The Crucible Book Report

The Crucible follows the event that led up to the Salem Witch Trials, a real event where members of Salem were accused of being witches and eventually hanged. The plot starts off with Reverend Parris discovered a bunch of girls dancing in the forest at night with Tituba, his servant. It is shown that Abigail Williams apparently drank chicken blood and that Parris’s daughter, Betty Parris, is severely ill. Word quickly spreads around town and the word is that Betty has been cursed by a witch. Reverend Parris accuses Abigail that she has not been clean, and Abigail rapidly denies this. The Putnams soon arrive revealing that their only child is also ill. It is soon shown that Ann Putnam has a hatred toward Rebecca Nurse, a housewife who helped

deliver her children. This is because while Ann Putnam had many attempts to have many children she only has one while Rebecca Nurse has eight children. The Putnams are shown to be very greedy and out for revenge. Reverend Parris soon decides to invite Reverend John Hale, who reported solved a witchcraft case in another town. The other girls involved in the dancing, conjoin and meet up.

Abigail then threatens to kill anybody who says that they are actually dancing and not bewitched. Abigail threatens Betty, and Betty briefly awakens and tries to fly out of the window. John Proctor enters, and all the girls except Abigail quickly leaves the room. Abigail tells John Proctor that they are all pretending and that there was no witchcraft. It is quickly shown that Abigail harbors feeling and had an affair with John Proctor, while being a servant at the Proctor house. As they talk, it can be heard that people are singing downstairs. The conversation quickly descends into an argument and Betty starts screaming again. The residents run back up to the room, and many assume that the singing had caused Betty to scream, believing she can no longer hear God's name. It is then revealed that Giles Corey and Thomas Putnam have land issues and Parris believes Proctor is trying to get Parris kicked out of the church. John Hale soon arrives and begins his search for witchcraft. As the story goes on, Abigail reveals that Tituba forced her to drink blood, and Parris threaten to whip Tituba if she did not confessed. Tituba fearfully confesses that she was bewitched, and accuses Sarah Osborne and Sarah Good of

witchcraft. Abigail is quick to play along, starting to chant people’s names she seen with the devil, Betty suddenly sits up and starts to declare names of those siding with the devil.
Most of Act 2 is in the Proctor household, John and Elizabeth Proctor are discussing the amount of people that have been arrested due to accusations.

Elizabeth urges John to tell the court that the girls are lying. Mary Warren, their servant and one of the girls who were afflicted by the devil, comes in. Warren has a poppet with her and gives it to Elizabeth Proctor. Warren states that she made the poppet while in the court as a witness. John Proctor forbids Warren to go back to the court and threatens to beat Mary. Warren passionately yells that she saved Elizabeth's life, as her name was mentioned in court. Stunning the Proctors, Warren leaves the room. Elizabeth and John Proctor argue awhile, talking about Abigail Williams. Reverend Hale arrives to individually question the Proctor family, as Elizabeth Proctor's name has been mentioned. Hale is suspicious of the Proctors because of their lack of activity in the church, and the fact that one of their sons has not been baptized. Hale implores John Proctor to restate his commandments. John Proctor hesitantly repeats them, and ironically forgets “thou shalt not commit adultery”, which he commits with Abigail. Hale then prepares to leave after much uncomfortableness. Suddenly, Giles Corey and Francis Nurse run into the house, informing the Proctors that both their wives have been arrested. Cheever, the town clerk, and Herrick, the town marshal, soon arrive to arrest Elizabeth. Hale is greatly surprised as he believes that

Rebecca Nurse is much too pois to be a witch. Cheever states that Abigail has been found with a long needle protruding from her stomach. Cheever quickly spots the poppet that Mary had given Elizabeth. Cheever takes the poppet and discovers a needle hidden inside it, he proclaims that he has solid proof that Elizabeth was a witch. John tells Cheever that Mary Warren has given Elizabeth the poppet and proceeds to get Mary to explain the poppet. Mary states that she made the doll and stuck the needle into the doll, and that Abigail saw her doing so. This concretes the fact that Abigail wants to kill Elizabeth. John becomes angered and tears the warrant that Cheever brought. ELizabeth was able to calm him down and agrees to go to the jail. John tearfully watches as Cheever and Herrick arrest Elizabeth, John proclaims that he will do anything to clear her name.
Act 3 starts off with Giles Corey interrupting the trial of his wife, Martha Corey. He proclaims that he has evidence that all of this is false. The case is paused and the judge Hathorne and Deputy Governor Danforth go into a separate room with Corey. John Proctor come in with Mary Warren and states that the girls are lying. Proctor also has a deposition signed by 91 residents that testify that the accused are not witches. Danforth senses a problem, and tells John Proctor that his wife is pregnant, and that she will not be hanged, urging John to drop the case. John Proctor refuses to drop the case and continues on, Danforth and Hathorne dismiss the deposition as illegal and sends out a warrant to arrest the people who signed it. Giles Corey then gives his own deposition, accusing Thomas Putnam of accusing people just for revenge and for their land. Danforth and Hathorne question the source of his information, and Giles refuses to give a name to the informant. Giles is promptly threatened with arrest, but Giles argues that he cannot be arrested. They proceed to go back to the courtroom, the Danforth and Hathorne call to bring all the afflicted girls into the room. Once the girls are all in the room, they are questioned about the legitimacy of their bewitchment. Abigail denies it, and Mary is so shaken and afraid that she is unable to reply. John proclaims that Abigail is a harlot and Elizabeth is promptly brought into the room. She lies into protect John, but soon realizes that she is actually hurting his legitimacy. Abigail starts acting and screaming, proclaiming that Mary is sending her spirit and bewitching them. THe courtroom descends into the disarray. Mary then loudly yells, that she believes in God and accuses John Proctor of being a witch. Reverend Hale, stunned by the actions of Hathorne and Danforth, quits the court.
In Act 4, almost all the residents have been accused and many were in jail. John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey were scheduled to be hanged soon. GIles Corey is dead by pressing, and many of the residents are skeptical of the legitimacy of the witch trials. It is also revealed that Abigail has left Salem, taking all of what Parris owns. Hale is at the jail, praying with the accused. Hale pleads Danforth to reschedule the hanging, and Danforth and Hale call onto ELizabeth to convince John to confess. John agrees to confess, but when asked to sign a paper stating he confessed he refused too. John also refuses to identify if he saw anyone with the devil. Danforth states that John is giving an untruthful confession and proceeds with the hanging. Rebecca Nurse, Martha Corey and John Proctor is soon executed by hanging.