The Crucible
Act IV
Study Guide
Questions
1. What explanation does Cheever
give for Parris’s “mad look”?
 He thinks it is caused by the cows. In other
words, the cows are left wandering since
their masters are in jail, and there is much
contention in the town about ownership.
2. What did Abigail do?
• Abigail stole money from Parris and
disappeared, reportedly left on a ship.
3. Parris says, “You cannot hang this sort.
There is danger for me.” What “sort” does
he mean, and what is the danger to him?
• Proctor, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Martha and
others were upstanding and respected
citizens.
• Since Parris was so involved with the
prosecution of these individuals, he was
beginning to get threats on his life.
4. Explain Danforth’s reason that a
pardon would not be just.
If he would pardon the remaining
accused, the people who had been
hanged would have died in vain.
Rather than admit that the court could
have been wrong and therefore admit
the others may have been hanged
unjustly, he though it better to continue
hanging people so all accused would
get the same treatment from the court.
5. Why has Hale come back to
Salem?
 To
encourage the accused to
confess and save their lives.
 He feels guilt about the
proceedings.
6. What does Hale want Elizabeth to do?
Hale wants Elizabeth to convince
Proctor to confess.
7. What happened to Giles?
Giles was pressed to death during
questioning.
8. Proctor says, “My honesty is broke,
Elizabeth, I am no good man.” Explain.
 At
this point, he has decided to confess
even though he is not guilty. He is
telling a lie to save his own life. That
in itself takes away his goodness, his
honesty.
 At first, he doesn’t want to confess.
He still doesn’t like Parris.
9. What “confession” did Elizabeth make to
John?
She feels she is also responsible for his affair
with Abigail. She thinks if she had been a better,
warmer wife, he would not have been inclined to
place his affections elsewhere.
10. What did Proctor do after he signed the
confession? Why?
 When
he learned that his written confession
would be posted in public and used to
convince others to confess, he tore it up.
11. “I have given you my soul; leave me
my name!” Explain.
 He is ashamed for sacrificing his true
beliefs to save his life by confessing to a
lie; he feels that by signing his name for all
to see he is giving away his final shred of
dignity and respect.
12. “He have his goodness now. God
forbid I take it from him!” What does
Elizabeth mean?
 If she were to convince Proctor to give a
public confession, his goodness would be
lost. She recognized the importance of
Proctor’s eternal well-being and wished
that for him over her own desires. Since he
tears up the confession, he has his honor
back.
Parris is a dynamic character.
Prove it.
 While Parris is still concerned about
himself, especially his safety, but by the
end of Act IV, he is concerned for others,
including Proctor. He sides with Hale that
the proceedings should be postponed
because of the threat of riots. He is upset
that Abigail took his money, but he is more
upset that innocent people will die.
What people serve as examples
for John Proctor?
 Rebecca Nurse, Giles and Martha Corey all
faced death with dignity and honor.