The Crucible by Arthur Miller Study Guide

Act I

1. What arts/entertainments were denied to the Salem Puritans?

What does this tell us about the Puritan mind set?

2. What does Miller say the Puritans "found it necessary to" do once they arrived in America?

Do you find this ironic or hypocritical? Explain.

What did the Puritans failed to learn from the persecution of their ancestors?

3. What does Miller say on p. 1174 about individuality?

4. How and why did the Puritans of 1692 differ from those of earlier generations?

5. What three factors does Arthur Miller blame for the occurrence of the witch hunt?

6. What is a "theocracy"?

7. What does Miller say the witch trials were "a perverse manifestation" of?

8. Explain what is meant by Miller's statement that

It is still impossible for man to organize his social life without repressions, and the balance has yet to be struck between order and freedom. (1174)

Where else can we see such a statement played out in the history of this country?

9. What causes conflict between Reverend Parris and his niece?

10. Why is Reverend Parris uneasy at the beginning of the act?

11. Exactly what occurred in the forest the previous night?

12. Why has Parris sent for Reverend Hale?

13. What sad events have tormented the Putnam family?

14. What can you deduce from the fact that Ann Putnam sent Ruth to conjure with Tituba?

15. What trait does Miller say we inherited from the Puritans? (p. 1182)

16. What personal catastrophe has Goody Putnam experienced?

17. Explain the relationship between John Proctor and Abigail Williams.

18. Describe the relationship between the Putnam and Nurse families.

19. What causes the conflict between John Proctor and Reverend Parris?

20. What issue do the people of Salem seem most at odds over in Act I?

21. What is Reverend Hale's background?

22. What is "the concept of unity" as Miller explains it on p. 1189?

According to him, what few people are able to grasp this concept?

What was the cosmology of pre-Christians?

Why did the creation of a "Devil" become necessary or desirable? For what may a "Devil" be used as a weapon?

23. What causes the crying out of names at the end of the act?

Act 2

1. Why does Miller include the detail about Proctor adding salt to the rabbit stew?

2. Describe the relationship between John and Elizabeth Proctor. Cite specific details from the text to support for your view.

3. What does Elizabeth understand about Abigail's motivation?

4. Where has Mary Warren been? Why?

5. What does Mary give Elizabeth?

Later, how does this gift work against Elizabeth?

6. How does Reverend Hale test John Proctor? Does Proctor pass the test?

7. What does John Proctor finally tell Hale?

8. When Hale asks Elizabeth if she believes in witches, how does she answer?

9. What has happened to Rebecca Nurse? Why?

10. What does Hale believe the court will do?

11. What does Hale suggest is the cause of the happenings in Salem? (pp1217-1218)

What does Hale advise Proctor to do?

12. At the end of Act 2, what is Proctor determined to do?

Act 3

1. What happens when people seem to criticize the court's proceedings?

2. Explain Reverend Parris's motivation throughout this act.

3. What role does Elizabeth's pregnancy play in her status as accused?

4. Why does Proctor persist even when he hears that Elizabeth is pregnant?

5. Explain the irony In Elizabeth's testimony.

6. How has Reverend Hale changed? What does he come to realize by the end of Act 3?

7. Why does Mary Warren reverse her position?

8. What does Proctor mean in his comments at the end of the act?

Explain what happened during the "McCarthy Era."

Act 4

1. What does the behavior of Tituba and Sarah Good indicate?

2. What are the conditions of the town and countryside at this time?

3. Why has Reverend Parris disintegrated?

4. In Act IV, what is Hale's motivation for trying to get people whom he knows are innocent to confess to witchcraft anyway? Is it for their own good or for his? Explain.

5. Why do the authorities allow Elizabeth to talk with John?

6. What does Elizabeth confess to John?

What happens when John asks Elizabeth for advice?

7. Explain Proctor's inner conflict regarding the confession. Explain why he changes his mind and does not confess.

8.. How does the play conclude?

9. What does Arthur Miller say about the future of the characters?