The Crucible Fishbowl Discussion
Read the entire play before you begin answering the questions. Otherwise, you will not be able to give
complete responses. Answer each of the following discussion questions. Be sure to give FULL
responses for each. None of the questions are simple enough to be answered in a few words or even a few
sentences. Each one requires at least a full paragraph response, Be sure to include direct quotes
(documented properly) to support your responses. Submit the entire assignment to turnitin.com when you
have completed it. Reading the play and completing the assignment are due on January 7, 2015.
Have fun!
CHARACTERIZATION OF MAJOR CHARACTERS. The questions for each character should
guide you in analysis but should not limit your discussion.
JOHN PROCTOR: To what extent is this man a hero? What failings does he have? What strengths does
he have? How do his strengths and weaknesses bring him into conflict with other characters (including
minor characters)? What forces (internal and external) compel him to become a martyr? How else is he
'torn internally' or suffer from internal conflicts? Do you admire him? Why?
ELIZABETH PROCTOR: Why don't we sympathize with her when we met her in Act II? How does she
win our sympathy as the play develops? What does she come to realize by the end of the play?
HALE: What are your first impressions of Hale? Why do these impressions change as the play
progresses? Despite all his decent instincts, why does he come off badly?
PARRIS: Who is he in conflict with in this play? What internal conflicts does he have? What are his
main motivations? What does he fear about John Proctor? What evidence do we have that he is the main
antagonist of the play?
ABIGAIL WILLIAMS: What does the incident involving the poppet reveal about her character? Why
could she be described as a hard opportunist? Is there any softness in her? What evidence do we have that
she is the main antagonist of the play?
REBECCA NURSE: In what way does she point to the criminal absurdity of the witch hunt? What is the
inherent irony of the accusations against her? What do you think she symbolizes? Why?
JUDGE DANFORTH: In what ways do his gullibility and self-righteousness add to the hypocrisy of the
play? What do you think he symbolizes? Why?
MARY WARREN: Why is she described as a mouse or accused of not having courage in the first two
acts of the play? How does her timidity and fear help lead to the tragedy of the play? What do you think
she symbolizes? Why?
THOMAS AND ANN PUTNAM: Why are the Putnams so eager to accuse others of witchcraft? What
motivates each of them? Why? What do you think each one symbolizes? Why?
THEMES. In discussing the following ideas which run through this play, keep in mind that it is important
for you to be able to say clearly how Miller develops his ideas - through characterization? plot structure?
language? setting (esp. historical)? conflicts between and within characters?
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO EXHIBIT SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND INTEGRITY.
We all have an obligation to combat perceived evil in society, yet characters like Parris, the Putnams, the
judges and Abigail shirk this responsibility in favor of promoting personal ends. Show how they do this and
contrast their behavior with that of John Proctor who, in placing the well-being of his fellows above his own
interests shows Miller's belief in a need for personal integrity.
SOCIETAL PROBLEMS CAN OFTEN BE TRACED TO INDIVIDUAL HUMAN FAILINGS
Though the trial has religious and super-natural implications Miller tends to show the troubles as stemming
from recognizable human failings. Discuss how the following failings are manifested in the play - greed,
vengeance, jealousy, ambition, fear, hysteria.
SOCIETIES OFTEN TRY TO SUPPRESS INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN
SOCIAL ORDER
Discuss how this idea is brought out in the play especially through Proctor's struggle in the final act - the
judges' insistence on pinning his written confession on the church door and his resistance to this. Also through
Giles Corey who tries to maintain his individual rights (but note the contrast with Proctor's motives).
OFTEN PEOPLE TEND TO THINK IN “BLACK AND WHITE”
(For example, good or evil, god-like or devilish, capitalist or communist). The upholders of the social order
like Danforth are forced into this sort of thinking. How? Even Elizabeth Proctor associates John's sexual
transgression with evil but what does she come to see?
LOGICAL FALLACIES. The arguments used in Act III to convict several characters of witchcraft are
fraught with logical fallacies. Identifying them is an important element of rhetorical analysis.
DEFINITIONS. Define each of the following logical fallacies:
Begging the question/ circular reasoning
Appeal to fear/scare tactics
Ad hominem/poisoning the well
False dilemma/either-or/false dichotomy
Argument from authority/false authority
Ad populum/appeal to popularity/bandwagon
Post hoc/faulty causality/non-sequitur
Hasty generalization
EXAMPLES. Then, find ten examples of logical fallacies in Act III. For each fallacy, complete the
following four steps:
Type of fallacy committed
Character committing fallacy
Statement of fallacy (quote the passage and include page number)
Explain the problem with the argument