The Crucible, Act IV

What explanation does Cheever give for Parris's "mad look?"

• It is caused by the revelation of Abigail's affair with John Proctor.

• It is caused by the cows that are wandering with contention over ownership.

• It is caused by the pigs that keep dying even though Martha Corey was found innocent of withcraft.

• It is caused by his guilty conscience over Rebecca Nurse's conviction for witchcraft.

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What did Abigail do (in Act IV)?

• She accused Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft.

• She stole items from the church and sold them to the witches.

• She betrayed Mercy Lewis and confessed that Mercy danced naked in the forest.

• She stole money from Parris and disappeared, possibly on a ship.

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Parris says, "You cannot hang this sort. There is danger for me." What does he mean?

• Proctor, Rebecca, Elizabeth and Martha were well-respected, so people would doubt their guilt and blame Parris since he was so involved with the prosecution.

• Sarah Good, Goody Osburne and Tituba all knew witchcraft, so they would haunt Parris and drive him to his own death.

• Abigail, Mercy, Mary, Betty, and Ruth were just children, so people would blame Parris and the other parents if they were convicted as witches.

• Proctor, Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Martha were part of the faction against Parris, and they would speak out against him if they were convicted.

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Explain Danforth's reason that a pardon would not be just (fair).

• They have already hung 12 people, so they would have died in vain. It would be admitting the court is wrong.

• Danforth truly believes that those who have confessed have been saved because the court is doing God's work.

• He has received an award for the court's work, and it would not be fair to ask him to give it up.

• They have already pressed Giles to death, and giving his wife a pardon would be giving in to the Devil.

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Why has Hale come back to Salem?

• To spread witchcraft by doing "the Devil's work"

• To encourage the accused to confess and save their lives

• To encourage Abigail to tell the truth to save John's life

• To bring forth new testimony against Abigail and the girls

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What does Hale want Elizabeth to do?

• Confess to witchcraft

• Confess to adultery

• Convince Mary Warren to tell the truth

• Convince Proctor to confess

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What happened to Giles?

• He was hanged.

• He ran away with all of Parris's money.

• He was pressed to death.

• He was promoted to Chief Justice after handing over his wife.

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Proctor says, "My honesty is broke, Elizabeth, I am no good man." Explain.

• He is already a sinner, so he might as well confess even though it is a lie.

• He has been lying the whole time about being a Christian and is actually a witch.

• He is not a good man because he cheated on Elizabeth, and he thinks he should hang for his sin.

• He really did love Abigail and wishes that he had run away with her.

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What "confession" does Elizabeth make to John in this act?

• She told Abigail to take care of her husband after she is gone.

• She never wanted to marry John and only did so because she thought she was too plain for anyone else to ever love her.

• She feels that she is partly responsible for his affair with Abigail because she should have been a more loving, less suspicious wife.

• She feels that it would be wrong for him to confess to witchcraft and does not know how she will live with him if he lies.

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What did Proctor do after he signed the confession? Why?

• He tore it up because he didn't want it used to make other innocent people look guilty.

• He tore it up because he wanted to spite Reverend Parris.

• He nailed it to the church door so that everyone could see his guilt.

• He ate it because he had not had any breakfast.

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