Why has Reverend Parris sent for a doctor as the play begins?
Betty won't wake up.
What advice does the doctor send back?
That he can find no medical reason for her illness, and he should look for an "unnatural reason.
What does Parris question his niece Abigail about?
why they were dancing in the woods and if her reputation was going to stay good
What is Parris' main concern?
His reputation as a minister and material possessions.
What did Parris see in the woods the previous night?
The girls dancing, the girls over a kettle, someone apologized
Why does Abigail say she was dismissed by the Proctors?
They wanted her to be their slave
What rumors have circulated about Betty Parris? What proof later occurs that "proves" that she is a witch?
that she was flying and someone saw her.
Why did Mrs. Putnam contact Tituba?
She has lost 7 children in childbirth and wants to talk to them to know who is "killing" her babies.
Who does Abigail accuse of conjuring spirits at this point?
Tituba
What does Betty Parris reveal about what happened in the woods?
Abigail drank blood to kill Mrs. Proctor
What threat does Abigail make to the other girls?
She threatens to "...come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you." In other words, she threatens to hurt them physically if they tell. (KIll Them)
what happened in the past between John Proctor and Abigail? How do they each feel?
They had an affair. She wants him but he does not want her.
How does John Proctor feel about Reverend Parris?
He does not like him. He dislikes Parris' sermons because he ..."hardly ever mentions God anymore." John doesn't like Parris' concern for material things, pointing out his preoccupation for the deed to the house that the village has provided for the minis
What is the dispute between John Proctor and Thomas Putnam?
Land property
Why is Reverend Hale in Salem?
He has been called by Parris to investigate the rumors of witchcraft.
What does Giles Corey reveal to Reverend Hale?
He is worried because his wife reads "strange" books at night. One night he couldn't pray until she stopped reading a book. He suspects witchcraft.
When Abigail is questioned by Reverend Hale, who does she blame? What proof does she offer?
She says that Tituba makes her do things.
What is the ultimatum Tituba is given?
Confess or die
Who does Tituba accuse of being a witch?
Goody Good and Goody Osburn
Why does Abigail start accusing people at this point?
To save herself
Why does Betty Parris start accusing people?
She follows Tituba's and Abigail's example.
At the beginning of this act (act 2), John says " It is winter in here yet". why is this pertinent to what's going on?
Elizabeth's attitude towards him is still cold
Why has Mary Warren disobeyed her employers and gone to Salem?
She has been named an official
.What did Abigail Williams reveal to John Proctor? Elizabeth reminds him of this
That the girls were just playing in the woods ( no witchcraft)
Why hasn't John told the court what he knows? What does Elizabeth attribute his not telling to?
because he was alone with Abigail and he didn't tell Elizabeth about that and he doesn't want her to know
What lie did John Proctor tell to Elizabeth which makes her more suspicious of him?
He didn't tell her he was alone with her
What news does Mary Warren reveal to John and Elizabeth about the trials?
Goody Osborn will hang and Goody Good confessed
How does Mary Warren behave towards her employers?
She embraces her new "authority" and demands John's and Elizabeth's respect because she is an "official of the court.
What does Mary Warren mean when she says, "I saved her life today!"?
Abigail accused Elizabeth of witchcraft but Mary warren claimed she's seen no indication of witchcraft and court dismissed it..
.What does Elizabeth realize when she finds out that she has been accused?
That Abigail wants her dead so she can have John.
What does Elizabeth ask John to do?
She wants John to go to Salem and tell the court what Abigail had said to him about the incident in the woods.
Why does Reverend Hale visit the Proctors?
Hale visits the Proctors to test the Christian character of the home. He is investigating the stories and rumors heard in the court. Earlier, he was at the Rebecca Nurse's house. Hale is the investigator trying to find the truth.
What does Reverend Hale ask Proctor to do?
He tells him to (recite) say the Ten Commandments.
Discuss the meaning of "adultery, john".
Elizabeth had to remind John of the commandment of not committing adultery, which is ironic because he committed adultery
What information does John Proctor reveal to Reverend Hale?
Mr. Parris discovered them "sportin" in the woods , they were startled and looked sick.
What news does Giles Corey reveal to the Proctors and Reverend Hale?
Giles says his wife, Martha, and Rebecca Nurse have been taken to jail.
What has Rebecca Nurse been accused of?
For murdering Goody Putnam's unborn babies
Why has Martha Corey been accused?
Walcott(a neighbor) claims that Martha has bewitched his pigs (thus killing them) with her books.
Why do Ezekial Cheever and Marshal Herrick arrive at the Proctor home?
They have a warrant to arrest Elizabeth
.Explain why Cheever is both astonished and afraid when he finds the poppet with the needle in it?
Earlier Abigail had a fit and Parris pulled out a needle out of her mid section. Cheever believes the poppet with a needle is proof that Elizabeth performed witchcraft on Abigail and caused her injury.
What does John ask Mary Warren to do?
He wants her to explain to the court that she made the poppet(small doll), not Elizabeth.
Why is Mary so afraid to do as he asks?
She says that Abigail will kill her.
Why does Mary Warren warn John about testifying against Abigail?
Mary tells John that if he testifies against her, she will "charge lechery and ruin him".
What does John decide to do?
He tells Mary that they will both testify in court against Abigail. Although it will ruin him, he can't allow Elizabeth to die.
As this act opens (act 3), what accusation does Giles Corey make?
He says that Thomas Putnam has been killing his neighbors to get land.
What news do we learn about Rebecca Nurse?
Rebecca was condemned to hang that morning.
When John Proctor arrives at court with Mary Warren, what does Reverend Parris accuse him of?
He is accused of trying to overthrow the court.
What two pieces of evidence are brought out against Proctor in regard to his Christian nature?
He doesn't go to church and plows on Sundays
What news does Danforth tell John Proctor about Elizabeth? What deal does he try to make with him?
Elizabeth is pregnant and has 1 month to show natural signs of it and has until baby is born if she proves it.
What is going to happen to the 91 people who signed the testament stating a good opinion of Elizabeth, Martha Corey, and Rebecca Nurse?
They will arrest and question all 91 people.
Discuss "Do that which is good , and no harm shall come to thee." (pg 95)
If you are good, then no harm will come. If you do wrong, then bad things will come.
What is Giles Corey's proof that Thomas Putnam is "reaching out for land."? Why won't he reveal his source?
Word of mouth from an honest man. He doesn't want the person to go to jail.
.What is Reverend Hale's advice to John Proctor as he is about to read his disposition before the court?
Since proctor is just a farmer. he should not read it until represented by a lawyer.
What happens to Giles Corey?
He is arrested for contempt of the court. He is with holding information about who wants to take John Proctor's land. He is then pressed to death during questioning.
What does Danforth think Mary Warren's appearance in the court might be?
That it might be the devil trying to prevent the court from it religious duty.
When Mary Warren says that she pretended to faint in court, what is she asked to do? What is the result?
She is asked to faint but she cannot, therefore suspicion now falls on Mary.
What does Abigail do when suspicion that she might be pretending falls on her?
She starts acting again to convict Mary Warren.
.What does John Proctor do to discredit her?
He mentions the adultery.
.Who is called to back up John's testimony? What happens?
Elizabeth, but she fails to tell the truth of the adultery to protect John.
What happens when Reverend Hale states that Abigail has always seemed false to him?
She screams in a wild terror indicating that there is a bird in the rafters.
What is Mary Warren's reaction to Abigail's performance?
She is upset but then confesses that it was John Proctor who made her do it. Then joins Abigail.
What does John Proctor mean when he says, "God is dead!"?
He means that there is no god in Salem anymore
What does Hale do when Proctor is arrested?
He quits the court.
Why has Reverend Hale returned to Salem?
to pray with those who are to be hanged.
What is Reverend Hale advising the condemned to do?
He wants them to confess to witchcraft so they do not get hung
What does Reverend Parris reveal about his niece Abigail?
She ran away and stole all of his money
What is the condition of Salem at this point?
So many are in the jails, the town has gone deserted, farms are empty and broken up, cows are wandering the road
.How does Andover differ from Salem?
They citizens overthrow the court and stopped the procedings
.How do the proposed hangings of Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor differ from the past executions?
They were respectable people not outcasts. They were respected by the community.
What does Reverend Parris want Danforth to do?
postpone the hangings
What does Reverend Hale want Danforth to do?
Hale wants them pardoned or postponed longer
.What does Reverend Hale mean when he says, "there is blood on my head!"?
He has contributed to the death of many innocent people making him guilty of murder.
Why does Danforth refuse to postpone the hangings?
His reputation. He has already hanged 12. Rather than admit hes wrong he would rather hang the rest so he will be accused of "equal treatment".
What do Hale and Danforth request of Elizabeth Proctor?
Convince John to confess
.What happened to Giles Corey?
He was pressed to death in an attempt to make him reveal his source's name. ( pressed when refusing to answer during questioning)
What is John's excuse for confessing?
He has already ruined his reputation and doesn't want it worse and he doesn't want to tell another lie
What is Elizabeth's proof that John is a good man?
Elizabeth says he is a good man because he has yet to confess even though he has been tortured. He has taken on her sins and he didn't have to and only he can judge if he is a good man.
.How has Elizabeth changed since we first met her?
She is much stronger. Her love for John has strengthened too. She recognizes her coldness before and regrets her bitterness and the part it played in all of this.
After John confesses, what does Danforth want him to do?
Sign a written confession to put on the court door
Discuss,"I am John Proctor! You will not use me!
He is not some outcast whose death will be 'used' to show how faulty the people of the village are. He will also not let them use his confession to cast doubt on the worthy people who have still refrained from confessing. He will not be there scapegoat.
What does Hale attribute Proctor's willingness to hang to?
His willingness to hang with pride, vanity and stubbornness
What does Elizabeth attribute it to?
It is John's way of regaining his goodness. He made the wrong choice with Abigail. This time he is making the right choice by not lying.