The CrucibleThe Crucible

Act I Act I CharactersCharacters

ParrisParris The recently appointed minister in Salem and The recently appointed minister in Salem and

father of Betty Parris. father of Betty Parris. Parris is dogmatic in his opinions, intolerant of Parris is dogmatic in his opinions, intolerant of

opposition, and suspicious of those whom he opposition, and suspicious of those whom he does not like. does not like.

His belief in witches and his desire to punish His belief in witches and his desire to punish his enemies set in motion the chain of events his enemies set in motion the chain of events that leads to the hysteria in Salem. that leads to the hysteria in Salem.

During the witch trials, he pressures Danforth, During the witch trials, he pressures Danforth, the chief judge, to punish those who, in his the chief judge, to punish those who, in his opinion, are possessed or in league with the opinion, are possessed or in league with the Devil. Devil.

TitubaTitubaThe black slave of The black slave of

Reverend Parris, believed Reverend Parris, believed to be practicing witchcraft. to be practicing witchcraft.

She is from Barbados.She is from Barbados.

AbigailAbigail Reverend Parris' niece. Reverend Parris' niece. An intelligent, resourceful, and highly An intelligent, resourceful, and highly

mischievous girl of seventeen, Abigail is mischievous girl of seventeen, Abigail is the natural leader of the other girls in the natural leader of the other girls in Salem.Salem.

She instigates the witch trials by falsely She instigates the witch trials by falsely accusing others of witchcraft. accusing others of witchcraft.

She pretends to see spirits and instructs She pretends to see spirits and instructs the other girls to pretend as well.the other girls to pretend as well.

She is also infatuated with John Proctor and She is also infatuated with John Proctor and keen to take Elizabeth's place. keen to take Elizabeth's place.

SusannaSusannaFriend to Abigail. Friend to Abigail. She also takes part in the She also takes part in the

trials by falsely accusing trials by falsely accusing others of witchcraft.others of witchcraft.

ThomAS PutnamThomAS Putnam A rich, unscrupulous farmer who is out to A rich, unscrupulous farmer who is out to

expand his land holdings by any means. expand his land holdings by any means. He systematically accuses his neighbors He systematically accuses his neighbors

of witchcraft so that he might purchase of witchcraft so that he might purchase their lands after they hang.their lands after they hang.

He is manipulative, close-minded, and He is manipulative, close-minded, and domineering. domineering.

He expects everybody to respect him and He expects everybody to respect him and accept his opinions.accept his opinions.

Mrs. Ann PutnamMrs. Ann Putnam Wife of Thomas Putnam. Wife of Thomas Putnam. She believes that a witch is She believes that a witch is

responsible for the deaths of her responsible for the deaths of her seven infant children. seven infant children.

Her jealousy of Rebecca Nurse leads Her jealousy of Rebecca Nurse leads her to accuse Goody Nurse of being a her to accuse Goody Nurse of being a witch.witch.

Mercy LewisMercy LewisServant to the Putnams and Servant to the Putnams and

friend to Abigail. friend to Abigail. She participates in the witch She participates in the witch

trials by pretending to see trials by pretending to see spirits and falsely accusing spirits and falsely accusing individuals of witchcraft.individuals of witchcraft.

Mary WarrenMary Warren The young maidservant of the Proctors.The young maidservant of the Proctors. Although Mary is honest and well-Although Mary is honest and well-

intentioned toward the Proctors, when intentioned toward the Proctors, when faced with the prospect of suffering, her faced with the prospect of suffering, her sense of self-preservation overrides her sense of self-preservation overrides her natural goodness. natural goodness.

She is very much afraid of Abigail and She is very much afraid of Abigail and also does not want to be cut off from also does not want to be cut off from the other young girls.the other young girls.

BettyBettyParris’ daughter. Parris’ daughter. Her father discovers her Her father discovers her

dancing in the woods, and dancing in the woods, and she later accuses individuals she later accuses individuals of practicing witchcraft.of practicing witchcraft.

Rebecca NurseRebecca NurseWife of Francis Nurse. Wife of Francis Nurse. She is one of the most respected She is one of the most respected

individuals in Salem because of individuals in Salem because of her kindness and charity. her kindness and charity.

She argues against the witch trial She argues against the witch trial investigations. investigations.

Mrs. Putnam accuses her of Mrs. Putnam accuses her of witchcraft.witchcraft.

Giles CoreyGiles CoreyElderly inhabitant of Salem. Elderly inhabitant of Salem. A sincere, well-intentioned, A sincere, well-intentioned,

though cantankerous, old though cantankerous, old farmer. farmer.

He is frank and forthright in his He is frank and forthright in his thinking and utterances. thinking and utterances.

He is on good terms with John He is on good terms with John Proctor and Francis Nurse. Proctor and Francis Nurse.

ProctorProctor A young, upright, outspoken, A young, upright, outspoken,

successful farmer in Salem. successful farmer in Salem. He loves and respects his wife and is He loves and respects his wife and is

repentant of the one act of adultery he repentant of the one act of adultery he has committed with Abigail Williams, has committed with Abigail Williams, his former servant. his former servant.

He resents the greediness and holier-He resents the greediness and holier-than-thou attitude of Reverend Parris than-thou attitude of Reverend Parris and, therefore, invites his wrath and and, therefore, invites his wrath and suspicion.suspicion.

Rev. HaleRev. Hale A minister from the nearby town of A minister from the nearby town of

Beverly who is called by Reverend Parris Beverly who is called by Reverend Parris to investigate his suspicions of witchcraft to investigate his suspicions of witchcraft in Salem. in Salem.

As he becomes aware of Abigail's, Parris', As he becomes aware of Abigail's, Parris', and Hathorne's hidden agendas, he begins and Hathorne's hidden agendas, he begins to question the validity of the trials, in to question the validity of the trials, in which he acts as a judge. which he acts as a judge.

He then tries to convince Danforth of the He then tries to convince Danforth of the truth, but lacks the courage and conviction truth, but lacks the courage and conviction to openly oppose him. to openly oppose him.