We also find out about the type of furniture that there is on stage. ‘In the centre a rather long meeting table, with stools and a considerable armchair snugged up to it.’ The first thing that the audience would think that is, they have familiarly seen this sort of plain looking furniture before, at the beginning of the play in act 1. The second thing that the audience would be thinking is that they could be slightly confused, of why there is a large table on stage with small stools and then a large chair. This could stand of a meaning of that someone important is going to sit in that specific chair. It is clear on stage that the difference between the stools and the large chair stands for meaning of importance. The audience could e thinking that maybe somebody important is going t appear on stage.
At the beginning of act 3, it starts in a peculiar way, by hearing two unfamiliar voices of Judge Hathorne and Martha Corey. We haven’t met these characters up until now but can only hear their voices. ‘Martha Corey’s Voice: I am innocent to a witch; I know not what a witch is.’ This would make the audience concentrate more on what the characters are saying than the setting. Now, you can obviously guess that, some kind of important meeting or Court Room is taking place. The stage directions give a hint of that a wall is through the middle of the stage. As an audience, this would make them feel in a way threatened because they don’t know whether the characters are going to appear on stage. This carries on until another character Herrick arrives on stage.
We hear the familiar voice of Giles. He bursts into the court in a very dramatic manner that would not normally be thought of in a court room. We can notice from the stage directions that Giles is being carried on to the stage by Herrick. When the Judge Hathorne enters, ‘How dare you come roarin’ into this court! Are you gone daft, Corey!’ The audience are now worried for Giles of what Hathorne might do t him, because we can understand the hierchary of the characters. The audience then gets another shock when we hear Giles answer back. ‘You’re not a Boston Judge yet, Hathorne. You’ll not call me daft!” We can get the impression that Giles doesn’t care who he is talking to, whether Hathorne is a judge or not, at least they can have the courtesy to listen to what he has to say whether they agree with it or not. The audience would feel that the way Giles enters and the way that he has spoken to the judge, he wants go get a point across to save his wife, from this trial and accusation.
Danforth is a judge in the court room, in a way he is Hathorne’s second man. From the stage directions we notice that when he enters the stage, the rest of the court goes quiet. We can now guess that he plays an important part in the court. We also find out that he isn’t afraid of what others are going to say to prove their innocents, he is able to get his own way no matter what. ‘On his appearance, silence falls.’ The audience would now know the power of this man. We can understand that he is extremely stern, and the audience would question whether he would listen to the deposition of Giles.
As the scene goes on we then see Mary Warren and Proctor appear on stage. We know from Act 1 that Mary is a very insecure person, and so will feel very intimidated by the judges. ‘Mary is keeping her eyes to the ground; Proctor has her elbows as though she were near collapse.’ The audience would feel curious to why Mary is here, because supposedly she was meant t be ill, and also why is she here in the first place. We also know that Danforth is in two minds because Mary turning up to the court room, either shows that she is very brave, or just stupid to lie to such a powerful judge.
Each character then takes it turns to get their say to the judges, to give their say either for their wives or themselves. This is called a deposition. Mary’s deposition starts by Hale trying to help out Proctor, however he cannot say that he is an honest man because he doesn’t know him that much about him. But a man of himself, just a farmer can not stand for such a crime of Lechery on his own, without a soliter present. The scene gets very emotional when Hale says, ‘Excellency, I have signed away seventy-two death warrants’ ‘I have this morning signed away the soul of Rebecca Nurse, Your honour’ At this point the audience can understand why Hale is getting so upset, and that so many people have died through nothing. The audience also know that Rebecca has not done anything wrong, and that she is innocent but instead of being found guilty and walking free, Rebecca has tried to prove herself.
The stage directions then carry on the tension when Mary Warren starts sobbing while Hale goes and stands with the judges around the paper. Everyone starts reading it. ‘Proctor hands it to him. Hathorne rises, go beside Danforth, and starts reading. Parris comes over to his other side. Danforth looks at John. John Proctor, then proceeds to read. Proctor glances at Giles. Mary Warren sobs once. Proctor touches her reassuringly.’ The audience now know how important this is getting for having all the characters rush around to this document. The audience may have guessed that finally this all might be sorted out and that the judges are taking things seriously. However, no matter what Mary will end up in jail because along the way she has lied, whether it was in the court or to protect Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth enters the court room, we know that she is under pressure and doesn’t know what has been happening in the court room while she hasn’t been present in there. She also doesn’t know how to save her husband, John Proctor, because she isn’t sure whether he has confessed to lechery with Abigail. At this point she is so under pressure because Danforth tells her to keep looking at him and not to make any contact with Abigail or John. ‘(reaches out and holds her face, then): Look at me!’ The audience can now see how under pressure Elizabeth is and how important and serious that the judge Danforth is taking this whole thing.
The set up of the stage is very important and the audience must see the significant meaning of it. It starts by the way that the characters are standing. This symbolises the love triangle between the three characters.
‘(To Abigail): Turn your back. Turn your back. (To Proctor): Do likewise.” It is important for the audience to see this symbol because they can then know the meaning and the point of Elizabeth’s questioning.
When Elizabeth leaves the courtroom on the charge of lying, Hale wants Danforth to bring Elizabeth back so that she can be questioned fairly, and that he is now on Proctors side. ‘Remove her Marshal! Proctor :( crying out) Elizabeth I have confessed it!” The audience would now be feeling worried because she has tried to save her husband but he has confessed the whole thing, about him and Abigail. We would now be wondering why and what is going to happen to Elizabeth.
Maratha Corey is Giles’ wife and we know that from the way he enters the stage that he wants to free his wife from the court. In Giles’ deposition, he accuses Mr. Putnam, that his daughter has accused George Jacobs of witchery who is already in jail. Things go wrong for
