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Summary Crucible Act 1 Questions
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Act 1 questions for students studying The Crucible - Arthur Miller.
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The Crucible Act Two QuestionsElizabeth and John’s relationship
1. Given what we learned about Abigail and Proctor in Act One, what
sort of relationship do we expect Proctor to have with his wife? Find
three pieces of evidence that their relationship is strained on p 47-
49.
Early in the play the audience find out about the affair between
Abigail and Proctor, the reader expects Proctor to have a cold and
wary relationship with his wife due to the early circumstances.
The following pieces of evidence suggest the lack of trust,
communication, and intimacy in their relationship.
In the beginning of act 2 their conversation is filled with short
sentences such as “aye” and “are you well today” suggesting the
lack intimacy and awkwardness reflecting the discomfort that
both characters are experiencing.
“He is not quite pleased” is reflecting no matter how hard
Elizabeth tries, Proctor is still not pleased with her efforts and
finds a way to criticise her.
Throughout the act Elizabeth keeps questioning Proctor
suggesting the lack of trust between the two characters
suggesting that the truth about the affair hasn’t been addressed
yet –“What keeps you up so late? It’s almost dark”.
2. Examine the setting. Why has Miller chosen the Proctors’ house to
be ‘low’ and ‘dark’, and cold- as Proctor puts it- ‘winter…yet’? What
may the setting reflect about their relationship?
By describing the settings of the house having “low” and “dark”
features, Miller reflects the relationship between Proctor and
Elizabeth, suggesting how the cold and dark atmosphere of the
house portrays the loveless or simply uncomfortable relationship
between the two characters.
3. Compare the conversation between Abigail and Proctor in Act One
with the conversation between Proctor and Elizabeth at the start of
Act Two. How does Miller use stage directions and dialogue to
demonstrate:
a. Intimacy between Abigail and Proctor?
In act 1 the relationship between Proctor and Abigail
involved a lot of heat imagery such as “I have a sense
for heat” and “burning in loneliness” suggesting their
, affair involves a lot of passion and lust. In addition, the
stage directions used by Miller throughout the
conversation were “willingly” and “confidentially”
reflecting how their relationship is full of excitement
and secrecy.
b. Awkwardness between Proctor and Elizabeth
However, in act 2, the relationship between Elizabeth
and Proctor is seen as awkward and uncomfortable by
the language used between the two characters such as
“winter yet” representing imagery of cold which
contrasts to the one of heat that the audience saw in
act 1. In addition, Miller has introduced the
relationship between Proctor and Elizabeth second,
which could represent John putting his wife
metaphorically second and prioritizing Abigail.
4. What does Elizabeth mean when she says that ‘where [Abigail]
walks, the crowd will part like the sea for Israel’? How does Miller
use this simile to suggest Abigail’s newfound power and influence?
Elizabeth means that the respect for Abagail in the village has
increased in the short period of time. In addition to her gaining
popularity and reputation. Miller uses the religious simile by
suggesting that Moses parted the Red sea which was seen as a
wonder and a miracle in order to help Israelites to escape
slavery in Egypt. This is known as one of the most spectacular
and unnatural miracles in the bible, suggesting that Abigail
was given this sort of power and respect. This reflects that
while she is respected in the community of Salem, she is also a
character that is feared by others.
5. Proctor describes the witch trials as a ‘black mischief’. Where else
has the imagery of black and white been used in the play so far, and
what does it signify?
So far in the play, white had represented purity and goodness,
or in other scenes it signified knowledge. However,
throughout the play, contrasting to white, black has
symbolised evil and ignorance or often dishonesty. With John
Proctor describing the witch trials as a “black mischief”
suggests that he does not see any good in them and that they
are based on lies that will only lead the village to a disastrous
situation.
6. Analyse at the images used by Proctor in describing his behaviour
and his wife’s responses to him after she found out about the affair.
What do they reveal about this relationship, and how do they relate
to the themes of the play?
a. ‘an everlasting funeral marches around your heart’
John accuses Elizabeth of being responsible for their bad
marriage, he compares her cold and solemn personality to
someone who had taken part in a funeral. This reflects
how John resents the fact that his wife is unforgiving
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