John
Proctor -
A local farmer who lives just outside town; Elizabeth Proctor’s husband. A
stern, harsh-tongued man, John hates hypocrisy. Nevertheless, he has a hidden
sin—his affair with Abigail Williams—that proves his downfall. When the
hysteria begins, he hesitates to expose Abigail as a fraud because he worries
that his secret will be revealed and his good name ruined.
Abigail
Williams -
Reverend Parris’s niece. Abigail was once the servant for the Proctor
household, but Elizabeth Proctor fired her after she discovered that Abigail was
having an affair with her husband, John Proctor. Abigail is smart, wily, a good
liar, and vindictive when crossed.
Reverend John Hale -
A young minister reputed to be an expert on witchcraft. Reverend Hale is called
in to Salem to examine Parris’s daughter Betty. Hale is a committed Christian
and hater of witchcraft. His critical mind and intelligence save him from
falling into blind fervor. His arrival sets the hysteria in motion, although he
later regrets his actions and attempts to save the lives of those accused.
Elizabeth Proctor -
John Proctor’s wife. Elizabeth fired Abigail when she discovered that her
husband was having an affair with Abigail. Elizabeth is supremely virtuous, but
often cold.
Reverend Parris -
The minister of Salem’s church. Reverend Parris is a paranoid, power-hungry,
yet oddly self-pitying figure. Many of the townsfolk, especially John Proctor,
dislike him, and Parris is very concerned with building his position in the
community.
Rebecca Nurse -
Francis Nurse’s wife. Rebecca is a wise, sensible, and upright woman, held in
tremendous regard by most of the Salem community. However, she falls victim to
the hysteria when the Putnams accuse her of witchcraft and she refuses to
confess.
Francis
Nurse -
A wealthy, influential man in Salem. Nurse is well respected by most people in
Salem, but is an enemy of Thomas Putnam and his wife.
Judge Danforth -
The Deputy Governor of Massachusetts and the presiding judge at the witch
trials. Honest and scrupu-lous, at least in his own mind, Danforth is convinced
that he is doing right in rooting out witchcraft.
Giles Corey -
An elderly but feisty farmer in Salem, famous for his tendency to file lawsuits.
Giles’s wife, Martha, is accused of witchcraft, and he himself is eventually
held in con-tempt of court and pressed to death with large stones.
Thomas Putnam -
A wealthy, influential citizen of Salem, Putnam holds a grudge against Francis
Nurse for preventing Putnam’s brother-in-law from being elected to the office
of minister. He uses the witch trials to increase his own wealth by accusing
people of witchcraft and then buying up their land.
Ann Putnam -
Thomas Putnam’s wife. Ann Putnam has given birth to eight children, but only
Ruth Putnam survived. The other seven died before they were a day old, and Ann
is con-vinced that they were murdered by supernatural means.
Ruth Putnam -
The Putnams’ lone surviving child out of eight. Like Betty Parris, Ruth falls
into a strange stupor after Reverend Parris catches her and the other girls
dancing in the woods at night.
Tituba -
Reverend Parris’s black slave from Barbados. Tituba agrees to perform voodoo
at Abigail’s request.
Mary Warren -
The servant in John Proctor’s household and a member of Abigail’s group of
girls. She is a timid girl, easily influenced by those around her.
Betty Parris -
Reverend Parris’s ten-year-old daughter. Betty falls into a strange stupor
after Parris catches her and the other girls dancing in the forest with Tituba.
Her illness and that of Ruth Putnam fuel the first rumors of witchcraft.
Martha Corey -
Giles Corey’s third wife. Martha’s reading habits lead to her arrest and
conviction for witchcraft.
Ezekiel Cheever -
A man from Salem who acts as clerk of the court during the witch trials. He is
upright and determined to do his duty for justice.
Judge Hathorne -
A judge who presides, along with Danforth, over the witch trials.
Herrick -
The marshal of Salem.
Mercy Lewis -
The servant in Thomas Putnam’s household. Mercy belongs to Abigail’s group
of girls.
Acts I
and II:
1. As the
play opens Rev. Parris is questioning his niece. What is he questioning her
about and what exactly is his real concern?
2.
Explain in detail the relationship of John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, and
Abigail Williams.
3. What
is the function of Rebecca Nurse in the play?
4.
Exactly why is Rev. Hale in Salem?
5. a) Why
does Abigail Williams accuse people at the end of Act I?
b)Why
does Betty Parris accuse people?
6. List
the conflicts that are introduced in Act I. Which do you think is the major
conflict? Give reasons for your answers.
7. List
the major characters introduced in Act I. Identify each and write a one sentence
description of his or her personality.
8.Why
doesn't John Proctor tell the court immediately what he knows concerning what
has been happening?
9. Give
three reasons for Elizabeth's suspicions concerning her husband.
10. What
does Mary Warren mean when she exclaims,"I saved her life today"?
11. When
Elizabeth is taken away in chains, John Proctor tries to convince Mary Warren to
testify against Abigail. a) What does Mary Warren warn him will happen if he
testifies against Abigail?
b) What
does he eventually decide to do and why?
Acts III
and IV:
12. What
two pieces of evidence regarding his Christian nature are presented against
Proctor?
13.
Discuss the phrase "Do that which is good, and no harm shall come to
thee."
14. a)
What accusation does Giles Corey make about Thomas Putnam.
b) What
proof does he have?
c) What
is he then asked to do because of that accusation?
d) Why
does he refuse, and what happens to him because of that refusal?
15.
Explain how Danforth decides to test John's accusation of Abigail and discuss
the irony of what happens.
16. What
does John Proctor mean when he says,"God is dead"?
17.
a)Discuss why Rev. Hale returns to Salem.
b) What
he has been doing in Andover, and what he is now advising the condemned to do
and his reasons for doing so.
18. a)
Why does John Proctor finally decide to confess? b) How does he rationalize his
decision?
c) What
is Elizabeth's reaction to that decision?
19. What
is meant by "There is blood on my head"?
20.
Discuss "I am John Proctor! You will not use me!"