The Crucible - review of Act 3 pages 83-96.

Authors Avatar

The Crucible Essay

The scene that I have chosen is Act 3 pages 83-96. This is the courtroom scene and one of the most dramatic parts of the play as several key moments occur. Firstly, Abigail has been called into the courtroom to be questioned about the ‘poppet’. Abigail claims that Elizabeth Proctors sprit stuck the needle in the doll that made Abigail bleed. Abigail is lying; she knows Mary Warren left the needle in the doll while she was making it. She is lying because she wants Elizabeth accused as a witch so Abigail can have John Proctor all to herself. This is a key moment in the play because if Judge Danforth believes Abigail then Elizabeth Proctor will hang.

        It then comes becomes clear that the children were dancing in the woods, something Danforth did not know, and that the children were pretending to faint. Abigail denies this as well even though it was true. But when Mary Warren tries to faint to prove this, she can’t do it. This is another key moment as Mary Warren cannot prove it, the judges are more inclined to believe Abigail now. Another reason why Danforth would want to believe Abigail is that several people have already been put in jail and hung for this and if it is revealed that it was all a hoax then Danforth could be in trouble for not spotting this straight away.

        Danforth now turns to Abigail but she is angry that Danforth is doubting her and nearly accuses him of being with the devil. Realizing her mistake, Abigail changes her tone instantly.  She claims everything is going cold and looks at Mary. As one the girls all copy Abigail. Danforth now thinks Mary is witching the girls and now believes Abigail. Proctor is furious as he knows the girls are pretending. In his anger he grabs Abigail and claims that she is a whore.  This is the next key moment as Proctor has now admitted he has had an affair with Abigail. The attention has now turned from Abigail, to Mary to Proctor. Everyone is dumbfounded at first then Danforth demands proof. Proctor is nearly weeping now and says ‘a man will not cast away his good name,’ as a good name and reputation was everything that is his proof.  Proctor is risking his life here as he could be hung for adultery. This is how serious Proctor is about getting the girls found out. Abigail denies this, but Proctor says all Danforth must do is ask Elizabeth as she will never lie. Danforth does this and it is the next key moment.

        Elizabeth does not know Proctor has already confessed. If she admits to it Proctor could hang, but the girls will be seen as liars and the whole thing will be therefore seen as a hoax. However if she lies she will save proctor but Danforth will believe the girls. Elizabeth is under a lot of pressure, and in the end she lies to save Proctors life. The court now believes Abigail and not Proctor, all except Hale. Hale points this out, but now that the court believes Abigail she now starts to pretend again. By doing she is being clever as she is now turning the courts attention away from the adultery. Since the court now believes her there is no need to linger on the subject especially with Hale knowing she is lying.  

Join now!

        Abigail now starts claiming that Mary is making a yellow bird appear, and as Mary tries to deny this the girls just repeat Abigail. Eventually Mary finally cracks under this pressure and does what the court would prefer her to do claiming Proctor is the devils man. Knowing that Mary is now back on Abigails side and that he has lost Proctor screams that ‘God is dead.’ Though he maybe saying this because there is no justice and that the girls are getting away with it all, Danforth and Parris take this as a confession to being with the devil. ...

This is a preview of the whole essay