The Crucible

The second scene of Act II takes place in the Salem Meeting House and opens on the trial of Martha Corey. Francis Nurse and Giles Corey enter the courtroom (offstage) and demand to speak. Reverend Hale, Reverend Parris, Governor Danforth, and Judge Hathorne adjourn with them to the vestry room (onstage), where Proctor arrives with Mary Warren. Proctor tells Danforth and Hathorne that the accusations of witchcraft are lies, and the girls have been pretending.

Danforth balks at the gravity of this accusation and attempts to bargain with Proctor. He tells Proctor that Elizabeth is pregnant, and that they will spare her life for a year. Proctor refuses to back down, however, and produces a deposition signed by 91 people. The deposition attests to the good character of Elizabeth Proctor, Martha Corey, and Rebecca Nurse. Parris and Hathorne dismiss the deposition, but suggest that they should investigate the character of all 91 people who signed it. After considering it, Danforth agrees and orders Cheever to draw up warrants for all 91 signers: “Arrest for examination.” Francis Nurse is greatly alarmed by this, as he assured those who signed the deposition that they would not suffer any consequences for doing so. Hale feels greatly disturbed that the accused cannot defend themselves.

Giles Corey submits his own deposition, wherein he explains that Thomas Putnam coerced his daughter to accuse George Jacobs of witchcraft with the objective of buying his property. Corey protests, “If Jacobs hangs for a witch, he forfeit up his property—that’s law! And there is none but Putnam with the coin to buy so great a piece. This man is killing his neighbors for their land!” (57). When Corey refuses to name the man who gave him this information—knowing that the court will threaten him—the court arrests him for “contempt of court.” Giles tries to point out that the current proceedings in the vestry room are only a hearing, so he cannot be held in contempt; Danforth retaliates by calling the court into “full session” and instructing Cheever to record everything spoken. Giles again refuses to name the informant and is formally arrested.

Proctor submits a deposition from Mary. In her statement, she declares that Abigail manipulated her into planting the doll, and that the girls have been faking their illness and injuries. Danforth calls in the accusing girls from the courtroom, including Abigail. Abigail denies the accusation.

Proctor reveals that Parris caught Abigail and the girls dancing naked in the woods, attempting to conjure spirits. Hathorne and Danforth are surprised by this accusation, and they begin to seriously question Abigail’s character. Parris admits to catching them dancing but denies seeing anyone naked. Parris and Hathorne then demand that Mary “pretend to faint” in order to prove that she has been faking. Mary finds herself unable to pretend under pressure. She explains that she was able to pretend before because she felt inspired by the energy of their performances. When the girls were performing together, she believed in witchcraft. Danforth demands the truth of Abigail. Abigail tells him she has suffered greatly due to the witches in Salem. Drunk with power, she even threatens the judge: “Let you beware, Mister Danforth—think you be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits?” (64-65). Abigail then distracts from their accusations by pretending Mary has sent out a cold wind to harm her.

Enraged by her lies, Proctor accuses Abigail of being a “whore” and confesses to his affair with her. He tells them that her accusations of witchcraft are merely “a whore’s vengeance” and that she wishes to dance with him “on [his] wife’s grave” (66).

Danforth summons Elizabeth to confirm Proctor’s story, forbidding anyone to tell her what he has just revealed. Unaware that her husband has already confessed to his affair, she lies to protect his character, claiming she dismissed Abigail because she “suspected” he fancied her. As she’s led away, a distraught Hale begs the judge to reconsider. Danforth remains steadfast in his judgement.

Abigail then leads the girls in a hysterical performance wherein they pretend that Mary has sent out a yellow bird to attack them. Terrified of their power, Mary recants her confession and accuses Proctor of working with the devil and making her sign a black book. With this pronouncement, Proctor gets arrested, and Hale quits the court in anguish.

The final scene opens on the jail cell Tituba is sharing with Sarah Good. Depressed by the volley of recent arrests, the warren—Willard—has become an alcoholic. Influenced by talk of possession and witchcraft, Tituba now believes she is going to see the devil in Barbados. This doesn’t distress her, however, because she believes that going to the devil is a pleasant alternative to life in Salem.

Desperate to save the lives of Salem’s citizens, Hale has compelled many of them to give false confessions. Some of them—like Giles Corey—have refused to give false confessions, defiantly going to their deaths. Recently, the citizens of Andover rebelled against the court, and there have been whisperings of a similar uprising in Salem. Afraid for her life, Abigail steals Parris’s money and flees on a ship for England with Mercy Lewis.

Anxious about his own standing in the community, Parris urges Danforth to hold off on executing some of Salem’s most reputable citizens. Danforth, however, remains staunchly committed to his judgements, proclaiming, “I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law” (77). Danforth and Hale summon Elizabeth. They ask her to encourage Proctor to confess, as he is due for execution that morning. She agrees to speak with her husband.

Proctor is brought in, and he and Elizabeth are left alone. Proctor asks about her, the baby, and their children. He asks Elizabeth if others have confessed. She tells him many have, but not Rebecca, Martha Corey, or Giles Corey. She explains that Giles continually refused to answer the charge against him “ay or nay”; a denial would have resulted in forfeit of his farm, but in refusing, he saved his property for his sons.

Proctor tells Elizabeth he is thinking about confessing. She tells him he should do whatever he feels compelled to do, and that she cannot judge him. She indicates that she knows he is a good man and takes some of the responsibility of his adultery on herself. He insists it was his sin alone.

Hathorne enters, and Proctor indicates he will confess. Danforth, Cheever, and Parris return, and Danforth instructs Cheever to take the written record of Proctor’s confession, intending to post the paper on the church door for the “instruction” of the townspeople. Proctor falsely confesses to dealings with the Devil. As he does so, Rebecca Nurse is brought in to observe; Danforth hopes that she might confess as well. Rebecca refuses to confess; Proctor is ashamed and cannot look at her.

Danforth next asks Proctor if he saw Rebecca and others in the Devil’s company, but Proctor refuses to name others. Danforth suspects his confession is a lie but acquiesces to Hale and Parris when they beg him to let Proctor sign the confession as is. After great deliberation, Proctor signs the written confession but cannot bring himself to hand it over to Danforth. He repeatedly questions what his signature on the lie will mean to his friends and children. He looks at Rebecca and Elizabeth. When Danforth demands the confession again, Proctor tears it in two.

Danforth calls the marshal, and Willard leads both Proctor and Rebecca away for hanging. As Proctor goes toward his death, Hale begs Elizabeth to plead with her husband and spare his life. Elizabeth refuses, claiming that Proctor has found a “goodness” she cannot take from him.