The Crucible Notes

Act II

49: Elizabeth and Proctor scene

· adds salt to her stew, then later tells her “It’s well seasoned.” She responds “I took great care”

o trying to be so kind, forced

o later, “I mean to please you, Elizabeth”

o “it is hard to say: I know it, John.”

· 51: a sense of their separation rises

o “You come so late I thought you’d gone to Salem this afternoon.”

o “The Deputy Governonr promise hangin’ if they’ll not confess, John. The town’s gone wild, I think. She speak of Abigain, and I thought she were a saint, to her her. Abigail brings the other girls into the court, and where whe walks the crowd will part like the sea for Israel. And folks are brought before them, and if they scream and howl and fall to the floor—the person’s clapped in the jail for bewitchin’ them.” 52-53 (reflect)

· seem united in their response to the craziness, until Proctor mentions he discussed it with Abigail alone

§ “Woman . . . I’ll not have your suspicion any more.”

§ “Then let you not earn it”

§ “Spare me! You forget nothin’ and forgive nothin’. Learn charity, woman. I have gone tiptoe in this house all seven month since she is gone. . .”

§ “No more! I should have roared you down when first you told me your suspicioun. Bit I wilted, and, like a Christian, I confessed. Confessed! Some dream I had must have mistaken you for God that day. But you’re not, you’re not, and let you remember it! Let you look sometimes for the goodness in me, and judge me not” 55 – Elizabeth: “I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you but a good man, John—with a smile—only somewhat bewildered.” think write

· Mary Warren updates them—thirty-nine in the jail now

o Confessions?

o 57—Mary’s versions

o proof 58

o “I saved her life today” 59

· Hale’s vision of the situation in Salem

o “And in my ignorance I find it hard to draw a clear opinion of them that come accused before the court.” 63 – but once he asks a few questions, he knows exactly?

o “No man may longer doubt the powers of the dark are gathered in monstrous attack upon this village. There is too much evidence now to deny it.” 64 irony

o “But the Devil is a wily one, you cannot deny it.” 64 irony

o “The man’s ordained, therefore the light of God is in him” 66 the world is black and white

· Judgement

o Hale judges Elizabeth “I do not judge you. My duty is to add what I may to the godly wisdom of the court.”

o Elizabeth judges Proctor

· Proctor: admits he may have been too hard on Parris and may have sinned and may have forgotten one of the 10 commandments (that he should have remembered), but no love of the devil

o No direct, causal link between the questions Hale asks and what he’d trying to determine

· Hale can’t believe that Abby would have said that the adventures in the forest had nothing to do with witchcraft because Titbua and Sarah Good confessed to witchcraft. Ignores the fact that they may have confessed to avoid hanging

· Proctor and Elizabeth don’t really believe in witches—seen as sinful

· Giles’ wife and Rebecca Nurse arrested for murder of Mrs. Putnam’s babies

o Hale: “if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing’s left to stop the whole green world from burning” 71 then goes on to “I have seen too many frightful proofs in court—the Devil is alive in Salem” 71

· Abigail’s accusation of Elizabeth: a clear fraud, but Cheever will not see reason. He hears Mary confess to having made the doll and put the pin in it in front of Abby, only hears Elizabeth say “The girl is murder! She must be ripped out of the world!” 76

· Elizabeth’s character: strong, rational, moral

· Proctor: “Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this morning as clean as God’s fingers? I’ll tell you what’s walking in Salem—vengeance is walking in Salem.” 77

· Why doesn’t Hale say anything when he knows it’s a fraud

· Proctor; “My wife will never die for me! I will bring your guts into your mouth but that goodness will not die for me!” What is he willing to sacrifice, do you believe him? How is he changing?