Act 1 Summary of The Crucible. Contains: Summary, Characters, Setting and Themes. PDF

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Summary

Mostly a plot summary but contains quotes. The Act 1 summary divides the sections of dialogue from the sections of authorial commentary. Act 1 of 4....

Description

Act 1 Page (s) *13-17*

17-22

*22-23*

23-27

Summary -

Provide context Introduces Parris and his “Villainous Path” The town and time period is built up The ideas of religion and God are introduced - The author, Arthur Miller, introduces a purpose: “The Salem tragedy developed from a paradox. It is a paradox in whose grip we still live”. (Communism) - Betty is asleep, unconscious, and Mr Parris is praying for her. - Talk of the cause of Betty’s illness causes the suggestion of “unnatural causes” to be raised…first hint at superstition. - The event of the girls in the forest is raised. - Introduced to the rift between Abigail and the Proctor’s - Mrs Putnam informs Parris that her daughter is also afflicted and suggests witchcraft be the cause. - Authorial Intrusion that builds Thomas Putnam’s Character “He was a man with many grievances” “His vindictive nature” -

It is made clear early on that there is a rift between Parris and Putnam Mrs Putnam’s 7 miscarriages are first introduced

Character -

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Several Characters Spoken about however, it isn’t them appearing.

Mr Parris Betty Parris Tituba Susanna Walcott Abigail Williams Thomas Putnam Ann Putnam

Mr/Mrs Putnam Parris Abigail Williams Mercy Lewis

Setting -

Parris’ house (The Upper Room)

“There is a window to the left. The morning sunlight seeps in. There is a bed to the right. A chest, chair and table are all else. As the curtain rises, Parris is discovered praying. Betty lays inert on the bed.” -

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Parris’ house (The Upper Room)

Parris’ house (The Upper Room)

Theme -

Human nature/condition Sinning Morality Religion Reputation

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Religion Superstition/Supernatural Fear of Unknown

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Politics Morality and Justice Law and Order “Motif of Resentment” Reputation Intolerance Blame Fear of losing reputation/fear of unknown

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*27*

27-31

Tituba is made out to be the reason for the girl’s illness “Tituba knows how to speak to the dead” - Parris is fearful of the witchcraft claim because it would ruin his reputation - Abigail tries to wake up Betty - Mercy and Abigail converse, revealing more about their actions in the woods - The girls are talking about how they fear retribution for their actions when Betty awakens - She tries to “fly to mama” before revealing that Abby drank blood - We are given a small insight into Abby’s childhood and a possible reason for her harsh, cruel nature - Oversight on John Proctor “In Proctor’s presence, a fool felt his foolishness instantly” “the steady nature he displays does not spring from an untroubled soul. He is a sinner” - The exchange between Mary and John at the start ratifies Millers, intrusion and fuels the idea of his potential cruel side. - Abigail and Proctor are left alone. There exchange indicates that they had an affair and though John is eager to end things, Abigail is not. - Abigail’s hate for Elizabeth Proctor is revealed - They are interrupted by Betty wailing. Parris and the Putnam’s enter, revealing that it is the Psalm being sung downstairs is

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Mary Warren Betty Parris

Mary Warren John Proctor Mercy Lewis Abigail Williams Mr Parris Rebecca Nurse Giles Corey

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Parris’ house (The Upper Room)

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Magic Friendship

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Social Class/Structure Hypocrisy Sinning Verisimilitude

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Religion Sinning (through Adultery Power of the devil – fear of the supernatural

what set her off. This fuels the fear and idea of witchcraft. Finally, Rebecca and Giles enter to see what is happening. - Intrusion to discuss Rebecca Nurse’s nature She and her husband are introduced as the only morally righteous one. “Rebecca was the wife of Francis Nurse who, from all accounts, was one of those men for whom both sides of the argument had to have respect…and Rebecca also enjoyed the high opinion most people had for him.” - The relationship between the Nurses and Putnam’s is also revealed - Rebecca calms Betty to the amazement of the others - Rebecca also tries to sooth the questions of witchcraft by passing the girls behaviour off as a “phase” – first reference to their pretence behaviour. - There is also the argument of Mr Hale being called - Parris has a fit about not getting his wood… it is clear that he thinks himself superior, a fact that makes the others unhappy. - It is then revealed that though the religious nature of Salem, they appear to be unable to retain a priest - Giles alludes to the nature of the people and their cries of witchcraft as passing off their problems…a fact that continues to ring true throughout the entirety of the play. -

*31-32*

32-36

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Betty Parris Mrs Putnam Mr Parris Rebecca Nurse Mr Proctor Giles Corey Mr Hale (enters at end)

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Parris’ house (The Upper Room)

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Jealousy Greed Real Goodness

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Reality and Pretence Superiority Religion Human Nature

*37-40*

40-43

- Overture starts with a description of Hale “This is a beloved errand for him; on being called here to ascertain witchcraft” – knowing that it is eventually Hale who quits the court it gives him a sense of goodness amongst those out for the witch hunt. He is introduced as a source of wisdom and knowledge Up till this point, the devil has been described as the most evil however, here he is describing as a “necessary evil” who exists to keep the balance. Miller also plainly states that he is making this play as a reference to the communism occurring in his life…it is a different sort of witch hunt. Also, it shows the timeless nature of the core themes and ides in this text. - “He appears loaded down with half a dozen heavy books” – This introduction follows with the idea of wisdom and authority i.e. he is weighted with authority - Mr Hale is caught up on the situation with the girls. - The idea of witchcraft is debated. - Mr Hale advises that this is probably not the devils work as it doesn’t seem “precise” enough - The true purpose of the dancing in the woods is finally revealed…to conjure the dead - The first additional cries of witchcraft are made i.e. Giles mentions his wife reads strange books

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Reverend Hale Rebecca Nurse Mr Parris Mrs Putnam Mr Putnam Giles Corey Proctor

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Parris’ house (The Upper Room)

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Conflict Righteousness Timeless and unchanging nature of the human condition

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Betrayal and Suspicion Truth and Deceit

*43-44*

44-50

- Introduction of Giles Corey “Old Giles must be spoken for, if only because his fate was to be so remarkable and so different from all the others” “No man has ever been blamed for so much” - Picks up with the idea of Giles’ wife as a witch - Hale’s mindset shifts a little to thinking the Devil may be in Betty - “What victory would it be for the devil to win a soul already bad? It is the best the devil wants, and who better than the minister?” – Reasoning for the devil choosing Betty - They tried to plea to Betty before questioning Abigail again - The men come to the conclusion that the girls unleashed the Devil and are starting to blame them when Abigail cries out “She made me do it!” at Tituba. – This is key to setting up an initial scapegoat. - The adults find out that Abigail drank chicken’s blood - Tituba and Abigail confess and “return to God”, saving herself from persecution - The witch hunt begins as the girls pass of the blame by naming others as accompanying the devil. - The Act ends with Betty awakening and joining in the cries.

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Hale Giles Parris Abigail Tituba Mrs Putnam Mr Putnam Betty Parris

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Parris’ house (The Upper Room)

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Blame Self-Respect Self-Righteousness

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Postcolonialism Scapegoat Truth vs Reality Paradoxical - Lie and live or remain truthful and die with integrity Hysteria

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