)
Abigail says she see’s Mary as a
bird.
Builds to hysteria and shows that Abigail is in
Mary, Abigail and the girls
Repetition of what Mary says ‘stop control.
it!’ etc
Act III (p96)
Abigail has control over Mary.
Proctor
‘A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the
boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy
face! And it is my face and yours
Danforth!
Danforth believes the girls and it shows that
anger of Proctor. The irony of Abigail saying
she is in heaven now, whereas heaven is being
pulled down.
‘You are pulling down heaven and
raising up a whore’
Act III (p96)
Hale ends the court meeting.
Hale
‘I denounce these proceedings, I
quit this court!’
Proctors was found guilty.
The Act IV: Change in attitude of Parris, Hale feels guilt and urges people to save their lives by falsely confessing, Hale goes to
Elizabeth to ask her to beg John to confess.
Reference
Context
Quotation
Comment
Act IV (p97)
Falling Action following the
frenzied courtroom scene.
Proctor is in jail
Parris and Hale together
These characters were completely opposed in
Act III. The fact that they are together now
suggests a dramatic change in the attitude of
Parris. He feels guilty and looks to Hale to
save the persecuted.
Act IV
(p105)
In conversation with Elizabeth.
Hale
I would save your husband’s live,
for if he is taken I count myself his
murderer. Do you understand me?
Underlines Hale’s guilt and change in
character.
Act IV
(p106)
As above
Hale
‘Let you not mistake my duty as I
mistook my own. I came into this
village like a bridegroom to his
beloved, bearing gifts of high
religion the very crowns of holy
law I brought, and what I touched
with my bright confidence – It
died and where I turned the eye of
my great faith, blood flowed up.’
Simile reveals that he saw the seeking out of
witches as a happy quest/ an opportunity to
test the theories in his books. Religion was
exploited to do evil/persecute the good.
‘Life is god’s most precious gift’.
Rule by the church = theocracy
The Act IV: The end – John has his goodness as, though he initially confesses, he will not let them have his name.
Reference
Context
Act IV
(p109)
Discusses the option of lying to
save his life with Elizabeth.
Act IV
(P109)
As above
Act IV
(p112)
Act IV
(p113)
Proctor turns from Elizabeth to
Hathorne
Danforth had asked him to name
names just as the others did when
they confessed.
Act IV
(p115)
He had signed a confession but
refuses to have it nailed on the
church door. He tears it up.
Quotation
Comment
Proctor
‘I cannot mount the gibbet like a
saint. It is a fraud. I am not that
man.’
Elizabeth
‘whatever you will do it is a good
man does it.’
Proctor acknowledges that he has flaws.
Proctor
‘I want my life’
Proctor
I speak my own sins; I cannot
judge another. I have no tongue for
it.’
Proctor
‘Because it is my name! Because I
cannot have another in my life!
Because I lie and sign myself to
lies…I have given my soul; leave
my name!’
Confirms that he will lie.
Life turns out to be less important.
His goodness/Personal Integrity are shown
as he won’t name others.
She shows forgiveness and acknowledges his
goodness.
Repetition of ideas, stresses and importance
of a name.
Admits he lied.
Act IV
(p115-116)
Act IV
(p116)
Final line of
the play.
Danforth calls for the Marshall.
Hale begs him not to condemn
himself.
Final Line
Proctor
‘You have made your magic now,
for now I do think I see some shred
of goodness in John Proctor. Not
enough to weave a banner with,
but white enough to keep it from
such dogs,’
Elizabeth
‘He have his goodness now. God
forbid I take it from him!’
Having overcome adversity, Proctor sees
his goodness. Metaphor suggests he
acknowledges that his flaws remain..
‘white’ connotes goodness.
Confirms that good has overcome evil and
the community has risen against the corrupt
authority.