The Crucible, Act IV Notes

​"The Crucible," Act IV

​The conclusion of the play

Multiple Choice

Who does Parris report has run away?

• Abigail

• Mary

• John Proctor

• Reverend Hale

A drunk sheriff Herrick reports to Governor Danforth that Reverend Hale is talking to the prisoners who are about to hang, trying to get them to confess.

​Reverend Hale returns

Parris reports that there has been a rebellion in nearby Andover and the people have overthrown the court.

Danforth asks if there is talk of rebellion in Salem; Parris says no, but "it were another sort that hanged till now" (127).

He means that Rebecca and John are well-liked and well-respected people in the town, and people may care more about their deaths.

​What is Parris's recommendation?

​Rebellion?

Multiple Choice

What does Parris recommend to Danforth?

• He recommends they release John and Rebecca.

• He recommends that they stop the trials immediately.

• He recommends that they postpone the hangings.

• He recommends that they hang everyone remaining at the same time.

Multiple Choice

What is the true reason for Parris's hesitation and fear?

• Someone tried to shoot him when he left his house.

• Someone planted a dagger in his door as a threat.

• Someone has begun a petition to remove him as the reverend.

• Someone has told him that John and Rebecca are innocent.

​- Reverend Hale

(130)​

"Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everwhere, and no man knows when the harlots' cry will end his life - and you wonder yet if rebellion's spoke? Better you should marvel how they do not burn your province!" 

Danforth has Elizabeth brought to him. He wants her to plead with her husband to confess. She agrees to talk with her husband.

​Danforth & Elizabeth talk

Hale begs Elizabeth to persuade John to lie and "confess" to witchcraft. He says he will consider himself Proctor's murderer if he hangs.

He says he has wandered the wilderness for 3 months, looking for answers from God, and he feels compelled to tell the accused people to lie.

​

​Hale's plea

Multiple Choice

Who says, "Be there no wifely tenderness within you? ...had I no other proof of your unnatural life, your dry eyes now would be sufficient evidence that you delivered up your soul to Hell!"

• Reverend Hale

• Reverend Parris

• Governor Danforth

• Governor Hathorne

​Elizabeth and John spend a moment catching up with each other - he asks about the baby and their children, she tells him all are well.

​​Reunited

​John asks who has confessed, and Elizabeth names several. He asks about Giles, and she reveals he died refusing to say "yes" or "no" to being a witch.

​​News about Giles

​John asks her if he should lie and confess. Elizabeth tells him it is not her decision.

She also shares that she feels some responsibility for his cheating ("It takes a cold wife to prompt lechery" (137)).
​

​​They talk of forgiveness

Multiple Choice

What does John Proctor say when Hathorne asks him, "What say you, Proctor?"

• Damn you.

• I am a witch.

• I want my life.

• You'll never touch my spirit.

​John Proctor confesses

Danforth takes Proctor's confession while Cheever writes it all down.

Proctor says he has seen the devil and done the devil's bidding, and continues his confession...until Rebecca Nurse is brought in.

Proctor refuses to name anyone else as being in league with the devil. He is also horrified that he must sign his name to the confession so that it may be posted. ​

After signing the confession, John grabs it and refuses to give it back. Danforth accuses him of wanting to lie after he has avoided hanging.​

Proctor tears the confession in two, knowing it will result in him hanging.

He and Rebecca are led out to the scaffold.​

​Proctor decides

Multiple Choice

Who speaks the last line of the play? "He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him" (145).

• Rebecca Nurse

• Reverend Parris

• Reverend Hale

• Elizabeth Proctor

John Proctor has done many things wrong in this play; however, he refuses to take part in the "passing of guilt" and fixates on what his name means to him.

Through​ these things, his goodness and honesty, lost during his affair with Abigail, are recovered.

​Redemption

Danforth, Hathorne, and the other judges would rather preserve the appearance of justice and order than actually confront the truth about what they've done.

​Hypocritical judgments

​Themes in Act IV