The Crucible: Act III Study Guide Name: ______
Answer each of the following questions in thoughtful, complete sentences.
1.What is the setting of Act III?
2.What “evidence” do Giles Corey and Francis Nurse bring before the court to defend their wives? Why is the evidence useless, and how do their efforts result in more arrests?
3.When John Proctor brings Mary Warren before the court, what does Reverend Parris accuse John of trying to do?
4.What news does Judge Danforth give John Proctor regarding Elizabeth? Why does Danforth doubt her?
5.How does Proctor damn himself by telling the court that his wife “will never lie”?
6.Why is John Proctor’s credibility in question when he and Giles attempt to expose the girls as frauds? What evidence is brought out against his Christian nature?
7.When Proctor is giving his deposition, Hale pleads with Danforth to send for a lawyer. According to Danforth, why is no lawyer necessary?
8.Why is Mary Warren unable to convince the court that she and the other girls are frauds?
9.What threat does Abigail make to Judge Danforth when he questions her about the allegations of fraud?
10.What confession does John Proctor make before the court? Who does he call as his witness, and what is the ironic result?
11.Why does Mary Warren finally accuse John Proctor of witchcraft?
12.According to John Proctor, why are both he and Danforth going to burn in Hell? (p. 111)
Critical Thinking
1.Reverend Parris is obviously threatened by John Proctor and the possibility that he may disrupt the court proceedings. How do you explain his fears and his motivation to keep the proceedings alive?
2.Upon telling Proctor that his wife—if her news is true—will be saved for at least a year, Danforth encourages Proctor to drop his charge against the girls. Why would he, a judge, do such a thing?
3.In Act II, Elizabeth encourages John to take what he knows about the girls to Ezekial Cheever, thus implying that he is a trusted acquaintance. However, it is Cheever, tailor turned clerk of court, who comes to arrest Elizabeth saying, “You know yourself! I must do as I am told.” Also, in Act III, he feels “compelled” to tell the court what he knows about John Proctor as a Christian. How do you explain his behavior?
4.How do you explain why Mary cannot pretend to faint for Judge Hathorne? Why was she able to do it in the past?
5.In the space below, consider the concept of TRUTH. Who in the play so far—or specifically in Act III—seems concerned about the truth? What, then, (if not the desire for truth) is motivating the other characters? Name specific characters and cite references to the text.
6.Discuss the concept of courage in terms of the following characters: Mary Warren, John Proctor, Giles Corey, John Hale.