The CrucibleThe Crucible

Characterisation- Act OneCharacterisation- Act One

Reverend ParrisReverend Parris““evidently in prayer”evidently in prayer”““seems about to weep”seems about to weep”Look at his early dialogue. How does Look at his early dialogue. How does

Miller use these things to convey his Miller use these things to convey his state of mind?state of mind?

Sentence structureSentence structureWord choiceWord choiceStage directionsStage directionsWhat does he seem to be worried What does he seem to be worried

about?about?

ParrisParrisLook at the tone ofLook at the tone of “There be no…” “There be no…”““my enemies”. my enemies”. Technique?Technique?““my own household is discovered to my own household is discovered to

be the centre of some obscene be the centre of some obscene practice”practice”

““my ministry’s at stake”my ministry’s at stake”

Abigail WilliamsAbigail Williams““strikingly beautiful”strikingly beautiful”““an endless capacity for dissembling”: an endless capacity for dissembling”:

putting on a false appearance, putting on a false appearance, deceivingdeceiving

Manages to withstand her uncle’s Manages to withstand her uncle’s interrogation: “interrogation: “There is nothin’ more. I There is nothin’ more. I swear it, uncle”swear it, uncle”

Sentence structure:Sentence structure: “She hates me “She hates me uncle…”uncle…”

Mr and Mrs PutnamMr and Mrs Putnam““a twisted soul”a twisted soul”Find evidence from page 21/ that she Find evidence from page 21/ that she

enjoys gossiping and causing troubleenjoys gossiping and causing trouble““Why, it’s sure she did. Mr Collins saw her Why, it’s sure she did. Mr Collins saw her

goin’ over Ingersoll’s barn, and come goin’ over Ingersoll’s barn, and come down light as a bird, he says!”down light as a bird, he says!”

Tone? Tone? The claim is ridiculous but is accepted as The claim is ridiculous but is accepted as

factfactWhat is Putnam’s grudge against Parris?What is Putnam’s grudge against Parris?

Marry WarrenMarry WarrenDescribed as ‘Described as ‘subservient, naïvesubservient, naïve’ and ’ and

‘‘lonely’lonely’ Initially horrified by turn of events.Initially horrified by turn of events.‘‘they’ll be callin’ us witches!’they’ll be callin’ us witches!’‘‘We must tell the truth Abby! You’ll only We must tell the truth Abby! You’ll only

be whipped for be whipped for dancindancin’, and the other ’, and the other things!’things!’

Stage directions - ‘she can barely speak Stage directions - ‘she can barely speak for embarrassment and fear.’ (pg 27)for embarrassment and fear.’ (pg 27)

Abigail – Abigail – What does this speech show us What does this speech show us about her character?about her character?

Look at the speech on pages 26-7Look at the speech on pages 26-7 I look for John Proctor that took me from my I look for John Proctor that took me from my

sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! Christian women and their covenanted men! And now you bid me tear the light out of my And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot! You loved me, John eyes? I will not, I cannot! You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!yet!

John ProctorJohn ProctorLook at Proctor’s first couple of Look at Proctor’s first couple of

speeches. Choose a quote which speeches. Choose a quote which shows that he is straight talking and shows that he is straight talking and stern.stern.

Look at the section starting ‘Abigail: Look at the section starting ‘Abigail: I have a sense for heat…’ I have a sense for heat…’ Find Find evidence of Proctor’s feelings for evidence of Proctor’s feelings for Abigail.Abigail.

Francis and Rebecca NurseFrancis and Rebecca NurseThey fought a ‘land war’ with his They fought a ‘land war’ with his

neighboursneighboursRebecca- “Rebecca- “general opinion was so general opinion was so

high…”high…”Look at Rebecca’s first speech.Look at Rebecca’s first speech.How does her word choice show her How does her word choice show her

attitude to Ruth’s illness and the attitude to Ruth’s illness and the hysteria of some of the other hysteria of some of the other characters?characters?

Mr John HaleMr John HaleAn “An “eager-eyed intellectualeager-eyed intellectual” on “” on “a a

beloved errand”beloved errand”Look at Hale’s first appearance.Look at Hale’s first appearance.““they are weighed down with authority”.they are weighed down with authority”.His initial thoughts seem reasoned and His initial thoughts seem reasoned and

sensible: “sensible: “We cannot look to We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise; superstition in this. The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are as the marks of his presence are as definite as stone”definite as stone”

Old GilesOld Giles“ “ The most comical hero”The most comical hero”““A crank and a nuisance”A crank and a nuisance”Seems a comical character and if Seems a comical character and if

things were to be reasonable his things were to be reasonable his nonsense would be discounted nonsense would be discounted completely.completely.

AbigailAbigail I want to open myself! . . . I want the light I want to open myself! . . . I want the light

of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him, I wrote in danced for the Devil; I saw him, I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!Bridget Bishop with the Devil!

Why does Abigail behave like this at this Why does Abigail behave like this at this point? What does she achieve?point? What does she achieve?