John Proctor

Honest, hardworking man who wants the best for his family. I have a crop to sow and lumber to drag home His honesty and hardworking attitude contrasts his character to that of the rest of the village. He sees sense and the truth and seeks justice and recognises the lies in the Salem witch trials. He wants the best for his family and he wants to protect them. (Snatching the warrant) (ripping the warrant) Out with you! I will bring you home. I will bring you soon. Upon Elizabeths accusation, he destroys the warrant with aggressive action, which causes great shock, as the warrant is property of the town officials. His affair with Abigail is of lust, rather than of love. Sweated like a stallion whenever I (Abigail) come near! Lust is one of the seven deadly sins. Proctor commits two sins; the sin of adultery and the sin of lust. This animalistic imagery suggests the raw lust that exists in the relationship. Still has feelings for Abigail Williams and tries hard to push them away. (Smile widening) Ah youre wicked yet arent y His smile widening shows how he is amused and attracted to Abigail by the wicked schemes and wicked personality she has. Feels guilty about the relationship with Abigail Williams. She cannot think it! (He knows it is true) Proctor tries to dismiss the claims Elizabeth makes of her purposely accusing Elizabeth. Proctor does not want to admit to the consequences of his affair with her. Tries hard to please Elizabeth, as he feels so guilty for committing adultery with Abigail. Takes a pinch of salt, and drops it in the pot Ill buy Jacobs heifer. How would that please you? The addition of the salt is symbolic of their relationship; love needs to be added to their relationship. He goes tiptoe around the house to please her. Its winter in here yet The relationship between them is cold, but he sees hope for change; John tries hard to be constructive in their relationship. The conversation between them is stalled, with pauses and short sentences. This shows how fragile their relationship is. Ironically forgets the commandment of adultery being a sin. Elizabeth says(Delicately) Adultery John She has to prompt Proctor as he feels so guilty, he does not want to mention the sin he has committed, so therefore attempts to forget about it completely. Proctors character breaks away from the conventional paranoia of the time. Strange work for a Christian girl to hang old women! Proctor is a practical man and speaks with a practical voice, which reflects his down-to-earth personality. This practical voice is seen only in Proctors character, as he sees through the lies. Golden candlesticks upon the altar You hardly mention God anymore preach hellfire and bloody damnation Proctor also sees through Parris character of irony, corruption, greed and his illogical ideas. So much so that instead of conforming to the outward signs of religion because Proctor cannot stand the greed and hypocrisy of Reverend Parris, he does not attend church.

John Proctor is not very well educated. I never said no such thing The uses of these double negatives suggest that his education has not been thorough. Proctor displays typical male domination, which was common of a Puritan society. Now we must be wise, Elizabeth Sit you down The use of imperatives shows that he takes control of the situation, by commanding her. Proctor values his good name very much. Because it speaks deceit, and I am honest He is reluctant to reveal his relationship with Abigail for fear of spoiling his good name. Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! I have given you my soul; leave me my name! Proctor wants to save his integrity and reputation and dies to keep it. Proctor values his good name, however his desire to save Elizabeth is greater. I have known her. His confession of his affair with Abigail is dramatic and shows how his love for Elizabeth is strong. Proctor sees through the lies and paranoia of witchcraft. However, ironically, he is blind and does not understand the consequences of his affair with Abigail. Then how do you charge me with such a promise? I think she sees another meaning in that blush John Proctor begs forgiveness from his wife. Although she wants to forgive him, she understands Abigails interpretation of their affair, which has bound Abigail and Proctor together in ways Proctor fails to understand. This is Proctors fault. His faults and mistakes are all linked with the affair.

Elizabeth Proctor
Her character is first introduced to use by Abigail Williams as a cold-hearted woman. Its a bitter woman, a lying, old, snivelling woman. Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar! Abigail soils Elizabeths name in the village, this suggests the strong emotion of jealousy that Abigail has and her strong envy of Goody Proctor for her marriage to John Proctor. She is a dutiful, hard working and honest wife. She brings plate to the table Cider? Aye! She continues her duties as a wife to Proctor, although she has knowledge of his infidelity and affair with Abigail. This effectively demonstrates her faithfulness and knowledge of her place in Puritan society. The relationship between herself and Proctor is weak. There is no love in their relationship. He gets up, goes to her, kisses her. She receives it. She receives the kiss like a duty; she is obliged to do so. There is no passion between them. She is suspicious of John Proctor as a result of his affair. You come so late, I thought youd gone to Salem this afternoon. She does not want to cause trouble between them, she wants to keep a relationship although it is fragile, she cannot hold her suspicion in.

Abigail Williams

Reverend Parris
He is anxious and desperate at the start of the play. A sense of his confusion lies about him Clergymen are figures of authority (especially in a Puritan society like Salem), so they are expected to be calm, however Parris agitated stage directions create a tension in the audience. Then seems about to weep He mumbles Again, a figure of high authority is seen weeping, this emphasises his desperation and creates a tense atmosphere. Mumbling creates a quiet, dark atmosphere, also adding tension. Will you wake, will you wake, will you wake? The repetition of short pieces of dialogue, accompanied by short brakes and pauses, suggest panting, which in turn suggests desperation. Hysteria is projected by Parris in Act 1. Scrambling to his feet in a fury The use of the verb scrambling suggests desperation of a hysterical nature, and as this unexpected behaviour is seen from the Reverend, the audience understand the severity of the situation. Parris character displays some ironic faults. Some years as a merchant, Negro slave The irony here is that although he is a devout Christian (so therefore a man with morals), he is involved with the slave trade. This background is symbolic and foreshadows the mistakes and wrong decisions he will make. His previous years as a merchant makes an early connection to his interest in money and his greedy nature. The theme of blindness and the inability to see the truth is portrayed through the character of Parris. Out of my sight! Sight (or lack of) and the theme of blindness are important throughout the play; everyone is blind and nobody sees the truth. Clamps his teeth, closes the door and leans against it Parris action of closing the door is symbolic of him closing and not accepting the truth of the Salem witch trials. Parris, being a Reverend, is meant to offer support, however his action of leaning against the door is symbolic of the fact that he does not offer support in the play.

Character Summaries
John Proctor A farmer in Salem, Proctor serves as the voice of reason and justice in The Crucible. It is he who exposes the girls as frauds who are only pretending that there is witchcraft, and thus becomes the tragic hero of the tale. Proctor is a sharply intelligent man who can easily detect foolishness in others and expose it, but he questions his own moral sense. Because of his affair with Abigail Williams, Proctor questions whether or not he is a moral man, yet this past event is the only major flaw attributed to Proctor, who is in all other respects honorable and ethical. It is a sign of his morality that he does not feel himself adequate to place himself as a martyr for the cause of justice when he is given the choice to save himself at the end of the play. Elizabeth Proctor The wife of John Proctor, Elizabeth shares with John a similarly strict adherence to justice and moral principles She is a woman who has great confidence in her own morality and in the ability of a person to maintain a sense of righteousness, both internal and external, even when this principle conflicts with strict Christian doctrine. Although she is regarded as a woman of unimpeachable honesty, it is this reputation that causes her husband to be condemned when she lies about his affair with Abigail, thinking it will save him. However, Elizabeth can be a cold and demanding woman, whose chilly demeanor may have driven her husband to adultery and whose continual suspicions of her husband render their marriage tense. Abigail Williams A seventeen year-old girl who is the niece of Reverend Parris, Abigail was the Proctors' servant before Elizabeth fired her for having an affair with John. She is a malicious, vengeful girl who, in an attempt to protect herself from punishment after Reverend Parris finds them dancing, instigates the Salem witch trials and leads the charge of accusations. Despite her accusations, Abigail is an unabashed liar who charges witchcraft against those who oppose her, even Elizabeth Proctor in an attempt to take her place as Proctor's wife. Abigail's callous nature stems partially from past trauma; she is an orphan who watched as her parents were murdered by Indians. Deputy Governor Danforth The deputy governor of Massachusetts presides over the Salem witch trials. He is a stern yet practical man more interested in preserving the dignity and stature of the court than in executing justice or behaving with any sense of fairness. He approaches the witchcraft trials with a strict adherence to rules and law that obscure any sense of rationality, for under his legal dictates an accusation of witchery automatically entails a conviction. Danforth shows that his greatest interest is preserving the reputation of the court when he prompts Proctor to sign a confession, thus precluding the backlash of his execution. Reverend Samuel Parris A weak, paranoid and suspicious demagogue, Parris instigates the witchcraft panic when he finds his daughter and niece dancing in the woods with several other girls. Parris is continually beset with fears that others conspire against him. Parris knows the truth that Abigail is lying about the dancing and the witchcraft, but perpetuates the deception because it is in his own self interest. Parris fears any defense against the charges of witchcraft as an attack upon the court and a personal attack on him. As a pastor, his primary concern is personal aggrandizement - he strives for monetary compensation, including the deed to the preacher's house and expensive candlesticks.

Reverend John Hale A scholar from Beverly, Reverend Hale comes to Salem on Reverend Parris' request to investigate supernatural causes for Betty Parris' suspicious illness and thus instigates the rumors of witchcraft. Hale approaches the situation precisely and intellectually, believing that he can define the supernatural in definitive terms. Despite his early enthusiasm for discerning the presence of witchcraft in Salem, Hale soon grows disillusioned with the witchcraft accusations that abound and defends Proctor when he challenges Abigail. Hale does this out of guilt, for he fears that he may have caused the execution of innocent persons. Giles Corey An irascible and combative old resident of Salem, Giles Corey is a comic figure in The Crucible whose fate turns tragic when he unwittingly effects his wife's charge for witchcraft when he wonders aloud about the strange books she reads at night. Corey is a frequent plaintiff in court, having brought dozens of lawsuits, and he stands with Proctor in challenging the girls' accusations, believing that Thomas Putnam is using charges of witchcraft to secure land. When Corey refuses to name the person who heard Putnam declare these intentions, Corey is charged with contempt of court and dies when the court orders him to be weighted with stones to coerce him to admit the name. Mary Warren The eighteen year-old servant in the Proctor household, Mary is one of the girls found dancing in the woods and is complicit in Abigail Williams' schemes. Although weak and tentative, she challenges the Proctors when they forbid her to go to court. However, Mary eventually breaks down and testifies against Abigail until Abigail charges her with witchery. She is a pliable girl whose actions are easily determined by others. Tituba Parris' slave from Barbados, Tituba was with the girls when they danced and attempted to conjure the spirits of Ann Putnam's dead children. She is the first person accused of witchcraft and likewise the first person to accuse others of witchery - particularly when she discovers that the easiest way to spare herself is to admit to the charges no matter their truth. Thomas Putnam One of the wealthiest landowners in Salem, Thomas Putnam is a vindictive, bitter man who holds longstanding grudges against many of the citizens of Salem, including the Nurse family for blocking the appointment of his brother-in-law to the position of minister. Putnam pushes his daughter to charge witchcraft against George Jacobs, for if he is executed, his land will be open for Putnam to purchase. Rebecca Nurse One of the most noble and well-respected citizens of Salem, this elderly woman is kindly and sane, suggesting that Betty's illness is simply a product of being out too late in the cold. However, because she served as midwife to Mrs. Putnam, Rebecca Nurse is charged with the supernatural murder of Putnam's children, who were each stillborn. Rebecca Nurse is the clear martyr in the play, the most pure and saintly character hanged for witchery. Judge Hathorne Hathorne is the judge who presides over the Salem witch trials. He remains largely subservient to Deputy Governor Danforth, but applies the same tortured reasoning to charges of witchcraft.

Francis Nurse Francis is the husband of Rebecca Nurse, and a well-respected wealthy landowner in Salem. Francis Nurse joins Giles Corey and John Proctor in their challenge against the court when their respective wives are charged with witchcraft. Betty Parris The young teenager daughter of Reverend Parris, Betty falls mysteriously ill after Reverend Parris finds her dancing in the woods with Abigail and the other young women of Salem. She goes into hysterics when the charges of witchcraft first form, holding delusions that she can fly and exclaiming with horror when she hears the name of Jesus. Sarah Good One of the first women charged with witchery by the girls, she is a homeless woman who confesses to witchcraft to save herself and continues the charade with Tituba, comically claiming that Satan will take her and Tituba to Barbados. Ezekiel Cheever Ezekiel is a clerk of the court who serves the arrest warrants to the persons charged with witchcraft. Mrs. Ann Putnam The wife of Thomas Putnam, Ann suspects that there is some paranormal reason for the stillborn deaths of seven of her children and blames Rebecca Nurse. Mercy Lewis Mercy Lewis is the Putnam's servant - a fat, sly merciless eighteen year-old girl whom Parris found naked when he spied the girls dancing in the woods. She runs away with Abigail at the end of the play. Susanna Walcott Susanna is one of the girls whom Parris found dancing in the woods, and a confidant of Abigail. Marshal Herrick Marshal is one of the local constables who guards the jail cells while nearly drunk. Hopkins Hopkins is one of the guards at the jail cell.

Dramatic Devices
Miller creates an atmosphere of fear and hysteria. Act One: Tituba Rocking and weeping pants, and begins rocking back and forth The stage directions used to describe Titubas actions show how she enters a hysterical state. Such behaviour can then be linked to witch craft, as it is of an unnatural state. Betty is rising from the bed fever in her eyes chant Abigail enraptured in a pearly light A dramatic action is created, with Betty rising in a hypnotised-like state. This action (along with chanting) is stereotypically associated with witchcraft in a Puritan society, creating hysteria. Act Three: As though hypnotised staring full front Hypnosis is linked to witchcraft in a Puritan society, therefore this creates an atmosphere of hysteria (and the use of such unnatural behaviour). Transfixed whimpering pointing open mouthed agape yellow bird The use of these stage directions is effective in implying that an invisible force is controlling them. The use of the colour yellow is effective in creating the hysterical atmosphere, as it is a bright colour, thus emphasising the confusion in not being able to see it. Yellow also suggests possible danger. Miller uses contrasting characters. Elizabeth and Abigail The earnest, plain, loyal, hurt wife Elizabeth Proctor contrasts with the devious, manipulative, sensual teenager Abigail Williams. Abigail: "Think you be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits? Beware of it! Elizabeth: "If you think that I am one, then I say there are none." We can imagine that the actresses behave and speak in strongly contrasting ways. Abigail is moody, aggressive, and defiant; Elizabeth is quiet, restrained, and modestly firm. This can be seen in Abigail's defiant response to Danforth's questioning of her and can be compared with Elizabeth's firm response to Hale's question about witches. Proctor and Parris Parris It is not for you to say what is good for you to hear! Proctor I may speak my heart, I think! The self-righteous and falsely pious clergyman Reverend Parris, contrasts strongly with the rough, plain-speaking farmer John Proctor and they clash frequently.

Structural Devices

Linguistic Devices