"The Crucible Question Analysis Textual Evidence
What is the play about?
What are the settings, motivations, or societal values in which the play was written?
What kinds of literary techniques does the play use?
Which character(s) shows external character development?
Which character(s) shows internal character development?
Where do these common themes show up in the text?
fear
persecution
power
control

Proctor's motivation for confessing: Proctor wants to make very clear to the court that Abigail's desire to get rid of his wife is what has driven her to accuse Elizabeth and others of witchcraft.

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Elizabeth's motivation for lying in court: bible states for women to put their husbands first, so she, as a Puritan, follows the Bible strictly and protects him.

Reverand Parris: His own reputation.

Abigail Williams: To divert attention away from herself and stay out of trouble; kill Elizabeth Proctor so she can have John Proctor to herself.

Mary Warren: FEAR-she wants to reveal the truth but breaks under pressure from Abigail and the other girls.

John Proctor: Justice, reveal the truth about Parris, Abigail, and the trails, and he wants to save his wife and later, himself and his good name.

Elizabeth Proctor: Reveal the truth...Abigail's vengeance, self- preservation.

Reverand Hale: 1. Save Salem 2. Save lives-tries to convince the accused to "confess" and save themselves-denounces the court.

Danforth: rid Salem of all evil, Delay-would show weakness pardon-12 were already executed.

Possible causes of the Salem Witch Trials

For one, the people of Salem in the late 1600s were both very religious, and very superstitious. So when the first accusations of witchcraft came up, they were more likely to believe it.

Secondly, the Puritan religion and preachers had conditioned the population to fear all things satanic, and to believe that they might not be able to control his influences.

Lastly, fear of witchcraft goes back centuries before this time, as did the methods of dealing with them.

The immediate cause was when accusations were made against a slave, Tituba, for practicing voodoo. People who had been with her were also accused, and all they could do to save themselves was to accuse someone else. It was a spiral of fear.

Characterization (indirect, direct)

By using direct characterization, we are able to depict who the person is through descriptive text; (in literature and drama, the method of character development in which the author simply tells what the character is like)this is more "in-your-face" information in which becoming familiar with someone is relatively easy. With indirect characterization, you learn who a character is based on his or her actions, thoughts, and ideas.

Proctor was a farmer in his middle thirties. He need not have been a partisan of any faction in the town, but there is evidence to suggest that he had a sharp and biting way with hypocrites. (Miller, 1224)

The above passage is a perfect example of direct characterization. Instead of having to guess who he is through thoughts or actions, the author is very straight forward. I did not have to guess his profession or his age, it was simply stated for me. This makes it easier to find out more about Proctor

In act one of the play, when Rebecca Nurse steps into the room, Hale indicates that he knows her, not personally, but by reputation. Rebecca has a reputation for being very wise, prudent, loving, righteous and upright; when Hale sees her, he says,

"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."

This lets us, as the readers know, that Rebecca Nurse is a good person, so good in fact, that she even looks good in physical appearance. Her very physique radiates the goodness that she carries in her soul. Also, this helps the reader to know that Rebecca spends a lot of time in giving charity and service to other people; so much, in fact, that other towns have even benefitted from it, and heard of her kindness and generosity.

Details about puritan society, including religious beliefs, social order, etc.

- very small town with small-windowed houses

-to Europeans, was a "barbaric frontier"

-Their creed forbade anything ressembling a theater of "vain enjoyment."

-They did not celebrate Christmas, and a holiday from work meant only that they must concentrate more on prayer.

-The essence of social order lay in the authority of husband over wife, parents over children, and masters over servants in the family.

-They believed and followed everything written in the bible.

-They believed that man existed for the glory of God; that his first concern in life was to do God's will and so to receive future happiness.

-They felt that they were chosen by God for a special purpose and that they must live every moment in a God-fearing manner. Every man, woman, and child was expected to attend the meeting on the Sabbath without question. Puritans were required to read the Bible which showed their religious discipline. If they didn't read the Bible, it was thought that they were worshiping the devil.

-the Puritans had no way of cleansing their sins and starting fresh, and every sin, down to the smallest lie, would lay heavy on their minds.

Explanation: