The Crucible Questions

Angelique Vazquez
May 10, 2024

1. What is the state of the community at the beginning of the play, as the play progresses and at
the end of the play? How are insiders and outsiders defined during these times?
- At the beginning, the community is tense and tightly knit, governed by strict
Puritanical beliefs. As the play progresses, hysteria takes over due to
accusations of witchcraft, tearing the community apart with fear and suspicion.
By the end of the play, the community is shattered, with many lives lost and.
- Insiders are defined by their conformity to Puritan values and their loyalty to the
court, while outsiders are those accused of witchcraft or those who challenge the
authority of the court.
2. What elements existed or were created within the community to allow Abigail
and the other girls to gain power?
- Within the community, elements such as the strict religious atmosphere, the
grudges between different families, and the vulnerability of individuals to
manipulation allowed Abigail and the other girls to gain power. They created a
tense atmosphere that allowed anyone to accuse anybody of witchcraft.
3. What role did fear play in creating authority? How did some people choose to resist authority?
Who are they and what form did their resistance take?
- Fear plays a significant role. The fear of being accused of witchcraft or going
against the court's decisions leads many to conform and support the authorities
unquestioningly. However, some people choose to resist authority by questioning
the validity of the accusations, speaking out against the trials, or refusing to
cooperate with the court's demands. An example is John Proctor, who challenged
the court's proceedings, initially denied to falsely confess to witchcraft, and
refused to sign his name when the court asked him to.
4. John and Abigail’s affair serves as a catalyst for the events of the play, yet
historically no such affair ever took place. Why did Arthur Miller use his dramatic license to
invent this relationship?
- Arthur Miller used his dramatic license to invent the relationship between John
Proctor and Abigail to add complexity and depth to the characters and enhance
drama. By introducing this affair, Miller made John Proctor a much more complex
character by introducing his deep guilt towards his affair with Abigail, making his
death much more meaningful as it is the only moment when he regains his
“dignity”, and makes Abigail's character much more human by giving her a
weakness and a motive behind her actions.

5. Give an example from The Crucible that demonstrates that certainty can be
dangerous.
 - An example from "The Crucible" that demonstrates the danger of certainty is the
blind faith of the court and the community in the accusations of witchcraft.
Despite the lack of evidence and the obvious manipulation by the girls, many are
certain of the guilt of those accused, leading to wrongful convictions and tragic
consequences.

6. Judge Danforth says, “a person is either with this court or he must be counted
against it, there be no road between” (Act 3, Scene 1). What happens to a society where there
is no “road between”?
- In a society where there is no "road between," dissent and individuality are
suppressed, leading to a facist regime where any deviation from the accepted
norm is punished severely. This leads to the stifling of freedom, the death of trust,
and the eventual collapse of the community.
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7. At the end of the play, John Hale has changed his opinion of the trials. What brings about this
change?
- John Hale's change of opinion about the trials is brought about by witnessing the
injustice and hysteria that have consumed Salem. He realizes the grave
consequences of the court's actions and the innocent lives lost due to false
accusations. This realization prompts him to question the validity of the trials and
ultimately reject them.

8. John Proctor comes very close to admitting guilt so that he may live, and it’s at
this moment that Reverend Parris tells him that his refusal to confess is vanity.
John could lie, and confess, and stay alive for his wife and children. Do you agree with Parris?
- From Parris's viewpoint, John Proctor's refusal to confess is seen as selfish
vanity because it prioritizes his own pride over the well-being of his family.
However, from Proctor's perspective, confessing falsely would be a betrayal of
his principles and integrity, even if it means sacrificing his life. In my opinion, I
find it selfish that John would ultimately care more about his own dignity and
morals over the overall well being of his children in the future.

9. How is reading the play different from watching the movie?

- Reading the play allows for a deeper exploration of the characters' thoughts and
motivations through the dialogue and stage directions. It also allows readers to
imagine the setting and visualize the characters in their minds. On the other
hand, watching the movie adaptation provides a visual representation of the
events and allows for a more immersive experience through the use of actors,
sets, and cinematography. Additionally, the movie added a few scenes absent in
the book that I believe supplemented the themes and characters of the book very
well.