Act 3

Conflict between the individual and accepted authority

• The disruption of the court by Francis Nurse and Giles Corey

• Proctor’s refusal to attend church as long as Parris preaches hellfire and brimstone

• The arrest of ninety-one people who have signed a deposition attesting to the good character of Elizabeth Proctor, Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey

• Giles Corey’s refusal to name his informant

Why does Giles say that he "broke charity" with his wife?

• Giles says that he broke charity with his wife because it was his comment that led to her arrest. He revealed to Hale that his wife's book reading hindered his prayer, and this was enough evidence to condemn her for being a witch. Had he simply kept the issue between him and his wife, her condemnation would probably not have happened.

How has Rev. Hale changed since we last saw him in Act 2 and John Proctor called him “Pontius Pilate”?

• Rev. Hale is no longer bold and confident in his search for witches. He has strong misgivings about the validity of the entire process. Now he is open, willing, and even eager to hear evidence that may prove that witchcraft is not present in Salem. Unfortunately the trials have progressed to such a level that he is powerless to stop them.

Why is Mary Warren's testimony critical for Hale, Proctor, Nurse and Corey?

• If Mary Warren can prove that the witchcraft is all Abigail's creation, it will free the wives of Proctor, Nurse, and Corey and ease Hale's conscience. At this point, she is the only person not entirely under Abigail's control who can stop the proceedings with few personal repercussions. If she succeeds, Abigail will fall from her seat of glory, the women will be pardoned, and things will be able to return to normal in Salem. If not, Abigail will retain her control, the women will eventually hang, and the madness will continue.

What does Mary Warren tell Governor Danforth?

• Mary Warren tells Governor Danforth that her former actions were all pretense and that the other girls were acting as well. This statement is in direct contradiction to all her former actions in the courtroom.

Why does Proctor not drop the charges against the court when he hears that his wife is pregnant and will be spared

for at least a year?

• Proctor does not drop the charges against the court because he sees how his friends are suffering on account of their wives' condemnation. He has taken the first step into community involvement and solving his personal problems is no longer enough. Proctor knows that he holds the key-- he can no longer turn back.

Why does Proctor say that his wife must be pregnant if she has said so?

• Proctor states that his wife must be pregnant because lying is simply against her nature. This statement becomes vital later on in the act when she is interrogated in order to prove if this is the case or not.

What happens to the ninety-one people who signed the petition in support of the accused?

• The ninety-one people who signed the petition are summoned for questioning. By supporting the accused, regardless of her community standing, they are getting caught up in the web of accusations. These people who signed the petition are forced to face the unpleasant consequences of their community involvement.

What is the charge that Giles Corey makes against Putnam?

• Giles Corey charges Putnam for making his daughter cry witchery on George Jacobs. Giles feels that Putnam had the motivation for doing it because if Jacob dies, he will forfeit his property. Putnam is the only man in the community who is wealthy enough to buy that land-- a likely scenario considering his materialistic attitude revealed earlier.

What is Giles Corey's proof for his charge, and why will he not supply the proof to the court?

• Giles Corey's proof is that a friend heard Putnam mention the plan. Corey will not supply the name to the court because he already saw what happened to the ninety-one petitioners. He is noble enough to refuse to allow that fate to befall another friend.

Why does Danforth find it hard to believe that Abigail could be pretending and, in effect, be a murderer?

• Danforth finds it hard to believe that Abigail could be pretending because, if it truly is witchcraft, she would be the only one who would know about it anyway. Witchcraft is an invisible crime, with the only witnesses being the witch and the victim. Since the witch cannot be expected to incriminate herself, only the victim can provide the evidence. As far as Danforth knows, Abigail may very well be tormented by spirits, and therefore she must be believed.

How does the questioning of Mary Warren differ from the questioning of Abigail? Why?

• Mary Warren is questioned in a way that makes it clear that Danforth is very skeptical-- at best-- about her evidence. Danforth also puts Mary in a position that essentially damns her if she recants her former testimony. He reminds her that God damns all liars and that she will be sent to jail for lying now or having lied before. Therefore, the atmosphere that Danforth creates makes it extremely difficult for Mary to tell the truth as she knows it. On the contrary, Abigail is given the benefit of the doubt when she testifies. The judges have no choice-- her testimony is the basis of all the hearings. While Mary does not have to be believed, Abigail must in order to justify the incarceration of so many of the town's citizens.

Why can't Mary give a show of pretense when asked by the court?

• Mary can't give a show of pretense because the atmosphere is entirely different. When she did it in the court, all the other girls were doing the same thing and the judges were encouraging it. It was the acceptable thing to do-- not fainting and screaming would be considered improper. In the court, she was simply giving them what they wanted to see. This time, to do so would be to act against the girls-- the accepted authority in the courtroom. The judges still believe that the girls are acting truthfully and their attitudes make that clear. With her only support in the room being John Proctor, it is little wonder that Mary cannot give a show of pretense.

When Abigail is questioned by Danforth, how does she respond?

• Abigail gets extremely defensive when questioned by Danforth. She insists that she suffers greatly to fulfill her duty pointing out the Devil's people. She also threatens Danforth directly and says that the powers of Hell have the ability to turn even his wits. Then, in order to direct the negative attention elsewhere, Abigail makes another show of pretense and indicates Mary Warren is witching her.

In calling Abigail a whore, what charge and punishment does Proctor open himself for? Why has he made this

confession?

• In calling Abigail a whore, John Proctor has thrown away his good name and has opened himself for charges (and corresponding punishment) of lechery, one of the worst crimes in Puritan society. He makes this confession in hopes of discrediting Abigail and stopping the proceedings. This is a major leap into the waters of community involvement for John Proctor. He has gone to the extreme of throwing away something very valuable to him-- his good reputation-- in order to save his wife and the wives of his friends. He realizes that even if the witch trials are stopped he will still be punished for lechery, but the potential benefits outweigh the risk.

What test is Elizabeth given, and how does she fail it? Why?

• Elizabeth is asked if John ever committed lechery. When she doesn't answer, she is asked if her husband is a lecher. After hesitating and probably a lot of soul searching while in jail, she responds that he isn’t. John Proctor had counted on her to say that he was because he knew she truly believed it. She did NOT know the purpose of the question, and by changing her mind, she has condemned herself, her husband, and her friends because the trials continue!

What causes Mary Warren to crack?

• Abigail's show and corresponding charges of witchcraft cause Mary Warren to crack. She realizes that Abigail was serious in her threat to kill anyone who opposes her. If Mary Warren is accused of being a witch, she will truly hang. Mary knows that Abigail can provide for her protection and freedom while John Proctor no longer has anything to offer. Therefore, she joins Abigail and the other girls once more by accusing John Proctor of witchcraft.

On what dramatic note does Act III end?

• Act III ends on the dramatic note of Proctor being accused of being a witch, and then declaring that God is dead and condemning the court. These two statements are completely against the Puritan religion and reinforce the chaos and pandemonium the trials brought to Salem.

“…A fire is burning! 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 together!”

When you know someone is committing a wrong, but you don’t do anything about it, you are more guilty than the person who committed the wrong. God will surely punish you accordingly.

“She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and

there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see

it.”

Proctor reveals Abigail’s motivation in

seeing his wife condemned.

“Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook my own. I came into this village like a bridegroom to his beloved bearing gifts of high religion; the very

crowns of holy law I brought, and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died; and where I turned the eye of my great faith, blood flowed

up.”

Hale realizes his part in the witch trials

and is trying to convince Elizabeth to compel Proctor to confess

“What profit him to bleed? Shall the dust praise him? Shall

the worms declare his truth?”

• John Proctor’s death is futile. There

is no point in it for Proctor or for anyone else.

“He may have his goodness now, God forbid I take it from

him.”• Elizabeth finally realizes the goodness

that was always within her husband, and he himself realizes it, too. She won’t take it from him by trying to persuade him to falsely confess.

“There be no higher judge under Heaven than Proctor is!”

• Elizabeth knows that Proctor judges

• himself more harshly than anyone else does.

“I have been thirty-two year at the bar, sir, and I should be confounded were I called

upon to defend these people.”

• Reveals Danforth’s bias toward the

accused. He has already decided they are guilty.

“I come to do the Devil’s work. I come to counsel Christians

they should belie themselves.

• A paradox faced by Hale when he

finds himself faced with encouraging the accused to lie to save their lives.

It is difficult for the individual to win in a conflict with accepted authority• Francis Nurse and Giles Corey disrupt the

court• Giles Corey refuses to name his informant• Proctor refuses to attend church as long as

Parris preaches hellfire and brimstone• Giles Corey flaunts his knowledge of court

preceedings• 91 people are arrested for attesting to the

good character of Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Martha

Bias of the Court

• The judges accept without question what the accusers say.

• The officials of the court ask leading questions which suggest the answers the court wants to hear, and if they do not get the answers they want, they try to intimidate.

• When someone is accused of witchcraft, the judges automatically place the burden of proof upon the accused; however, when accusations other than witchcraft are made, the burden of proof is placed upon the accuser.

The climax of the play occurs when

• Elizabeth Proctor tells the court her husband is NOT guilty of lechery.

Reverend Parris wishes to spare Proctor’s life because

• He fears for his life if such a respected man is hanged

Parris wants John Proctor to confess because

• he fears for his life

• it will cast doubt on the innocence of the others.

• Proctor’s name carries a lot of weight in the town.

Giles Corey’s charge against Thomas Putnam is significant because it illustrates

• irony when Giles Corey is condemned for giving evidence that is hearsay, while equally invalid evidence is used to condemn persons for witchcraft.

Elizabeth admits to her husband that she was a “cold” wife for what reason (s)?

• thought she was too plain for anyone to love.

• Didn’t know how to show her love.

Danforth says that he will not accept Proctor’s confession if it is a lie, but we know Danforth is not

being honest because

• even though Proctor would not name others, he was willing to take the confession as long

as Proctor signed it.

Dramatic Irony

• Hale’s statement to Proctor that “…the world goes mad, and it profit nothing you should lay the cause to the vengeance of a little girl”

” is dramatic irony because while he suggests that it is foolish to blame what has happened on the vengeance of a little girl, the audience knows that is the precise cause.