Crucible Act 1 & Act 2

This person is in a coma-like stupor at the beginning of the play. She is the daughter of the town's minister and was caught dancing in the woods.

• Betty Parris

• Elizabeth Proctor

This minister is concerned about what the villagers would think if they knew he caught his daughter and niece dancing in the woods. He wants the town to respect him.

• John Proctor

• Reverend Parris

This 17-year-old orphaned girl is the reverend's niece. She lies to her uncle, the minister, about what happened in the woods. In Act 1, we learn she had an affair with John Proctor.

• Mary Warren

• Abigail Williams

This superstitious, gossiping woman is upset that she's had many stillborn children and believes a witch is responsible. She gets her daughter, Ruth, to have Tituba conjure her dead babies' spirits.

• Mrs. Ann Putnam

• Martha Corey

This well-respected farmer secretly had an affair with Abigail Williams. He doesn't like Reverend Parris and, therefore, hasn't been to church often.

• John Proctor

• Reverend Hale

This wealthy but vindictive landowner has a daughter, Ruth, who is also "sick" during Act 1. He encourages Tituba to blame Sarah Good and Sarah Osborn for witchcraft. He is also greedy and wants more land.

• Thomas PUTNAM

• Reverend HALE

This slave woman from Barbados serves the Parris household. The curious girls ask her to help them conjure spirits. She is, therefore, blamed for bewitching them. She must lie to save her own life.

• Sarah Good

• Tituba

This gentle, kind old woman acts as the voice of reason in Act 1. She does NOT believe Betty Parris is bewitched. She thinks the children are just acting silly. Mrs. Putnam is jealous of her because she's had many children and grandchildren.

• Rebecca Nurse

• Abigail Williams

This minister is from the nearby town of Beverly. He has been called to Salem as an expert in witchcraft. He is unsure who is innocent or guilty. In Act II, he tests the Christianity of the Proctor household and asks John to recite his Commandments.

• Giles Corey

• Reverend Hale

This is John's wife. She struggles to forgive her husband after his affair. She wants John to tell the court what he knows -- that the children's illness had nothing to do with witchcraft. Mary Warren, her maid, hands her a poppet as an apology for not helping her with the chores.

• Martha Corey

• Elizabeth Proctor