Reverend John Hale arrives from Beverly, a scholarly man who looks for precise signs of the supernatural. Parris tells him about the dancing and the conjuring, while Giles Corey asks if there is any significance to his wife's reading strange books. Hale questions Abigail, finally asking her if she sold her soul to Lucifer. Finally Abigail blames Tituba, claiming that Tituba made Abigail and Betty drink blood and that Tituba sends her spirit out. Putnam declares that Tituba must be hanged, but Hale confronts her. Upon realising that the only way to save herself is to admit to the charge, Tituba claims that the devil came to her and promised to return her to Barbados. She says that several women were with him, including Sarah Good and Sarah Osburn, and the girls join in the chorus of accusations, name more people they claim to have seen with the devil.
The second act takes place a week later in the Proctor's home. John Proctor returns home late after a long day planting in the fields, and Elizabeth suspects that he has been in the village. Mary Warren has been there as an official of the court for the witchcraft trials, even after Elizabeth forbid her. Elizabeth tells John that he must tell Ezekiel Cheever, the constable, that Abigail admitted that Betty's sickness has nothing to do with witchcraft, but Proctor admits that nobody will believe him because he was alone with Abigail at the time. This disturbs Elizabeth, but Proctor reprimands her for her suspicion. Mary Warren arrives and gives Elizabeth a poppet, a small doll that can be used in witchcraft, which she made in court. Mary tells them that thirty-nine people have been arrested and Sarah Osburn will hang, but not Sarah Good, who confessed. When Proctor becomes angry with Mary, she tells him that she saved Elizabeth's life today, for her name was mentioned in court. Proctor vows to see Ezekiel Cheever, but Elizabeth tells him to see Abigail instead, for Abigail must know that no good can come of her accusing Elizabeth.
John Hale arrives. He tells the Proctors that Elizabeth's name was mentioned and the saintly Rebecca Nurse was charged, then questions Proctor on his churchgoing habits. Finally he makes Proctor state the ten commandments; he can remember nine of the ten, but Elizabeth must remind him of the last one, adultery. Proctor tells Hale what Abigail admitted about Parris discovering her in the woods, but Hale says that it must be nonsense, for so many have confessed to witchcraft. Proctor reminds him that these people would certainly confess, if denying it means that they be hanged. Hale asks Proctor whether he believes in witches, and he says that he does, but not those in Salem. Elizabeth denies all belief in witchcraft, for she believes that the devil cannot take a woman's soul if she is truly upright.
Ezekiel Cheever arrives to arrest Elizabeth on the charge that she sent her spirit out to Abigail and stuck a needle in her. Cheever finds the poppet, which has a needle in it, but Mary Warren says that she made the poppet in court that day, although Abigail witnessed her making it. Upon hearing the charge, Elizabeth claims that Abigail is a murderer who must be ripped out of the world. Proctor rips up the warrant and tells Cheever that he will not “give his wife to vengeance.” When Hale insists that the court is just, Proctor calls him a Pontius Pilate. He finally demands that Mary Warren come to court and testifies against Abigail, but she sobs that she cannot.
The third act takes place in the vestry room of the Salem meeting house, which serves the court. Giles Corey arrives with Francis Nurse and tells Deputy Governor Danforth, who presides over the trials, that Thomas Putnam is charging people with witchcraft in order to gain their land. He also says that he meant nothing when he said that his wife read strange books.
John Proctor arrives with Mary Warren, and presents a deposition signed by Mary that asserts that she never saw any spirits. Parris thinks that they are there to overthrow the court and Danforth questions whether Proctor has any ulterior motive, and tells Proctor that his wife is pregnant and thus will live at least one more year, even if convicted. Proctor also presents a petition signed by ninety-one people attesting to the good character of Elizabeth Proctor, Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey. Parris claims that this is an attack upon the court, but Hale asks Parris if every defence is an attack on it. Danforth reminds Hale that they are “living in a sharp time in which good and evil are quite clear.”
Putnam arrives at the court, and Giles Corey charges him with murder. Giles tells Danforth that someone told him that he heard Putnam claiming that he prompted his daughter to accuse George Jacobs of witchcraft so that he could buy his land after Jacobs is executed. Giles refuses to name this person, thus Danforth arrests him for contempt. Abigail then arrives with the other girls, and Proctor tells Danforth how Abigail means to murder his wife. Parris lies about finding a girl naked when the girls were dancing, and demands that Mary Warren pretend to faint as she had done before. Abigail threatens Danforth, claiming that the powers of Hell may affect him, then pretends that she feels a sharp wind threatening her. Proctor grabs her by the hair and calls her a whore, finally admitting his affair.
Danforth orders that Elizabeth be brought to the court. If Elizabeth admits to firing Abigail for her affair, Danforth will charge Abigail with murder. Elizabeth, thinking that she is defending her husband, only claims that she fired Abigail because of poor work habits. Proctor cries out for Elizabeth to tell the truth, and Hale admits that Elizabeth's lie is a natural one to tell. Abigail then claims that Mary Warren's spirit is attacking her in the form of a bird. Although Mary claims that the girls are lying, she soon breaks down and tells Danforth that Proctor is in league with Satan and wants to pull down the court. Proctor Cries out that God is dead, and that a fire is burning in Hell because the court is pulling Heaven down and raising up a whore. Hale denounces the proceedings and quits the court.
The fourth act takes places several months later in the autumn at the Salem jail cell. Marshal Herrick arrives at the cell drunk and wakes up Sarah Good and Tituba, who talk about how the devil will take them to Barbados soon. Danforth arrives with Hathorne, and they discuss whether it is wise to allow Parris to meet with the prisoners, for Parris now has a mad look. Cheever details how the town is in shambles because so many people are in jail. Hale has been begging Rebecca Nurse to admit to witchcraft. Parris arrives and tells Danforth how Abigail has vanished with Mercy Lewis and stolen his money. Parris worries about the rumours of rebellion against the witchcraft proceedings in Andover, but Hathorne reminds Parris how there has only been “great satisfaction in all of the Salem executions.” Parris reminds him that “Rebecca Nurse is no immoral woman such as the others executed and there will thus be less satisfaction”, and claims that he worries for his safety, having found a dagger outside his doorway. Still, Danforth refuses to postpone any of the executions.
Danforth calls for Elizabeth Proctor, and Hale tells her that he does not want Proctor to die, for he would feel responsible for the murder. He tells Elizabeth that God may damn a liar less than a person who throws one's life away, but Elizabeth claims that this may be the Devil's argument. Finally Elizabeth agrees to speak with Proctor, who is brought in bearded and filthy. Proctor and Elizabeth discuss their children, and Elizabeth tells him how Giles Corey died: “when he refused to answer yes or no to his indictment, and was thus pressed with stones until he would answer. He only gave the words "more weight" before they crushed him.” Proctor says that he cannot mount the “gibbet as a saint,” for it would be a fraud to claim that he has never lied. Elizabeth says that she has her own sins, “for only a cold wife would prompt lechery.” Finally Proctor decides that he will confess himself, although he does ask whether what he does is evil. When Proctor agrees to save himself by admitting to witchcraft, Danforth demands a written confession and, to prove the purity of his soul to others, he demands that Proctor accuse others. Hale suggests that it is sufficient for Proctor to confess to God, but Danforth still requires a written statement. Proctor refuses, because he wishes only to keep his good name for the respectability of his children. Danforth refuses to accept his confession, and orders that he be hanged. Hale begs Elizabeth to plead with Proctor to sign a confession, but Elizabeth claims that “He now has his goodness, and nobody should take it away from him.”
This now brings me onto my question, What do you think this play has to say to the audience about justice? Well on my opinion it teaches us a lot about justice and people rights when prosecuted against a crime. It teaches us to not judge people until a lawful court has judged them. Innocent until proven guilty in other words.
In Salem though they were going on the fact Guilty until proven innocent, but been proven innocent wasn’t an easy thing. Danforth, the judge in Salem, kept asking questions that would no doubt confuse the mind as well as back people into corners to make you sound like a witch. But for some strange reason if you confessed to been a witch you would not hang, but if u didn’t confess you would hang. It is understandable as they live in a puritan sociality because puritans believed strongly in the Bible and witchcraft. Confessing is meant to be a sign of light from god in you but not confessing even if you were innocent would be a sigh of the devil and you would hang.
The two characters, Danforth and Hale, were too very different characters. Hale came to Salem to seek out witches and to try and turn them back to the light of god while Danforth came to Salem only to seek fame. He did at the start try do find people that were witches but as the publicity grew so did the fame and so he strayed from the path of Justice.
It teaches the audience not to judge people before they know some real facts, not rumours or accusation people just shout out. This is also the case with Danforth. If you wanted a mans land all you had to do was cry witch and he would probably loose all his land to the highest bidder. Crafty, but it was happening in Salem.
At the start of it all Parris called for Rev. Hale. A wise man he was meant to be, having a great experience in the field of witchcraft. He came looking or witches but found only deception. During the story he changed for believing they were witches in Salem to believing the total opposite. Although at this time he could do nothing as Danforth still thought they were witches there.
Although they sent other men’s wife’s to the rope they didn’t want to send there own even when they were accused of witchcraft. This was Abigail’s mistake. As soon as she accused the wives people started to believe she was a liar and she fled, to Boston most people think where she became a prostitute on the streets.
Justice in this play wasn’t done, The audience need to realise that there can never be justice for condemning someone to death for something they have done. The Salem witch-hunt was a bit like the McCarthyism Hunt for communists in the 1950s where many people, including Hollywood actors and the writer of this play Aurther Miller, were accused of communism and were sent to jail. This gave Miller the inspiration the write the play, The Crucible. He knows what it’s like to be accused of something you didn’t do and that’s a message he’s trying to get across to the audience.
By David Pullen 10/7
