| What explanation does Cheever give for Parris’ “mad look”? | He thinks it is caused by the cows. In other words, the cows are left wandering since theirmasters are in jail, and there is much contention in the town about ownership and thewhole political scene. |
| What did Abigail do? | Abigail stole money from Parris and disappeared, reportedly left on a ship. |
| Parris says, “You cannot hang this sort. There is danger for me.” What “sort” does he mean, and what is the danger to him? | Because Proctor, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Martha and others were upstanding citizens,generally respected in the community (as opposed to Sarah Good who was a beggarwoman), people were truly doubtful of their connections with the devil. Since Parris wasso involved with the prosecution of these individuals, he was beginning to get threats onhis life. |
| Explain Danforth’s reason that a pardon would not be just. | If he had pardoned the remaining accused, the people who had been hanged would havedied in vain, unjustly. Rather than admit that the court could have been wrong andtherefore admit the others may have been hanged unjustly, he thought it better to continuehanging people so all accused would get the same treatment from the court. His logic waspeculiar to say the least. |
| Why has Hale come back to Salem? | Hale has come back to Salem to encourage the accused to confess and save their lives(whether they are guilty or not). |
| What does Hale want Elizabeth to do? | Hale wants Elizabeth to convince Proctor to confess. |
| What happened to Giles? | He was pressed to death during the questioning. |
| 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 tosave his own life. That in itself takes away his goodness, his honesty. Besides the fact thatlying is a sin, he has broken the code of a man’s life. Even non-religious people recognizethe importance of honesty to one’s character. He has broken this code; he is a sinner, he isa failure as a man. |
| What “confession” did Elizabeth make to John? | She tells him that after much thought, she feels she is also responsible for his affair withAbigail. She thinks if she had been a better, warmer wife, he would not have beeninclined to place his affections elsewhere. |
| What did Proctor do after he signed the confession? Why? | he tells him that after much thought, she feels she is also responsible for his affair withAbigail. She thinks if she had been a better, warmer wife, he would not have beeninclined to place his affections elsewhere. |
| “I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” Explain. | By confessing, Proctor has ruined himself, given up his goodness. His hopes for eternalsalvation have been destroyed. Since he shall remain alive on the earth for some time tocome, he at least wants to have his good name so his life here will still be good. If he hasto suffer eternally, the least they can do is to let his remaining years on earth be bearable. |
| “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” What does Elizabeth mean? | Since Proctor refused to make his confession public, the authorities have decided it willnot be accepted. He will hang as if he had not confessed. Proctor regains his goodness byaccepting his death by hanging rather than becoming an accomplice to the misguidedauthorities and by holding to the truth that he was not in partnership with the devil. If shewere to convince Proctor to give a public confession (and thereby save his life),Elizabeth would put him back in the situation where his goodness would be lost. Then,the loss of his soul would be at least partly her fault. Besides not wanting thatresponsibility, she recognized the importance of Proctor’s eternal well-being and wishedthat for him over her own desires. |
| Why is Parris worried for his safety in the fourth act? | he found a dagger at his door |
| What does Proctor not have to do to confess? | demonstrate his ability to do witchcraft |
| Proctor says they’re pulling down heaven and raising up what? | a ***** |
| Who accuses Proctor of witchcraft? | Mary Warren |
| What does Abigail say is a “deadly sin”? | jealously |
| What is Goody Nurse’s fate? | she is hanged |
| What is Giles Corey’s fate? | he is pressed |
| What is John Proctor’s fate? | he is hanged |
| What is Elizabeth’s fate? | she is acquitted |
| What is Tituba’s fate? | she confesses |
| What is Abigail’s fate? | she runs away |
| Why are cows milling the streets? | because their owners are in jail |
| Who is Hathorne? | the judge |
| Who is Danforth? | the deputy govenor |
| How is Reverend Hale different from Reverend Parris? | he is a scholar |
| Who does Corey accuse of land-grabbing | Putnam |
| Who does Mercy Lewis work for? | The Putnams |
| Who does Mary Warren work for? | The Proctors |
| Why is Mrs. Corey arrested? | for reading books |
| Why does Elizabeth lie to the court? | to save herself |
| What evidence does Giles Corey offer to the court? | Putnam is telling Mercy who to accuse |
| What is the petition that Proctor and Corey bring to the court? | Citizens attesting to Elizabeth and Martha’s good character |
| Why does Mary Warren tell the court about the girls’ pretense? | Because Proctor threatened her |
| Which thing didn’t the girls do in the woods? | perform voodoo |
| What does Reverend Hale believe about witchcraft? | That they must use scientific methods to identify it |
| Who made Elizabeth’s poppet? | Mary Warren |
| What did Abigail accuse Elizabeth of? | Stabbing her in the stomach with a needle |
| Which commandment did Proctor forget? | adultery |
| What are Giles Corey’s last words? | more weight |
| What does Elizabeth say John finally has at the end of the play? | his goodness |
Act 4 The Crucible
February 25, 2020