The Role of Fear in The Crucible

In Conclusion...

Reverend Parris

In The Crucible, the element of fear caused the people of Salem to act irrationally and the play represents how far people will go to protect themselves and those that they love.

• Fears he will lose his social status if people believe Betty is a witch
• Calls someone from another town to examine her and goes along with the rest of Abby's accusations

Quotes from Reverend Parris

• "But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will and they will ruin me with it" (10)

• "Thomas, Thomas, I pray you, leap not to witchcraft. I know that you...would never wish such a disastrous charge laid upon me...They will howl me out of Salem for such corruption in my house." (11)

Elizabeth Proctor

• Fears John will be prosecuted if the truth about the affair gets out
• Lies to Danforth when asked, after Proctor accused Abby of being a whore

Quotes from Elizabeth Proctor

• ELIZABETH, not knowing what to say, sensing a situation, wetting her lips to stall for time.

• "DANFORTH. To your own knowledge, has John Proctor ever committed the crime of lechery? In a crisis of indecision, she cannot speak. Answer my question! Is your husband a lecher!
• Elizabeth, faintly. No, sir. (105)

• "PARRIS. I think they [Abigail and Mercy Lewis] be aboard a ship... Thirty-one pound is gone." (117)

• "ABIGAIL. You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet! He turns abruptly to go out. She rushes to him. John, pity me, pity me!" (22)

• "ABIGAIL. And mark this. Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. And you know I can do it;" (19)

Quotes from Abigail Williams

Abigail Williams

• Fearful of gaining a bad social status or being shunned because of events in the forest
• Accuses Tituba of witchcraft
• Fears losing Proctor
• When accusation works with Tituba tries the same to get rid of Goody Proctor
• Fears being caught in all of her lies
• Accuses Mary Warren
• Runs away

The Role of Fear in The Crucible

Main Idea

Fear influences people to take extreme measures and act irrationally

• Caused by threat of danger or harm
• Anxiety for oneself or another
• Feelings of dread

What Is Fear?

Question

What role does fear play in The Crucible and how is this shown in the characterization of the play?

By Maddie Scozzari

Mary Warren

• Fears being hung
• Admits to witchcraft and accuses John Proctor as being the Devil's man

Quotes from Mary Warren

• "ABIGAIL... Her eyes fall on Mary Warren.
• MARY WARREN, terrified, pleading. Abby!" (101)

• "MARY WARREN, pointing at Proctor. You're the Devil's man!" (110)

• "MARY WARREN, her sobs beginning. He wakes me every night, his eyes were like coals and his fingers claw my neck, and I sign, I sign..." (110)

John Proctor

• "PROCTOR. Aye, but we did not" (22)

• PROCTOR, trembling his life collapsing about him. I have known her, sir." (102)

• "PROCTOR. I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough!" (132)

Quotes from John Proctor

• Fears blackening his name for something he did not do
• Signs name on confession sheet, but won't let it be hung
• Fears being labeled as an adulterer
• Does not immediately say that Abby only did this to get Proctor to herself