Crucible Questions for Act 3 and Act 4 (Makeup Per. 1 and 8)

Act 3 Questions (20 points)

1.       “You must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between. This is a sharp time, now, a precise time—we live no longer in the dusky afternoon when evil mixed itself with good and befuddled the world. Now, by God’s grace, the shining sun is up, and them that fear not light will surely praise it” (98). What does this mean and what does it say about what Danforth values, what his priorities are? (put this into your own words to explain! Don’t just say it means “You’re either for or against them.” Go further!)

2.      “I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud—God damns our kind especially and we will burn, we will burn together!” . What inner change in Proctor do his actions in this Act, these words and this moment demonstrate?

3.      What are the dilemmas being faced by Giles, Francis, Mary Warren and Elizabeth in this act? What has the court become for the common people of Salem?

 

4.      Analyze the change in Rev. John Hale since Act 2, as shown in the following quotations:

Act 2: “Believe me, Mr. Nurse, if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing’s left to stop the whole green world from burning. Let you rest upon the justice of the court; the court will send her home, I know it” (71).

 Act 3: Excellency, it is a natural lie to tell; I beg you, stop now before another is condemned! I may shut my conscience to it no more—private vengeance is working through this testimony! From the beginning this man has struck me true. By my oath to Heaven, I believe him now…” (114).

Act 4 Questions (24 points)

1. What is Hale doing in the jail? Why? How will this affect the courts?

2. What has happened to Hale because of the trials? What is his opinion of himself and what he is doing?

3. What do the courts want from Elizabeth? What is her reaction to this request?

 4. Describe Proctor’s inner conflict over whether to confess or not confess.  What are his specific reasons to confess?     

 

5. What is his final choice? Why does he ultimately make this choice?

6. Explain what Elizabeth’s last words mean: “He has his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him.” Why does she say this? What do these words tell us about her, her relationship with Proctor, and his feelings about himself?