Act I Of The Crucible

The first act of The Crucible sets the stage (literally, heh) for the agonizing sequence of events that will unfold in Acts 2, 3, and four. Nearly of the major characters are introduced, and there are critical insights into various political and personal conflicts that threaten to disrupt the social guild in the town of Salem. We also acquire how the witchcraft craze got started and why it spiraled out of control. This article volition go over the very important sequence of events and their thematic relevance so y'all can answer all the questions your English teacher throws at you lot.

I'll provide both a short summary and a long summary. The short summary is simply the bare bones of what happened without getting into too much detail nearly conversations that are less relevant to the central plot. It's more than of a review to read afterward yous've already gone through the play yourself.

The long summary, which I'm choosing to call the "oops, I didn't read it" summary, is more than in-depth. It goes through everything that occurs in Human activity i without getting too far into the weeds. Despite the title of the second summary, I urge you lot to actually read the play and so you have a stronger understanding of the voices of the characters and the thematic points Miller is trying to make. Also, if y'all don't read it you'll miss out on some astonishing stage directions that can be easily misinterpreted as giggle-worthy euphemisms if yous're every bit immature as me and my young man weblog writers.

The CrucibleHuman action ane Summary — Short Version

X-year-former Betty Parris has contracted a mysterious illness that renders her mute and crippled. Her begetter, Reverend Samuel Parris, defenseless her dancing in the forest the night earlier with a group of girls. The group included his teenage niece, Abigail Williams, and his slave, Tituba. Rumors have spread around town that witchcraft is the cause of Betty'southward disease, and people are now gathered at the Parris household. Parris questions Abigail virtually the rumors, just she claims the girls were just dancing. Ann Putnam says that her daughter, Ruth, who was with the group in the wood, is likewise afflicted with a strange illness. All of Ann'southward children except Ruth have died as infants. Ann sent Ruth to Tituba in hopes that she would exist able to communicate with her siblings and detect out who or what was responsible for their deaths. To her uncle's dismay, Abigail admits that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods.

Abigail and two girls named Mercy Lewis and Mary Warren, who were also in the woods, are left alone with Betty. They try to wake her up as they get their story straight. Betty blurts out that Abigail drank chicken blood in an attempt to cast a spell that would kill Elizabeth Proctor, and Abigail warns her to keep quiet (or else). John Proctor enters the room, and Mercy and Mary leave Abigail alone with him. John and Abigail had an thing when Abigail worked as a retainer in his house, and Abigail wants it to continue. John insists that he has recommitted himself to his married woman, Elizabeth. Betty whimpers when she hears the Lord's name in a psalm that people are singing outside the room. Everyone who is singing exterior the room rushes in to check on her. Betty's distress is taken equally additional bear witness of witchcraft by Ann Putnam, and some of the others start to come effectually to this theory as well.

An intellectual church building leader named Reverend Hale arrives from the town of Beverly to investigate the situation and see if he can detect any signs of witchcraft. Abigail confesses that Tituba called the Devil afterwards more details near the previous dark are revealed. Tituba isn't immune to tell her side of the story (that Abigail was actually the instigator), and when she is threatened with hanging she confesses that she'south been forced to piece of work for the Devil. She besides names Sarah Good and Sarah Osburn as fellow witches afterwards prompting past Parris and Hale. Abigail and Betty and then admit their unwilling involvement in witchcraft and shout out the names of several other women who they claim to have seen with the Devil.

I want YOU to bring together my plot to totally mess with a super lame town in Massachusetts.

The CrucibleAct one Summary — "Oops I Didn't Read It" Version

Deed 1 opens on a bedroom in Reverend Samuel Parris' firm in the jump of 1692. Parris' daughter, x-year-onetime Betty, is in a deep sleep as a result of an unknown affliction, and Parris is kneeling in prayer next to her bed. A woman named Tituba is introduced as the Parris family's middle-aged slave from Barbados; she tries to check on Betty, simply she is immediately ordered out of the room past Reverend Parris.

Abigail Williams, Parris' 17-year-one-time niece, enters the room. She tells him that Susanna Walcott is there with a bulletin from the md. Susanna is a teenager a piddling younger than Abigail. She says that the dr. can't observe annihilation physically wrong with Betty, and they should get-go to consider supernatural forces as a potential culprit. Parris is very concerned about damage to his reputation if witchcraft is discovered in his business firm. He urges Susanna to tell the doc to keep looking for medical reasons for Betty's condition. However, he has also summoned Reverend Hale from the neighboring town of Beverly to quietly investigate whether there is whatsoever truth to this supernatural hypothesis.

Susanna leaves, and Abigail and Parris are alone with Betty. Abigail reveals that the rumor of witchcraft has already spread effectually town, and many people are gathered in the parlor of the house. Parris is reluctant to ignominy these rumors because he fears they may be true.The previous night, he saw Abigail and Betty dancing in the forest with Tituba. He as well saw a dress on the ground and a girl running naked through the woods. Abigail says that they were just dancing, but Parris knows that she'southward not telling the whole truth.Parris demands to know whether witchcraft was involved.

He thinks that his reputation is shaky in town and that in that location's a group of people who would like to oust him from his position of power. He doesn't want i of his enemies to find out what really happened earlier he does and utilise it against him. Abigail continues to insist that the girls were just dancing.

Parris still doesn't trust her, and he brings up some other suspicious scenario. Abigail was dismissed from the household service of a man named John Proctor without explanation, and Proctor's wife Elizabeth seems to strongly dislike her. Abigail says Elizabeth is but a big ol' meany and she didn't do annihilation to deserve this.

At this indicate in the conversation, a tormented middle-aged woman named Ann Putnam enters the room along with her married man, Thomas Putnam. Ann's just daughter, Ruth Putnam, is acting catatonic, and Ann thinks Betty is afflicted with the aforementioned apparently supernatural affliction. Ann is a house believer in witchcraft considering vii of her babies have died in infancy, leaving her with but i living kid. She sees no possible explanation for this that is non supernatural in nature. The Putnams are glad that Parris has summoned Reverend Hale to investigate the situation because Unhurt supposedly caught a witch in Beverley recently.

Parris is however trying to shut down the witchcraft chat because of the impairment it might do to his reputation. Ann reveals to Parris that she actually sent Ruth to consult with Tituba the night before because Tituba tin can communicate with the dead. Ann wanted Ruth to talk to her dead siblings and observe out who killed them. The Putnams say they are convinced that a baby-killing witch is running rampant. Abigail realizes that she can't hibernate the truth completely now that Ann has revealed that she sent Ruth to Tituba to attempt and communicate with the dead. Abigail admits that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits. Parris is convinced his livelihood is ruined now that someone who lives nether his roof has been revealed to be a witch. Thomas Putnam tells Parris he should get ahead of the state of affairs and make the witchcraft accusations himself so no ane can accuse him offset.

A girl named Mercy Lewis, who is Putnam'south servant, arrives to check on how Betty is doing, and the Putnams and Parris exit and then that Parris can lead everyone in a psalm. Abigail and Mercy are left alone, and they try to rouse Betty to no avail. The two girls decide their official story will be that they were just dancing, and there was no magic involved. Then, some other teenage girl named Mary Warren enters the room. She was also with them in the wood the previous night, and she is convinced they must confess to what they've washed because of the rumors swirling around.

Suddenly, Betty gets a burst of free energy. She reveals that Abby drank chicken blood in the wood in an endeavour to cast a spell to kill Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail slaps her and tells everyone that they had better stay quiet about the details of what really happened. Abigail says that she'south seen some stuff (i.e. her parents were murdered by Native Americans right in forepart of her), so she has no qualms well-nigh resorting to violence to force them to keep her undercover.

John Proctor, a farmer, so enters the room.He yells at Mary Warren, who is his servant, for leaving his house when he forbid her from doing so. Mary and Mercy both go out, and Abigail and John are left alone. Abigail and John had an matter that was discovered by his wife, which was the reason for her dismissal from their household. Abigail is still in love with Proctor, but he wants to distance himself from her and recommit to Elizabeth. Abigail is aroused and frustrated that he won't return her advances. She insults his wife and continues to insist that he still loves her.

Their attention is diverted because Betty starts whimpering after the words "going upward to Jesus" are uttered in the psalm people are singing in the other room. Reverend Parris, the Putnams, and Mercy Lewis all rush in to check on her. Ann Putnam is convinced that they upset Betty by proverb the Lord'southward proper noun and that her reaction clearly means that she is bewitched with black magic.

Rebecca Nurse, and quondam and highly respected woman in Salem, enters the room along with an onetime human being named Giles Corey. Rebecca stands calmly side by side to the bed, and Betty quiets downwards. Anybody is impressed with this, and the Putnams ask if Rebecca tin also help Ruth, but Rebecca doesn't remember there's anything supernatural going on. Betty is simply acting upward as kids are prone to exercise. John Proctor questions Reverend Parris on his decision to summon Reverend Hale. This activeness seems to imply that Parris believes witchcraft could exist the source of Betty's illness. Rebecca suggests that they should rely on the doctor and avoiding bringing Reverend Hale into the situation because it will cause unnecessary disharmonize. Thomas Putnam takes effect with this, and he tells Parris that when Reverend Hale arrives they must look for signs of witchcraft.

Proctor says Putnam tin't tell Parris what to do just considering Putnam owns a lot of land in the boondocks. Putnam fires back that he hasn't seen Proctor in church recently, so he conspicuously doesn't care that much about upholding the integrity of their social club. Proctor claims he doesn't become to church building because all Parris talks near is Hell. Parris says that a lot of people in Salem need to hear more almost Hell because he hasn't been properly compensated for his task based on his qualifications. He then implies that Proctor is the leader of a faction against him in the church. Proctor is unaware of the existence of this faction, but he says he would gladly bring together it because he's fed up with Parris' superiority complex.

He expects Giles Corey to be on his side, just Giles unexpectedly suports Parris because he thinks there may be something to the witchcraft hypothesis. Giles has been in court six times that twelvemonth for various lawsuits. He says that everyone has been suing each other left and right, and then there must be some sort of dark magic going on behind the scenes. Proctor points out that Giles is the cause of many of these suits because he is e'er suing people for defamation for no reason. Proctor and Putnam argue briefly about who owns a sure tract of land nearly the woods where Proctor plans on gathering lumber. It turns out that there is a lot of ambiguity in Salem over who owns which tracts of land because in his will Putnam's granddad claimed land that he didn't actually own.

Reverend Hale enters the room with a stack of bookish books.He speaks briefly with anybody, and it's articulate that he's well-respected. Hale views the investigation of witchcraft as serious scientific inquiry. He makes everyone agree non to push the issue if he doesn't find anything pointing to the Devil's piece of work. He brought the books because they explain all the unlike forms the Devil can take. With this data on hand, he's sure that he tin find out whether Betty's illness is linked to the work of Satan. Rebecca Nurse is skeptical of the whole situation, and she leaves the room before Hale begins his investigation. Giles tries to consult Hale about his wife, Martha, who he says has been reading strange books. He is worried that this might signify something sinister because he was unable to say his prayers while she was reading. Unhurt is somewhat intrigued and says they tin can discuss the issue later.

Hale addresses Betty, asking her if someone is bewitching her. Betty does not respond to his questions at showtime. Abigail is pressed with more questions about what exactly was going on in the forest. Parris says that when he came upon the girls, he saw that they had a kettle with a frog in it. Faced with this damning evidence of black magic, Abigail admits that Tituba called the Devil. Tituba is dragged into the room to face these charges. Immediately, Abigail places all the blame on her, claiming that Tituba fabricated her beverage craven claret from the kettle. Tituba protests that Abigail was the one who instigated the meeting in the woods, but she is drowned out by further accusations from Abigail. Parris and Hale also talk over her attempts to explain herself.

Parris says Tituba must confess to what she's washed or he will whip her to expiry, and Putnam says she must be hung. Tituba is terrified, so she breaks down and says the Devil forced her to work for him. She claims someone else is bewitching Betty considering she'due south seen other people with the Devil. Putnam, Parris, and Unhurt encourage her to tell them who she has seen (and plant the names of Goody Good and Goody Osburn in her mind as potential witches). They merits that after renouncing her allegiance to the Devil, she is at present God'south instrument in the hamlet sent to aid them uncover the full extent of his Satanic plot.

Tituba says the Devil told her to impale Reverend Parris, and he promised her a better life if she worked for him. She claims that she saw Goody Good (Sarah Expert) and Goody Osburn (Sarah Osburn) with the Devil. Goody Osburn was Ann Putnam'south midwife iii times, and then this allegation confirms the Putnams' suspicions that witchcraft was involved in the deaths of their babies. Abigail shortly chimes in with her own hysterical set of confessions, claiming that she saw the Devil and wrote in his book. Abigail adds more people to the list of the accused.Betty all of a sudden wakes up and joins her in shouting out boosted accusations. Hale and Parris rejoice at Betty's apparent miraculous recovery.Putnam summons the marshal then that they can arrest the witches and bring them to justice.

The Devil evidently has some kind of special friendship book that he makes people sign when they join his crew. Ambrosial.

The CrucibleHuman action 1 Quotes

In this department, I'll get over a few quotes that I recall are important in establishing the themes and characterizations that emerge in Act 1.

"I have fought here 3 long years to curve these stiff-necked people to me, and now, just at present when some skilful respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my very character." (Reverend Parris pg. 11)

This quote shows the gravity with which Parris views his position in the boondocks and the degree of authority he thinks should accompany it. He'southward less focused on spreading the word of God than on exploiting his position every bit a religious authority and then he can gain greater power in the customs. Now his reputation may be ruined, which means he'll be back to square one and accept to rebuild the control he has worked so hard to learn.

"My proper name is good in the village! I will not have information technology said my name is soiled! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!" (Abigail Williams pg. 12)

The value of a person's name is a recurring topic in The Crucible. Reputation is hugely important to these characters considering information technology'due south inextricably linked to respect and power in a highly interdependent customs. Hither Abigail shifts the focus away from her own reputation by trashing the reputation of Goody Proctor. If she can convince people that Goody Proctor is not to be trusted, the rumors near her ain sins will lose brownie.

"Allow either of you exhale a discussion, or the edge of a word, well-nigh the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that volition shudder yous. And you know I can do information technology; I saw Indians nail my dear parents' heads on the pillow next to mine, and I accept seen some reddish work done at dark, and I can brand you wish you lot had never seen the sun get downward!" (Abigail Williams pg. 19)

Abigail threatens the other girls with violence if they dare tell anyone that she tried to impale Goody Proctor with black magic. This quote tells usa that Abigail has experienced severe emotional trauma in the past that almost certainly affects her current mental state. Information technology as well gives us a taste of how far she'south willing to go to achieve her desired outcome and/or exact revenge.

"I wait for John Proctor who took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew what lying lessons I was taught past all these Christian women and their covenanted men! And now you bid me tear the lite out of my eyes?" (Abigail Williams pg. 22)

Abigail pleads with John Proctor to continue their affair, which she feels has enlightened her to the hypocrisy that permeates Salem's culture. She tin can't go dorsum to her ignorant state later on she's already seen the light, and the thing is the only outlet bachelor to her to feel special and unlike within a community where she has little power or outlets for honest expression. After John's rejection, her malaise will find another, even more destructive path to follow.

"There are wheels within wheels in the village, and fires within fires!" (Ann Putnam pg. 26)

Ann Putnam says this because she'southward convinced that in that location are supernatural Satanic forces conspiring against her that accept led to her family unit misfortunes. Still, this quote has a much broader secular meaning that applies to the events in the play overall. There are all kinds of underlying motivations that trigger accusations of witchcraft in Salem. Piffling vengeance, greed, and jealousy are festering beneath the surface of an outwardly respectable community, and they're about to find their release.

"We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone, and I must tell you all that I shall not proceed unless y'all are prepared to believe me if I should find no bruise of Hell upon her." (Reverend Hale pg. 35)

From our modern viewpoint, this quote is a very strong case of irony. By searching for marks of the Devil's presence in the first place, Hale has already subscribed to superstition. People are also condemned throughout the residue of the play for involvement with the Devil when there's absolutely no hard prove besides the discussion of i other person. Hale'due south adherence to scientific principles volition requite him just enough insight to come across the injustices that have been committed in Salem after it's as well tardily for him to turn dorsum the tide of hysteria.

I'm not sure what Hale expected to detect. A pentagram ankle tattoo? A footling souvenir pitchfork? A button that says "Satan four Prez"? Eh, I estimate there are a lot of possibilities.

The CrucibleHuman action one Thematic Analysis

Let's go over some of the play's key themes and how they relate to the first act.

Irony

Irony and hypocrisy are recurring concepts in The Crucible. In that location are several exchanges in Human activity 1 that are rife with irony. Abigail claims that John Proctor opened her eyes to the pretenses of Salem (pg. 22). She realized all the lies she'd been told by people who supposedly adhered to the conventions of respectable society. However, in distress from Proctor's refusal to admit their relationship, Abigail creates her own lies that give her increased control over the club she resents. Past putting on a faux front to advance her status and go what she wants, she becomes just like the hypocrites she claims to despise.

The most prominent example of dramatic irony in this human activity is the quote from Unhurt (pg. 35) that was explained in the terminal department. Hale claims that they must avert superstition and hasty conclusions in their investigation of Betty'southward affliction. Nosotros, the modern audience, know that searching for "the Devil'south marks" equally the potential cause of an disquiet is an inherently superstitious practice. Hale, however, is convinced that a scientific research based merely on facts and reality can exist conducted to detect a supernatural presence.

Hysteria

In Act one it becomes clear how mass hysteria tin evolve out of desires for self-preservation. When Abigail admits that Ruth and Tituba were conjuring spirits, Thomas Putnam urges Parris to go on the offensive immediately with this data. If he makes his own accusations of witchcraft, he will forbid others from accusing him offset and putting his credibility at stake. As rumors of witchcraft spread, this fear-driven philosophy will be universally adopted, leading to more and more accusations and an surroundings of paranoia.

The speed at which rumors morph into accepted truths is too rapid for a few rational voices to contain them. Although Parris only calls Reverend Hale to examine Betty as a precaution, people presume that Hale'south involvement means there must be a supernatural chemical element to her illness. Even as Parris tries to avert supernatural explanations to protect his reputation, he is quickly caught up in the misplaced interpretations of others and forced to adopt them every bit his ain so that he isn't gobbled up by the hysteria monster.

Information technology becomes abundantly clear that people see only what they want to see (i.due east. whatever keeps them in the expert graces of social club) in situations that don't appear to have piece of cake rational explanations. Ann Putnam, for example, will seize at any opportunity to arraign supernatural forces for the deaths of her children. Extreme conclusions like Ann's "a witch murdered my babies with blackness magic" are accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge this consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves.

Reputation

Reverend Parris' concerns nearly his reputation take center phase, and then to speak, in Act i. Parris initially insists that at that place are "no unnatural causes" for Betty's illness, not considering he's devoted to science and rationality, but because he fears that he volition be disgraced if witchcraft is discovered nether his roof. He interrogates Abigail considering he'south worried his enemies will learn the full story beginning and use it to ignominy him. One time he gets confirmation from Abigail that some witchy business organisation happened in the wood, he is quick to position himself on the side of the accusers and threaten violence on Tituba if she doesn't confess (pg. 42). He has no central belief organisation beyond a desire to do what makes him look best in the eyes of the majority.

Abigail is also concerned well-nigh her reputation. She is enraged when Parris insinuates that there was something untoward about her dismissal from the Proctors' service. She insists that she has done cipher wrong and tries to discredit Elizabeth Proctor to divert attending abroad from her ain actions. "My proper noun is good in the hamlet! I will not have it said my name is soiled! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!" (pg. 12).

These actions and reactions in Act 1 establish the importance that characters place on maintaining respect for their names. A poor reputation tin can severely bear on a person'southward position in this small, interdependent society, whether the assumptions or rumors swirling around are truthful or not.

Power and Authority

The church has a dandy bargain of power in Salem, and therefore much of the authority we run across exercised in the play is associated with religion. Reverend Parris is currently in a position of ability as the town'south spiritual leader. Yet, he is convinced there is a faction in town that is determined to unseat him, and he will say and practise whatsoever it takes to retain control. He demands unconditional respect for his authorisation as God'south instrument in the community. From his signal of view,"There is either obedience or the church building will burn like Hell is burning!" (pg. 28)

Abigail, on the other mitt, struggles to claim greater agency exterior of traditional means. Her dominant personality doesn't fit with her depression status in society as a immature woman with no family. Initially, s he sees a path to college standing in order through becoming John Proctor's wife. When he rejects her, she takes some other route to power through accusations that exploit the fears of others to a indicate where even the most respected people in town are afraid to challenge her.

The power structure in Salem is as well responsible for the arraign heaped on Tituba and the misinterpretations that follow. Tituba has the least authorization out of anyone, so it'south easy for Abigail to use her as a scapegoat. If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the tragic events of the rest of the play might have been prevented . However, she is simply given a phonation when she agrees to approve the version of events that the people in traditional positions of authority believe to exist accurate. She becomes, according to Hale, "God's instrument put in our easily to observe the Devil's agents among u.s.a." (pg. 44) after she renounces her presumed allegiance to the Devil and accepts her role as a pawn to be used by those with greater power.

As has been the case throughout history in both fiction and reality, the want for power ends up costing way too many innocent people their lives.

The Crucible Act 1 Summary: Conclusion

In Act i of The Crucible, the roots of the witch hysteria are established, and we learn critical background data about many of the characters. Allow'due south do a super short bullet signal recap of the important plot points:

The play is set in the boondocks of Salem, MA, and the yr is 1692.
Betty Parris, a immature girl, is sick, but no one can figure out why.
Rumors spread around town that she'due south been bewitched.
Betty's dad is Reverend Parris, the new-ish church building leader in Salem, who is paranoid nearly his reputation amongst the townspeople.
Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris' teenage niece and Betty'due south cousin, is questioned by Parris about the cause of Betty's illness.
He knows that Abigail, Betty, and Parris' slave, Tituba, were dancing in the woods the night earlier and maybe conducting some kind of ritual.
Abigail claims there was no witchcraft involved.
Abigail had an thing with a farmer named John Proctor while serving in his house, and she's still into him, but he wants to forget it ever happened.
Betty says that Abigail tried to put a curse on John's wife, Elizabeth Proctor, in society to kill her and have her identify, but no one else knows well-nigh this, and Abigail warns her to keep quiet.
Reverend Hale, the church leader from the town of Beverley, is summoned to examine Betty because he'southward an skillful on witchcraft.
Tituba is accused of calling the Devil in the woods based on Abigail'due south testimony, and she confesses under pressure from Hale.
Tituba names Goody Practiced and Goody Osburn as beau witches after their names are suggested.
Abigail plays the victim and accuses more women of witchcraft.
Betty wakes upward and makes accusations of her own, following Abigail's lead.

In Act ii, you tin look forward to learning more about the country of the Proctors' marriage and just how crazy things accept gotten in Salem in the weeks afterwards the initial accusations. As well, John Proctor throws a few more tantrums borne of emotional immaturity, so get PUMPED.

What's Next?

If you want a complete summary of the whole play rather than just ane act, we've got you covered. Check out our holistic summary article to review what happens from kickoff to finish.

Looking for some in-depth analysis of characters in The Crucible? Read our complete assessments of John Proctor, Abigail Williams, Rebecca Nurse, Giles Corey, and Mary Warren.

If you want some advice on agreement the ideas behind the play so you can write a killer essay or ace your adjacent test, read our guide to the nigh important themes in The Crucible.

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Nearly the Writer

Samantha is a web log content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to assist students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate most art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all vii of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.