Act One

1. Outline the basic problem that exists for the community of Salem
at the start of Act 1.
The inhabitants of Salem lived in a very restrictive community, a society
founded upon religious intolerance. In Act 1, it was apparent that the
townspeople all had their own hidden motives, including Putnams
longstanding grudge against others, and Abigails villainy towards Mrs
Proctor. In addition, Miller developed several significant themes in the first
act, one of which was the speed in which rumours spread across Salem.
Salem was depicted as a community in which all information was open to
suspicion and question.
2. Why had the people of Salem begun to turn toward individualism
despite being a theocracy?
Despite the theocracy that existed in Salem where government and
religious authority were inseparable, the people of Salem began to turn
towards individualism due to their self-interests. It was established that
the townspeople were willing to opt for whichever position that suited their
desires. For instance, Abigail William demonstrates her ability to affirm or
deny of any charges against her, depending on her needs. In order to save
her reputation in town, she denied of any incidents resulting in her
dismissal by the Proctors.
3. How does Miller characterise Parris? How does Parris feel about
his parishioners?
Miller characterises Parris as a man whose first priority is his reputation
and status within the Salem community, rather than the wellbeing of his
daughter, Betty. Even though he was aware that the girls were telling lies,
he refused to speak up in fear of damaging his name, as any charges
against the girls would reflect upon him, lowering his position as a pastor.
Parris is portrayed to lack authenticity and sincerity towards his
parishioners, or anyone at all. As long as they can assist him in
consolidating his power and not pose a threat to his stature in the town,
he may show care towards them. This is evident when the townspeople
admitted to have shunned church on a regular basis as a result of his
sermons of hellfire and damnation.
4. Why is Thomas Putnam willing to speak of witchcraft? How does
Mrs Putnam know what Ruth was doing in the woods?
Thomas Putnam is willing to speak of witchcraft due to his motivation of
holding longstanding grudges against others. The witch trials offer him an
opportunity to obtain revenge on those he despises. This is evident in the

description of him, as he was described to have his name so often found

as a witness corroborating the super-natural testimony. Mrs Putnam knew
what Ruth was doing in the woods as she was the one who told Ruth to ask
Tituba to bring her other children from the dead.
5. Why does Abigail admit that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring
spirits? Why is Abigail afraid the others will confess what they
were doing in the woods? How does Abigail treat the other girls?
How does she treat her uncle?
Abigail admits that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in order to put
the burden on them and shift the blame away from herself. She is afraid
the others will confess what they were doing in the woods as this would
incriminate her, and consequently ruin her reputation. She acts like an
authoritative and manipulative figure, bullying the girls into doing
whatever favours her. Meanwhile, in front of her uncle, Parris, she acts
innocent and treats him with respect, to avoid any suspicions towards her.
6. What are Abigails feelings towards John Proctor? Why is she
antagonistic toward Elizabeth Proctor? Why has she been asked to
leave her home? Why does she tell John what happened to Betty?
Abigail claims to have romantic feelings towards John Proctor, as they
have a brief affair during her time with the Proctors. Because of this, she is
antagonistic towards Elizabeth Proctor, as she envies her being John
Proctors wife and also sees her as an impediment to her happiness.
Abigail was dismissed from the Proctors house, as Elizabeth suspected
that Abigail and John were having an affair. Abigail confesses to John about
what happened to Betty as she believes confiding in him will bring him
closer to her.
7. Why do Proctor and Rebecca speak out against Hales coming?
Why has Proctor set himself against Parris? How does Rebeccas
departure affect those waiting at the bedside?
Proctor and Rebecca spoke out against Hales coming as they did not
believe the situation was serious enough to require an outsider to resolve
their communitys affairs. Proctor set himself against Parris, admitting to
have avoided attending church on a regular basis, due to Parris constant
focus on Hell and damnation rather than God and Heaven. Rebeccas
departure had a negative effect on those waiting at the bedside, as the
lack of her positivity lead to the situation becoming more hostile.
8. Why does Abigail accuse Tituba? Why does Hale believe Abigail
rather than Tituba? How does he lead Tituba into naming names?
Why do Abigail and Betty name names?
Abigail accuses Tituba as she is likely to be involved in performing
witchcraft, and as well as the fact that she is from a foreign country
outside of the community, she is considered as different. Tituba is also in a

powerless position due to her being a slave, allowing her to be the perfect
scapegoat for Abigails crimes, as the townspeople are more likely to
believe Abigail. This is the reason why Hale believes Abigail rather than
Tituba, whom does not have the full trust within the community.
Furthermore, Tituba originates from a heathen society, so therefore she is
likely to perform heathen practises, i.e. witchcraft. This leads to Tituba into
naming names, as he asked her if she loves Jesus, and if she loved Jesus
she would provide him the names. On the other hand, Abigail and Betty
name names due to their fear of getting caught, and also to divert the
attention from themselves.
9. Create brief character profiles of the characters mentioned in Act
1. Include background information and anything else that you find
relevant or interesting about that character.
Name
Reverend Parris

Abigail Williams

Betty Parris

Background
Information
He is a weak, paranoid
and suspicious orator,
instigating the witchcraft
panic when he discovers
his daughter and niece
dancing in the woods.
Hes main concern is
himself, hiding the truth
about Abigail dancing
and the witchcraft, in
order to save his own
name
17 year old girl, the niece
of Reverend Parris. She
was Proctors servant
before she was fired for
having an affair with
John. She is a malicious,
vengeful girl who, in
attempt to protect herself
from punishment after
Parris caught them
dancing, she instigates
the Salem witch trials
and leads the charge of
accusations.
10 year old daughter of
Reverend Parris, she
mysteriously falls ill after

Interesting Facts

She is an orphan who

watched as her parents
were murdered by
Indians, resulting in her
Abigails callous nature.

John Proctor

Rebecca Nurse

Thomas Putnam

Ann Putnam

Giles Corey

dancing in the woods

with Abigail and the other
girls 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.
A 35 year old farmer in
Salem, serving as the
voice of reason and
justice. He was the one
who exposes the girls as
frauds, and thus becomes
the tragic hero of the
tale.
One of the most noble
and well-respected
people in Salem, she
suggested that Bettys
illness is simply the result
of being out too late in
the cold.
He is one of the
wealthiest landowners in
Salem. Putnam is a bitter
man who holds
longstanding grudges
against many citizens of
Salem.
Thomas Putnams wife,
she suspects that there is
some paranormal reason
for the stillborn deaths of
seven of her children and
blames Rebecca Nurse
for the occurrence.
A combative old resident
of Salem, a comic figure
whose fat turns traffic
when he unwittingly
effects his wides charge
for witchcraft when he
wonders aloud about the
strange books she reads
at night.

She was the martyr in the

play, the more pure and
saintly character hanged
for witchery.

N/A

He dies when the court

orders him to be
weighted with stones to
coerce him to admit the
name.

Mary Warren

Mercy Lewis

Reverend Hale

Tituba

Susanna Walcott

She is the 18 year old

servant in the Proctor
household, and also one
of the girls found dancing
in the woods and is
complicit in Abigails
schemes.
Putnams servant a fat,
sly, merciless 18 year old
girl whom Parris found
naked when he spied the
girls dancing in the
woods.
A scholar from Beverly,
he comes to Salem on
Parris request to
investigate supernatural
causes for Bettys illness
and thus instigates
rumours of witchcraft.
Reverend Parris slave
from Barbados, she was
with the girls when they
danced and attempted to
conjure the spirits of Ann
Putnams dead babies.
One of the girls whom
Parris found dancing in
the woods, and a
confidant of Abigail

She is a pliable girl whose

actions are easily
determined by others.

She runs away with

Abigail at the end of the
play.

Hale soon grows

disillusioned with the
witchcraft accusations
that abound and defends
Proctor when he
challenges Abigail.
First person to be
accused of witchcraft and
likewise the first person
to accuse others of
witchery.
N/A

10.
Draw a diagram, outlining the different relationships
between the characters featured in Act 1 in your books. Under
each character, include important information about the nature of
their relationships with others in the diagram.

Reverend
Parris
Uncle of
Abigail
Williams
Had an affair
with

Ann
Putnam

John
Proctor

Father of

Threatens to lie

Thomas
Putnam
Married to

Slave
of

Refuses to invite

Titu
ba

Betty

Susanna
Walcott
Mercy
Lewis

Argues about
property

Rebecca
Nurse
Leads her to name
names

Reverend
Hale

Mary
Warren

Giles
Corey

11.
What evidence can you gather of Puritan beliefs and
attitudes that influence the action in this act?
Salem is a Puritan society; where in the sense of community is high
stressed, as a result of shared experiences and beliefs. In this act, it is
apparent that the church and the theocratic government are regarded as
one. As a sermon serves to teach a biblical lesson, the government
reinforces the percept of the sermon. In addition, material and sexual
desires were also considered to be unnatural and evil according to Puritan
beliefs. Therefore, the Salem community punishes anyone that worked
against God, and whoever purses material and sexual gratification. This is
demonstrated in The Crucible, as people worked their ways around these
rules, in order to obtain what they want, regardless of the consequences.
They even manipulated this to the detriment of others, especially those
they hold grudges against.