Act+1+Crucible+Question

1. The first act is subtitled “The Overture.” Why did Miller give it that subtitle? How does it fit the title?  An overture is a song at the beginning of a musical that has themes from many of the songs from the musical. It is appropriate to call the first act an overture because it gives hints of all of the themes that occur in the play and it introduces you to all of the themes.

2. Read the description of Betty’s bedroom. What does the “spareness” reveal about the lives of the townspeople of Salem? Spareness reveals that the life of the people in the town of Salem is sparce one. The people here do not have much money and its likely that all of their rooms and houses are sparse. Reverend Paris complains at one point about how his wage is 66 pounds a year and to him that is not much money; but to the people of the town that is an exuberant amount of money and they cannot understand why this is not enough money for him because they are used to o much less.

3. Explain the significance of the forest to the Puritans. The forest or otherwise known as the "wilderness" was endless to the people of Salem. "Dark and threatening" (5), the forest housed the Native American tribes, whom the town had lost many of their relatives to. e Native Americans were also a people whom the town had failed to convert.The forest around the Salem community was "virgin" (5) to the people and considered the "Devil's last preserve" (5). It was thought to be the only place in the world that was not "paying homage to God" (5).

4. Explain the irony in the Puritans’ pilgrimage to Salem to escape persecution.  The irony is that once they got to Salem to escape persecution, the poeple in control were so represive that they ended up being a bigger problem than what they were running from. The narrator describes this as “paradox in which we still live” (Miller 7). By starting a theocracy in which leaders of the church had the most power in the town, the " **repression of the leaders became worse than the dangers the order was meant to prevent." (7) **

5. To what twentieth century situation is Miller referring when he declares: “They believed, in short, that they held in their steady hands the candle that would light the world. We have inherited this belief, and it has helped and hurt us.” (bottom of page 5) They beleived that their religion was the correct religion and tried to convince other people that their religion was the way of truth. Because their religion was so strict, it helped them to stay disciplined which helped them survive the live they had chosen in the new world. Using religion as a form of unity as wel as enforcement, helped the colony last longer than the Jamestown colonies run "mainly by a hunt for profit." Perhaps Miller means that we have inhertited the diea that what we beleive is right IS right. this could be alegorical to comunism. America beleived that it was wrong, so they strove to end it.

6. In your opinion, what situation in Twenty-first century American could relate to the Salem Witch Trials and the HUAC? The situation that the book is an alagory for is the red scare in Amercia during the 1950's. Under Senator McArthy thousands of people were tried and arrested after they had been accused of being communists. This is jsut like the Salem witch trials where anyone could be accused of being a witch and they were tried and sometimes burned for being a witch; even though there was often poor or no proof.

7. When Abigail enters, she is described as “a strikingly beautiful girl...with an endless capacity for dissembling.” What does the phrase an “endless capacity for dissembling” suggest? The following sentence says ‘”Now she is all worry and apprehension and propriety. Use those details to form a character sketch of Abigail. Abigail has a knack for creating problems, she is a temptress and causes difficulties for men and the girls she associates with. Also, judging by how she would drink blood with the aspiration to end the life of Proctor's wife shows her selfishness and disregard for others.

8. When Susanna exits, Abigail makes a confession to Parris, which she recants near the end of the Act. What is the confession, and why does she change her mind? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">When Susanna leaves in the beginning of the opening scene, Parris questions <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Abigail about whether attempts at witchcraft were actually ocurring. Abigail tries to play innocent and claims that they were simply dancing around in the forest. However, near the end of the opening scene, Abigail admits that she had "danced for the Devil" (48), basically recanting her innocent claim of simply dancning in the forest. Prior to her confession, Abigail witnesses Reverend Hale's offers to Tituba about salvation from the Devil. Seeing this, Abigail sees that she will not be prosecuted and confesses to what she was actually doing that night.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">9.Based on his words, who does Parris’s blame for his problems? Based on his words, what is his real problem? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Abigail. Parris says "...you compromise my very character." He feels as if it is a burden to give her a home and clothe her.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">10.Explain the relationship between Abigail and Goody (Elizabeth) Proctor. Imagine that relationship in the 1692. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">They hate each other. Also, while Abigail is a servant to Good Proctor, she refuses to be treated as one. As such, she despises Proctor for being demanding, while Proctor criticizes her for being an incompetent servant. In 1692, this relationship would be rare, as most servants would not rebel but rather obey authority (as such, there would be less tension.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">11.What are Putnam’s motivations for his actions in Salem? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Putnam was a very vindictive man who had suffered in his life and wanted everyone else to suffer like he had. His brother had failed to become a minister and because of that he kept other men from becoming ministers. For every grievance that Putnam had he tried to inflict that much suffering or more upon the people around him.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">12.Explain the dramatic irony when Parris says, “I know that you—you least of all, Thomas, would ever wish so disastrous a charge laid upon me.” <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">The Irony is that Thomas Putnam, as the narrator explains, is a vindictive person who dislikes almost everyone else in the town. Really, of all the characters, Thomas is one of the most likely to charge Parris with having affiliation with witchcraft.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">13.What role did Ann Putnam play in the dancing in the forest? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Ann Putnam sent her child, Ruth, to sumon spirits in order to find who killed all of her children (Mrs. Putnam had 7 pregnancies and only 1 child). Ruth comes home acting strange and Mrs. Putnam suspects that she is bewitched.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">14.Explain briefly how Putnam coerces Parris to declare witchcraft. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Putnam tells Paris to declare withcraft himself because if you strike out against the Devil, the village will bless you for it. He says that they'll pray with you if you come clean and admit it. This sways Parris. He later tells him "When Reverend Hale comes, you will proceed to look for signs of witchcraft here.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">15.What does Betty’s information about dancing in the forest reveal about Abigail’s true motivation? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">That Abigail wants to eliminate Proctor's wife in some manner, for which in this scenario, she drinks blood believing it to be an incantation to eliminate Proctor's wife.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">16.How does Abigail’s character change when the adults leave the room? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">She quickly changes from a seemingly innocoent and obedient girl to a manipulative and conniving woman. She has obviously had an affiar with Proctor and went to the extreme of drinking blood and being the brains behind a plot to kill Proctor's true wife. She threatens the other participants of the plan saying "I will come to you in the black of some terible night and I wil bring a pointy reckoning that wil shuder you" (Miller 20). Obviously she is manipulative enough to brainwash these young girls into doing evil acts for her benefit. Also, when everyone else leaves the room and she speaks with Betty, she is quite mean to Betty about acting "silly." She is also extremely rude to Mary Warren who was a mere witness of the "dancing" in the woods and wants nothing to do with the consequences of the spirit conjuring (Miller 20).

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"> 17.What does Miller mean by: “A Proctor is always marked for calumny”? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"> Proctor is the kind of person who everyone wants to lead: strong, intelligent, handsome. But Proctor is not easily lead, so people get frustrated with him and slander him.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">18. Describe Mary Warren’s personality. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Marren Warren is the servant in Thomas Putnam's household and a member of Abigal's group of girls. She is "seventeen, a subservient, naive, lonely girl." She seems to be very concerned about people calling the girls witches and she wants to clear her name. "I never done none of it, Abby. I only looked!" She seems to care more about what people think of her and if she is going to get in trouble rather than what will happen to her friends. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">She has also had romantic affairs with John Proctor.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">19. Contrast Proctor’s verbal excuse about why he has come to Parris’s house with what his actions indicate may be his true motivation for coming. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">He came to see Abigail, but he said he came because "The road past my house is a pilgrimage to Salem all morning. The town's mumbling witchcraft." (Page 21)

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">20. Explain Proctor and Abigail’s relationship. Imagine that 1n 1692. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Proctor once had an afair with Abigail.She is a very beautiful women and he probably gave into her seduction at one point in time. However,he feels guilty about this affair and tells Abigail that he wants to forget it ever happened and does not want to do it again. Abigail asures him that it happened, and atempts to manipulate him into beleiving that he thinks about her, and their night together, all the time. In 1962, especialy in a Puritan community, this would have ben an extremely huge deal. Abigail and Proctor's name would be tarnished forever (which is something that the townspeople take very seriously). It wouldn't be surprising if they were excomunicated from the church, and as a result were shunned by the entire community.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">21.What does Abigail say to lead Parris, Putnam, and Mrs. Putnam to believe Betty is bewitched? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">"She head you singin' and suddenly she's up and screamin'." (24)

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">22. Describe Rebecca Nurse physically and by reputation. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">She is seen as angelic and she is very well respected in Salem by the other Puritans. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">"Rebecca nurse, seventy-two, enters. She is white-haired, leaning upon her walking stick." "Gentleness exudes from her."

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">23. What three grudges could the Putnams have against the Nurses? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">1. The Nurses fought a land war with the neighbors, one of whom was a Putnam. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">2. Thomas Putnam's man for the Salem ministry was Bayley. The Nurse clan had been in the faction that prevented Bayley's taking office. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">3. Certain families allied to the Nurses by blood or friendship, and whose farms were contiguous with the Nurse farm or close to it, combined to break away from the Salem town authority and set up Topsfield, a new and independent entity whose existence was resented by old Salemites.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">24. In Proctor’s argument with Rev. Parris, the theme of authority arises. What are the two points of view? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">1) The classic, puritanical view that the minister has authority and should be taken care of in exchange for leading the people spiritually. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">2) The view that the minister barely mentions God anymore, is just a doomsayer, and is not worth listening to or supporting.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">25. Describe Giles Corey both physically and personally. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Giles Corey is an old wizened man that still holds the strengths of his youth, though it is in decay from aging. He holds the conservative ideals of the time period, such being seen when he grows paranoid of his wife reading and trying to keep it secret from him.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">26. What is Rebecca’s solution to Betty’s and Ruth’s ailments, and why does this solution anger Ann Putnam? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">She wants to just provide gentleness and love. This angers Ann because she feels like she is gentle and loving and knows that the devil is behind what is going on with Ruth and believes simple care will not help.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">27. What is Reverend Hale’s motivation? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">"His goal is light, goodness and its perservation" He has a love for intellectual pursuit.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">28. In terms of indirect characterization, why is it significant that Hale recognizes one of the characters by reputation? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Reverend Hale recognizes Rebecca Nurse by reputation. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">"You cannot be Rebecca Nurse?" <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">"I am, sir. Do you know me?" <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">"It's strange how I knew you, but I suppose you look as such a good soul should. We have all heard of your great charities in Beverly." <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Rebecca has a reputation for being wise, prudent and gentle

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">29. What question does Giles ask Hale that shows his comical, innocent personality. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">"What signifies the reading of strange books?"

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">30. What effect does Miller create by lowering the curtain for this act during the girls’ cries of witchcraft? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">To create suspense and keep the audience interested for the next Act.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">31. What motivates Abby and Betty to begin denouncing everyone? <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">So that they will get away with their actions that night prior, they do not want to be accused of being witches and persecuted as such. If they blame everyone else, they will get away as being posessed and in some cases have their own interests met.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">32. Explain how Miller uses the following dramatic conventions **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> **to establish character and create a basis for the tragedy in his Overture.** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">there are no documents folowing.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> 33. ** **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">A. Which character or characters act as foils for each other. Explain **

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Paris and Proctor <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Proctor is the farmer. Paris is the minister. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Proctor is the common day man. Paris is the bigshot who wants to be the best in the community. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Proctor thinks rationally and does not jump to conclusion and does not rely on religion. Paris jumps to the coclusion of witchcraft if something goes wrong. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Proctor worships the good of God. Paris focuses on the Devil and punishments for bad actions.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Take one main character (Please – some of you choose someone other than Parris) and write a brief summary of what Miller tells you through direct characterization and what you learn about his or her interactions with the other characters involved in Act I **

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">B. Take one main character (Please – some of you choose someone other than Parris) and write a brief summary of the motivations of this character? ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"> Thomas Putnam was a miserable man. His wife's brother-in-law, James Bayley had been turned down as minister of Salem. This angered him because he lost his chance at gaining more power in Salem society. Putnam has a "vindictive nature" and tends to find his gain in everything. He basically wants to own all of Salem and its lands. He has under gone many "grievances" (14) and feels that he deserves far more than anybody else in the town.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">C. Take one main character (Please – some of you choose someone other than Parris) and write a brief summary of what you learn through the character’s actions ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Betty teaches us not to do stupid things and then lie about it. She had fun one night with her friends and then lied about it and it ended up upsetting the whole town. A small lie can have large consequences that you can never predict.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Parris ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">The minister of the Church. Disliked by many and blamed for stuff. Blames Abigail.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Ann Putnam ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Thomas Putnam’s wife. She only has one daughter Ruth Putnam. The other seven died very young, and she belives it is due to witchcraft. She teaches us to not believe in the suernatural and just accept life for what it is. **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Thomas Putnam ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">He is a wealthy memeber of Salem and he holds anger for Francis Nurse for stopping the election of the miniter's posistion. He is manipulitive and cunning by architecting the witch trials to better his finiacial status. **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">John Proctor ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Elizabeth Proctor’s husband. He has an affair with Abigail and is afraid of it ruining his good name. He is very guilty and shows how mistakes can be costly. **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Elizabeth Proctor ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">She is the wife of John Proctor, and is a sickly women that spreads rumors and gossip about Abigail, possibly knowing that John and Abigail have an interest in each other. **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Giles Corey ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">He files many lawsuits against other members of Salem. He is old but still ripped at 83 years old. He is also crushed by rocks. **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Reverend Hale ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 11.55pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">He is a minister who is sent for in order to help determine the cause of Betty's symptoms. He seems very knowledgeable in the works of the Devil. Through him the audience learns that the Devil was able to invade Betty's body because of a frog entered the girls' soup. Because of his questioning, we learn much more about what actually happened the previous night.