Act 1: The plot
At first in the scene Parris is praying but we can not hear his words just mumbling as he is sitting beside her daughter who has not moved for days. He tries to wake her by talking to her but it does not work. Abigail the niece of Parris enters and tells him that Susanna has arrived. She than comes and delivers bad news in which Parris is not happy about, and then leaves. After Susanna leaves Parris approaches Abigail to find out what really happened the night they were caught dancing naked in the forest, and she tells him that it was not as it seemed but Parris finds it hard to believe that this is so. Whilst this conversation is happening Mrs Putnam enters to see what is happening who soon is accompanied by Thomas Putnam. Putnam's servant comes to the scene; a fat, sly, merciless girl aged 18 by the name of Mercy Lewis. Abigail tells her that they were seen and Mercy starts to get scared and at this moment enters Mary Warren who is 17 and is a sub-servant. Mary Warren tells the girls that what they did was wrong and that they will get punished for it whilst Abigail goes over to Betty and tries to wake her. Whilst this is happening betty, with a great fright, jumps out of bed and starts asking for her mother whom is dead and then reveilles that Abby had drunk blood to make a charm to kill John proctor's wife and Goody Proctor. As this is revelled she gets smashed on the face and Betty then with fright faints again and goes into a sleep as last time. John Proctor enters and as he does Mary Warren leaps in fright and tells him that she was on her way home. Both Mary Warren and Mercy leave as they are both frightened of Mr Proctor. When they leave Abigail and Mr Proctor start talking about their love affair in which proctor starts to denies everything and act like nothing is going on whilst Abigail starts to loose it as she feels mad that he does not want to love her anymore. Betty starts wailing and Abigail starts screaming for Parris. Parris enters and he calls for the nurse and Rebecca and Giles Corey enter. Rebecca tells them that Betty is fine and will wake in time and also tells Parris that when Revered Hale comes that he should send him home as he should not be looking for spirits as it's only going to course more problems. As Proctor and Giles start to leave Reverend John Hale, a man known to be an authority on the matter of witchcraft, arrives from Beverly, with half a dozen of books. As he talks about the good charity that Rebecca has done Mr Putnam and Mrs Putnam ask if he would also see to their daughter who is also in a bad state. Hale than starts to read his books and tries to find a way of curing her whilst everyone assumes that the devil has got her spirit and Rebecca leaves as she can not bear to watch. Then Giles asks Hales what it could mean about his wife reading strange books, he tells him that he could not pray whilst she was in the room reading the book and as soon as she left he could pray again. Hales tells him that he will see to him after this and says that he is determined to drive the evil spirits away from Salem. Reverend Hale tries to get Betty to talk, and when Tituba enters and Abby accuses her for everything Tituba confesses to witchcraft and as she does Abby starts doing it as well and feeling inspires Betty wakes from her sleep and finally starts talking. Betty, Tituba, and Abigail confess to having conjured spirits in the woods, and they give the names of all of the other people (supposedly witches) they saw. Whilst this is happening passis is shouting a prayer of thankgivening and hales stating that the speel is broken and thet they are free. The curtains fall and act 1 ends.
Act 2: the plot
Eight days later the scene starts at john proctors house. At the right is a door where you can see the fields outside whilst on the left is the fireplace which behind it has a pair of stairways that lead to upstairs. The living room is rather long and is low and dark as it would be at the time. When the curtains go up the room is empty. John Proctor enters with a gun and goes over to the fireplace and leans the gun by the wall and then goes over to ...
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Act 2: the plot
Eight days later the scene starts at john proctors house. At the right is a door where you can see the fields outside whilst on the left is the fireplace which behind it has a pair of stairways that lead to upstairs. The living room is rather long and is low and dark as it would be at the time. When the curtains go up the room is empty. John Proctor enters with a gun and goes over to the fireplace and leans the gun by the wall and then goes over to a pot at the fireplace where Elizabeth the wife of john has put the stew to cook. As he listened to her singing from upstairs he puts some salt in the stew as when he tasted it he didn't look to pleased with the taste. As he is doing this Elizabeth is heard walking down the stairs and then she enters. They start to talk about the farming as they sit down to eat and then john gets the sense that something is wrong and asks if she's upset again. This is when Elizabeth tells him that Mary Warren has gone to Salem and with anger he tell her that he had forbid her from going and that she should have not let her go. She tells him that she is now officially part of the court and tells him that they are now arresting everyone that was involved in the whole witchcraft thing and might even be hanged if they do not confess. Elizabeth starts to argues with him saying that he must go and turn Abby in to the court because she is bringing all the girls down and she say's to him that she is a fraud. John tells her that he will think on it and Elizabeth argues that if it was not Abby he would not think on it and they start to argue about the whole situation about him and Abby's affair. Whilst this is happening Mary Warren is heard coming back home from the court and tells them everything that happened in the court and tells john and Elizabeth that Elizabeth was accused of witch craft and that she told them that she didn't have nothing to do with it and that now they was thinking on it. Elizabeth then starts saying to him that he should speak to Abby as she will try and kill her and take her place and with a bit of persuasion John than agrees to go and speak with Abby about this. Reverend Hale enters and they start to talk about what is happening in the court and tells them that Elizabeth has been accused of witchcraft. Hales then questions John and Elizabeth about their religious beliefs and practices and as they both explain that they do not believe that the devil is upon. As Hales is just about to leave, Giles enters in a panic and explains that they have taken his wife and Rebecca to jail and then Francis enters shortly afterwards. Ezekiel Cheever and Marshal Herrick, two men who arrest accused witches, come to Proctor's house to arrest Elizabeth, because she is accused of having a puppet in her house as Abigail had been found ling on the floor with a needle in her belly and they believe that this was because of Elizabeth. With a fight they take Elizabeth and chain her and take her to jail and john tells Marry that she must testify of murder against Abby but marry refuses as she is scared that they will take her down because of this. With anger Proctor garbs her by the through and tells her she has no choice but to or he will kill her and trough her to the ground where Marry Warren sods to herself 'I cannot I cannot'. The scene ends and the curtains fall.
Act 3: the plot
The vestry room of the Salem meeting house is now being used as the anteroom of the General Court. The curtains start to rise and all we see is an empty room. We see the sunlight pouring through two high windows at the back wall. At the right there are two doors leading to the outdoors. At the left this is a plain bench and there is also another one at the right. In the centre of the room there is a rather long meeting table with stools and a considerable armchair slugged up on it. We can not see anything but we can hear the voice of Judge Hathorne asking questions and the voice of Martha Corey's replying to his questions. As the court is accusing Martha Corey of being a witch Giles jumped to her defense and he is then dragged out of court by Herrick. As Herrick tries to calm Giles down Hales enters and tells him to also calm down. Judge Hathorne then also enters who which is in his late sixties. Whilst Giles and the judge start to argue Deputy Governor Danforth enters with Ezekiel Cheever and Paris behind him. As he is seen they all go silent and he then approaches Giles to explain what is going on. Giles asks for promotion to go up and provide evidence on behalf of his wife. Francis then also tries to defend his wife, Rebecca Nurse. He says that the girls (Betty, Abby, Mercy, and Mary) are a bunch of frauds and that they cannot be believed. Danforth and Hathorne are both shocked that someone would again dare to question the court. Mary Warren and John Proctor enter. John tries to get Mary to confess that she and the other girls were lying about there being witches in Salem. Mary admits that she was pretending the whole time. Parris does not want to believe her because he thinks that Proctor is just trying to overthrow the court. Danforth questions John about this and John denies it. Cheever tells Danforth that when Cheever went to arrest Elizabeth Proctor earlier that morning, John ripped up the warrant. Parris also says that John never comes to Church and that he has plowed on Sundays before. John is forced to defend himself against these accusations. Proctor is then told that Elizabeth claims to be pregnant and Danforth says that they have examined her and says that she shows no sign that she is pregnant. He tells Proctor that he is willing to allow Elizabeth one month in jail to see if any changes occur to see if she really is pregnant or not and if she is she will be let free for another year until the baby is born but will only do this is if Proctor drops the charges on the girls. John does not accept the deal because he knows that Elizabeth is not guilty of being a witch. He also feels bad for his friends, Giles and Francis, as their wives are in the same position as him. Proctor gives Danforth a piece of paper with a list of signatures on it. The paper contains names of the people who testified that Elizabeth, Martha, and Rebecca are not witches. Parris feels that because they signed this, they should all be brought in for questioning. Danforth agrees and tells Cheever to have warrants drawn for their arrest. Francis feels guilty for having brought trouble upon these people, but Danforth maintains that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between. Proctor than gives Danforth Giles' deposition. Thomas Putnam enters. Giles says that Putnam had his daughter accuse George Jacobs of witchcraft so that Putnam could buy off Jacobs' land when he hangs. Putnam denies this. Danforth wants to know who told Giles this information. Giles refuses to give the name because he knows that that person will get into trouble with the court if he mentions their name. Danforth calls this contempt of court. Hale tries to explain that people are afraid of the court because of its actions to throw everyone in jail so easily. Danforth responds that there is a plot to overthrow Christ in the country. Giles goes for Putnam to attack him. Danforth arrests Giles for contempt. Proctor than gives Danforth Mary's deposition and tells him that Marry was lying the first time and that this time she will tell the truth. With this evidence, Danforth calls in the girls Susanna, Betty, Abigail, and Mercy. He questions Abby and she says that Marry is lying and that what she said at first was true. Marry than claims that when she first fainted in court she was only pretending and then Parris, Hathorne, and Danforth ask her to pretend to faint now, but she says she cannot do it any longer. They accuse her that she can not faint because there are not spirits upon her now and that she must be lying about pretending before. Danforth questions Abby once again and then she starts to pretend that she is freezing because Mary is putting her spirits upon Abby and as Abby starts to do this the other girls start to copy her as well. Mary pleads them to stop doing this. Proctor looses it and jumps up and goes and grabs Abby's hair and dragged her to her feet and starts calling her a whore and then he confesses to the affair and tells the court that she's doing this because Elizabeth put her out and she wants to take her down and thinks that she could take her place and be with me. To their shock Danforth asks for Elizabeth to be brought back in and questioned on why she had thrown Abby out and as she feels scared to not shame her husband she claims that he did not do anything with her and then she gets taken back and before proctor can say anything the girls start to pretend that they can see a yellow bird in the ceiling and then Abby starts to call out the name marry. Mary in horror starts to scream and Proctor goes to comfort her and she pulls away and in the last minute she says that Proctor is the devil and has tried to make her write in his book. Both proctor and Danforth are in shock and as Danforth asks him if this is true but as proctor is so angered with what just happened manages to just say that 'god is dead'. Parris hears this and feels that this is evidence that he is working with the devil and so Danforth arrests Giles and Proctor. Hale is so angered with Danforth and the court that he says he quits the court and walks out. Danforth calls Hale's name and the scene ends and the curtain falls.
Act 4: the plot
The scene begins with a cell in Salem jail. At the back is a high barred window and near it is a great heavy door. Along the walls are two benches. The place is dark and all you can really see is the light of the moon going through the bars of the window. Footsteps are heard coming down the corridor and keys rattling and the door swinging open. Marshal Herrick who is nearly drunk goes and to a bench and nudges a bundle of rags lying on it. Tituba explains that the devil is coming to take her back to Barbados and that Sarah Good can come to if she liked. As the guard Hopkins enters a cow is heard and Tituba believes it's the devil that has come to get her. As she is dragged away she is heard saying 'take me home, Devil; Devil take me home!' Danforth, Judge Hathorne, Hopkins, and Cheever enter the cell. Danforth wants to know where Parris and Hale are. Danforth sends for Parris and he enters. Danforth asks Parris why Hale has been going around with him to the prisoners. Parris says that Hale is trying to get some of the prisoners to confess and save their lives. Parris is worried that if Danforth goes through with the executions, there will be a riot in Salem, as some of the people convicted are highly regarded among the people of the town. Parris tells Danforth that his niece, Abigail, has gone missing with Mercy Lewis and that he thinks Abby stole thirty-one pounds from him. He thinks that they are now somewhere on a ship, in order to get away from Salem. Parris is worried that his own life may be in danger. He begs for the executions to be delayed until they can examine the people further, but Danforth says that, he will not postpone it. Hale enters. Hale asks Danforth to let the convicted people go, but Danforth refuses because twelve have already been hanged for the same crime. Danforth asks is proctor has confessed or not and then tells Herrick to bring Elizabeth to him, and then after Proctor. Danforth thinks that Elizabeth can change proctors mind around as she is pregnant now. Hales tries to convince Danforth that what he is doing is mad and that this is not what god wants. Elizabeth enters all dirty and worn out from the cell and hales explains to her that if proctor does not confess that he will be hanged at that morning. Elizabeth then agrees to talk to him. Proctor enters and everyone apart from Elizabeth leave. Proctor is also dirty and worn out by the cell and he has also grown facial hair. As he asks how the unborn child is and their other children are Elizabeth changes the subject and tells him that many have confessed and that Giles has been hanged. He asks her on what she thinks he should do n he tells him that he should do whatever he feels is right but would like him to live. Proctor explains that he does not want to lie and be known as being a witch but Elizabeth tells him that he will always be a good man whatever he does. Elizabeth starts to talk badly about herself and starts to blame herself for the affair and proctor can not bear to hear her blaming herself for it. Herrick enters and asks John if he is going to confess. John says that he wants his life, and so has decided to confess. He looks at Elizabeth for a final decision, and she just says that he must be his own judge now. Herrick runs down the hall for the others to come, yelling that Proctor is going to confess. Hathorne, Danforth, Cheever, Parris, and Hale all enter. Danforth tells Cheever to start writing everything down and Proctor wants to know why. Danforth tells him that they are going to hang it on the church door for everyone to see. John does not like this idea but still carries on this the confession. Danforth asks him if he saw the Devil and John says that he did. They then bring Rebecca in to watch John. They hope that she will confess after seeing him confess. Danforth asks John if he was working with the devil and ashamed that Rebecca was watching him he still carries on and tells him that he did. Rebecca is shocked and as Danforth tries to make her confess as well she refuses and says that this is all a lie. He then asks john if he has seen anyone with the devil and john replays no and he is not happy with this as he believes that he must have seen someone with the devil. As they finally agree to let him go he tells Proctor to sign the paper and so he does but he does not give the paper back as he does not want it hung up as he does not want it to be seen by his children and rips the paper up. Danforth angrily demands for him to be hanged and with tears in her eyes Elizabeth goes to proctor and as he tells her to stay strong he gives her a passionate kiss. Herrick takes them out and Hale begs Elizabeth to go to John and try to change his mind. She refuses and says that he has now become found the goodness within him will not take that away from him. The scene ends and the curtains fall.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller: Drama Coursework by Ardita Gaxherri