The CrucibleThe Crucibleby: Arthur Millerby: Arthur Miller

Act IAct I

Literary Elements: AtmosphereLiterary Elements: Atmosphere

What nouns describe the atmosphere What nouns describe the atmosphere at the very beginning?at the very beginning? fearfear terrorterror superstitionsuperstition mysterymystery

Drawing ConclusionsDrawing Conclusions

Find the phrase, “an endless capacity Find the phrase, “an endless capacity for dissembling.” for dissembling.”

What does it tell the reader about Abigail?What does it tell the reader about Abigail?

Abigail deceives others.Abigail deceives others. Her reliability is questionable.Her reliability is questionable. There is a hidden motive in her words.There is a hidden motive in her words.

Literary Elements:Literary Elements:SettingSetting

What function does the forest serve?What function does the forest serve?

The girls go there to hide their dancing.The girls go there to hide their dancing. It also serves as an atmospheric It also serves as an atmospheric

function.function. To the Puritans, the forest was a wild, To the Puritans, the forest was a wild,

dark place—the abode of heathens and dark place—the abode of heathens and evil spirits.evil spirits.

ThemeTheme

The idea of a person’s good name The idea of a person’s good name will be a central theme to the play.will be a central theme to the play. Find where Abigail discusses her good Find where Abigail discusses her good

name in Act I.name in Act I. Abigail: “Abigail: “My name is good in the village! I My name is good in the village! I

will not have it said my name is soiled.”will not have it said my name is soiled.” What is she willing to do to protect her What is she willing to do to protect her

name?name?

Enter the PutnamsEnter the Putnams

What adjectives would you use to What adjectives would you use to describe Rev. Parris’s attitude toward describe Rev. Parris’s attitude toward the Putnams.the Putnams. He seems fearful, flattering, submissive, He seems fearful, flattering, submissive,

and groveling.and groveling. Why?Why?

The Putnams seem to have influence The Putnams seem to have influence over people in Salem.over people in Salem.

Thomas PutnamThomas Putnam

Thomas Putnam is one of the play’s Thomas Putnam is one of the play’s principal antagonists.principal antagonists. Why?Why? He is vindictive, has many grievances He is vindictive, has many grievances

against his neighbors, and is involved in against his neighbors, and is involved in disputes ownership of land.disputes ownership of land.

Seems to have played a key role in the Seems to have played a key role in the accusations of witchcraft.accusations of witchcraft.

Cultural NoteCultural Note

Superstition holds that sneezing Superstition holds that sneezing might indicate that a possessed might indicate that a possessed person was expelling demons person was expelling demons through the nose.through the nose.

This might be the origin of the This might be the origin of the practice of saying “God bless you!”practice of saying “God bless you!”

AbigailAbigail

Describe the change in Abigail’s Describe the change in Abigail’s behavior after the adults leave behavior after the adults leave Ruth’s bedroom.Ruth’s bedroom. She reveals a cruel side to her nature in She reveals a cruel side to her nature in

the way she treats the other girls. the way she treats the other girls. With the adults gone, Abigail is able to With the adults gone, Abigail is able to

become the dominant personality and become the dominant personality and reveal her true nature.reveal her true nature.

Is her attitude here believable? Is her attitude here believable? Why or why not?Why or why not?

Literary Elements:Literary Elements:Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

Find the line, “What a grand Find the line, “What a grand peepingpeeping courage you have!”courage you have!”

Speaker? Speaker? Circumstance? Circumstance?

Double meaning:Double meaning: The act of looking cautiously or sneakily.The act of looking cautiously or sneakily. The weak sound of a newborn bird, especially a The weak sound of a newborn bird, especially a

chicken.chicken. This is an example of scorn for Mary Warren’s This is an example of scorn for Mary Warren’s

courage.courage.

PREDICTPREDICT

““You drank a charm to kill John You drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s wife! You drank a charm to Proctor’s wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor.”kill Goody Proctor.”

Speaker?Speaker? Why might Abigail want John Why might Abigail want John

Proctor’s wife dead?Proctor’s wife dead? Revenge over being fired.Revenge over being fired. Revenge about rumors being spread.Revenge about rumors being spread. Romantic notions towards John Proctor.Romantic notions towards John Proctor.

Literary Elements:Literary Elements:CharacterizationCharacterization

““Let either of you breathe a word, or the Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you.”reckoning that will shudder you.”

What do Abigail’s threats toward the other What do Abigail’s threats toward the other girls reveal about her character?girls reveal about her character? She has witnessed the brutal murder of her She has witnessed the brutal murder of her

parents and suggests that she is, herself, parents and suggests that she is, herself, capable of violence.capable of violence.

EvaluateEvaluate

Evaluate the offhand way Abigail Evaluate the offhand way Abigail describes events to Proctor in light of describes events to Proctor in light of what we know about her character.what we know about her character.

She illustrates her ability to adapt her She illustrates her ability to adapt her manner to suit a situation. manner to suit a situation.

With her uncle, she pretends concern and With her uncle, she pretends concern and righteous indignation. righteous indignation.

With the girls, she is domineering and cruel. With the girls, she is domineering and cruel. With Proctor, she is coy and seductive.With Proctor, she is coy and seductive.

PlotPlot

What is revealed about the central conflict What is revealed about the central conflict in the conversation between Abigail and in the conversation between Abigail and John Proctor?John Proctor?

The conflict between Abigail and Mrs. Proctor: The conflict between Abigail and Mrs. Proctor: Abigail’s motivation is now known. Abigail’s motivation is now known.

There was a romantic link between her and John, There was a romantic link between her and John, which is why Mrs. Proctor dismissed her. Abigail which is why Mrs. Proctor dismissed her. Abigail believes John loves her. Mrs. Proctor’s death would believes John loves her. Mrs. Proctor’s death would clear the way for marriage between them. clear the way for marriage between them.

The conflict between Abigail and John: He The conflict between Abigail and John: He denies that he ever gave her reason to believe denies that he ever gave her reason to believe there was hope for marriage.there was hope for marriage.

Literary ElementsLiterary ElementsCharacterCharacter

How the Putnams differ from John How the Putnams differ from John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse on the Proctor and Rebecca Nurse on the issue of witchcraft?issue of witchcraft? The Putnams seem determined to prove The Putnams seem determined to prove

that witchcraft is afoot. Proctor and that witchcraft is afoot. Proctor and Rebecca believe there is a natural Rebecca believe there is a natural explanation for the children’s behavior.explanation for the children’s behavior.

Think CriticallyThink Critically

Why might Ann Putnam hate Why might Ann Putnam hate Rebecca Nurse?Rebecca Nurse? Ann already has mentioned that she has Ann already has mentioned that she has

lost seven babies in infancy. Now her lost seven babies in infancy. Now her only surviving child is behaving only surviving child is behaving strangely and is ill. Rebecca has eleven strangely and is ill. Rebecca has eleven children and twenty-six grandchildren, children and twenty-six grandchildren, all of whom seem to be healthy.all of whom seem to be healthy.

CharacterizationCharacterization

Notice how Proctor is very vocal about his Notice how Proctor is very vocal about his displeasure with Parris’s actions, but allows displeasure with Parris’s actions, but allows Rebecca to silence him. What does this show Rebecca to silence him. What does this show about Proctor’s character? Rebecca Nurse?about Proctor’s character? Rebecca Nurse?

His reaction clearly reveals that he respects her. His reaction clearly reveals that he respects her. The fact that a man like Proctor will defer to her is The fact that a man like Proctor will defer to her is

testament to Rebecca’s wisdom and strength of testament to Rebecca’s wisdom and strength of character.character.

Rebecca is the “voice of reason” in the play.Rebecca is the “voice of reason” in the play.

Irony Irony – referring to how a person, situation, – referring to how a person, situation, statement, or circumstance is not as it would actually statement, or circumstance is not as it would actually

seemseem Parris: “Parris: “I do not preach for children, Rebecca. I do not preach for children, Rebecca.

It is not the children who are unmindful of It is not the children who are unmindful of their obligation toward this ministry.”their obligation toward this ministry.”

How is this statement ironic given what we How is this statement ironic given what we know already in the play?know already in the play? Parris has little understanding of children and Parris has little understanding of children and

sees no reason to instruct them, yet it is the sees no reason to instruct them, yet it is the young girls who are trying to commune with the young girls who are trying to commune with the devil. In an effort to conceal their misbehavior, devil. In an effort to conceal their misbehavior, they set in motion events that will wreak havoc on they set in motion events that will wreak havoc on Salem.Salem.

SummarySummary

Summarize the argument between Rev. Summarize the argument between Rev. Parris and John Proctor.Parris and John Proctor.

Parris argues that the authority of the Parris argues that the authority of the church is supreme. Church members must church is supreme. Church members must obey the pastor or chaos will ensue. obey the pastor or chaos will ensue.

Proctor argues that individual conscience Proctor argues that individual conscience is the final authority. Every church is the final authority. Every church member has the right to say what he member has the right to say what he believes.believes.

IronyIrony Parris: “Why would he choose my house to Parris: “Why would he choose my house to

strike? We have all manner of licentious strike? We have all manner of licentious people in the village!”people in the village!”

Hale: “It is the best the Devil wants, and Hale: “It is the best the Devil wants, and who is better than the minister?”who is better than the minister?”

What is ironic here?What is ironic here? Parris asks why the devil would choose his Parris asks why the devil would choose his

house when there are so many less worthy house when there are so many less worthy people in Salem. He does not recognize this people in Salem. He does not recognize this own lack of good character. own lack of good character.

Hale’s question assumes that the minister Hale’s question assumes that the minister must be the best person in the village, an must be the best person in the village, an assumption at odds with the facts.assumption at odds with the facts.

Thinking CriticallyThinking Critically

Who is the first person to name Who is the first person to name specific individuals? specific individuals? Thomas PutnamThomas Putnam

What can you infer from this?What can you infer from this? Sarah Good and Osburn are people Sarah Good and Osburn are people

whom the Putnams do not like or whom the Putnams do not like or against whom the Putnams have against whom the Putnams have grievances.grievances.

IronyIrony

Hale: “You are God’s instrument put in our Hale: “You are God’s instrument put in our hands to discover the Devil’s agents among hands to discover the Devil’s agents among us. You are selected, Tituba, you are us. You are selected, Tituba, you are chosen to help us cleanse our village.”chosen to help us cleanse our village.”

Identify the irony.Identify the irony.

He tells Tituba that she is God’s instrument He tells Tituba that she is God’s instrument doing his work and helping cleanse the village. doing his work and helping cleanse the village. In reality, he is persuading her to make false In reality, he is persuading her to make false accusations of witchcraft against innocent accusations of witchcraft against innocent people.people.

Responding to LiteratureResponding to Literature

How does Tituba first respond to How does Tituba first respond to Hale’s accusation of witchcraft? How Hale’s accusation of witchcraft? How does she change her response? Why does she change her response? Why might she, as well as Abigail and might she, as well as Abigail and Betty, make accusations at the end of Betty, make accusations at the end of Act 1?Act 1? At first Tituba denies any dealings with At first Tituba denies any dealings with

the devil. She later says that the devil the devil. She later says that the devil tempted her and showed her others who tempted her and showed her others who were in his service. They might hope to were in his service. They might hope to avoid punishment by accusing others.avoid punishment by accusing others.

Responding to LiteratureResponding to Literature

What is the overall What is the overall atmosphereatmosphere, or , or prevailing mood, of Act 1? How does prevailing mood, of Act 1? How does Miller create this atmosphere?Miller create this atmosphere?

Terror, suspense, mystery, tension.Terror, suspense, mystery, tension. Miller creates the atmosphere through Miller creates the atmosphere through

the fears expressed by the characters the fears expressed by the characters or through the underlying tension and or through the underlying tension and mistrust that runs through the mistrust that runs through the dialogue.dialogue.