The Crucible Act III

March 15, 2011

1. Why do Giles and Francis want to talk to Danforth?

• They go to try to persuade the judge that their wives are good women, not witches.

2. What is Parris's argument against Proctor?

• Parris says that Proctor is trying to overthrow the court.

3. What does Mary tell Danforth?

• "It were pretense, sir." The girls have been lying.

4. When Danforth hears that Elizabeth is pregnant, what does he allow?

• He allows her time to see if her "natural signs" appear. If they do not, and she is truly pregnant, he will allow her one year before she is hanged, to have her baby. The point is that if Proctor is just trying to save Elizabeth, he need not continue with his arguments; she is saved for another year.

5. What paper did ninety-one people sign?

• They signed that Rebecca, Elizabeth and Martha were all good, upstanding, God-loving citizens.

6. ". . . a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between.“

Explain the importance of Danforth's statement.

• Danforth (and the Puritan doctrine) left no room for in-between cases. Either people were witches or they weren't. There was no room for "appearances." If one opposed the court, one would be in contempt. There was no room for error on the part of the court and no room for question or correction of the court. It could, then, go on forever in its incorrect path.

7. What quote did Proctor use to help Mary remain brave?

• "Do that which is good, and no harm will come to thee." It is ironic in a layman's point of view that Proctor later does that which he believes to be good and yet he is hanged.

• From a religious standpoint, though, one could interpret the quote as being correct, if in fact Proctor's soul was saved.

8. Of what does Giles accuse Putnam?

• He accuses him of killing his neighbors for their land. (If a person were hanged as a witch, his or her land would go up for auction. Putnam was the only man with enough money to buy up all the land.)

9. What is Hale's problem as Proctor and his friends present evidence to Danforth?

• Hale begins to realize that Proctor and his friends have a valid point and that the people who had been accused and sentenced so far could very well have been innocent.

10. Hathorne thinks of a test for Mary. What is it? Can she do it? Why or why not?

• He asks Mary to faint, as she fainted in the courtroom. No, she can't do it in front of Hathorne on demand. She says that she was able to in the courtroom because the mood was set and she got caught up in the mood with the other girls, which enabled her to do it there.

2. Proctor calls Abigail a whore, and he confesses his lechery. Danforth tests Proctor's statement by calling for Elizabeth and

asking her why Abigail was dismissed. What doesElizabeth say?

• She lies to protect John.