The Crucibleby Arthur Miller

Quotation Log

Act III

Danforth brags, “Near to four hundred are in the jails…and seventy-two condemned to hang by [my] signature” (210).

• Characterization evidence

•Danforth is PROUD of these sad statistics.

Francis Nurse pleads, “Excellency, I never thought to say it to such a weighty judge, but you are deceived” (210).

• weighty?

•Francis tells Danforth the girls are pretending; however, his pride causes him not to believe it.

Proctor defends, “These [ninety-one people] are all landholding farmers, members of the church…they’ve known the women many years and never saw no sign they had dealings with the Devil” (212).

• Theme

• The people willing to stand up for truth are now under suspicion.

Mary admits, “It were pretense, sir” (210).

• Char.

•Mary finally tells the truth to the court.

Giles accuses Putnam, “There is none but Putnam with the coin to buy [forfeited] land. This man is killing his neighbors for their land!” (214).

• Char of Putnam

• The Putnams have more to gain during the witch trials

Abigail threatens, “Let you beware, Mr. Danforth. Think you to be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits? Beware it” (219).

• Char. of Abigail

• Abigail even threatens Danforth.

Proctor confesses, “I have known her, sir. I have known her” (220).

• Euphemism

• Proctor admits to adultery.

Abigail taunts, “Why do you come, yellow bird…God made my face; you cannot want to tear my face. Envy is a deadly sin, Mary” (223).

• Irony

• Abigail makes up another story to scare Mary.

Proctor encourages, “Mary, remember the angel Raphael—do which is good and [no harm will come to you]” (225).

• Irony

• Proctor tells Mary that no harm will come to her if she does the right thing. He’s wrong.

Mary snaps, “I’ll not hang with you! I love God, I love God” (226).

• Char.; climax

• Mary gives in to Abigail.

Proctor denounces, “God is dead!”(226).

• WHOAH!

• Since the truth is not upheld and holy, Proctor’s Puritan God must not exist.

Hale objects, “I denounce these proceedings, I quit the court!” (227).

• Characterization

• Hale goes against the court’s ruling (which is dangerous); Hale is the only authority to believe the truth, and now he is gone

Act IV

Danforth points out, “Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part” (233).

• Characterization

• Danforth does not want people to think that he is wrong

Hale wails, “There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!” (234).

• Symbolism- blood and guilt

• Hale cannot walk away from the injustice he sees in Salem.

Hale rationalizes, “It may well be God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride” (234).

• Char. /Theme of INTEGRITY

• Hale tries to convince Elizabeth to lie and confess before Proctor (& eventually she) is hanged.

Parris whines, “You cannot hang this sort. There is a danger for me” (232).

• Characterization

• Parris is STILL only concerned with himself

Hale admits, “I came into this village like a bridegroom to his beloved…and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died” (234).

• Simile

• Hale admits he was prideful in the beginning

Parris sputters, “[Abigail] is vanished…I am penniless” (231).

• Characterization of Abigail AND Parris

• Abigail is still evil (and gets away with it); Parris is still greedy (and now poor)

Rebecca argues, “Why, it is a lie…how may I damn myself? I cannot, I cannot” (237).

• Characterization of Rebecca; Integrity theme

• Rebecca is true to her character

Proctor pleads, “I have given you my soul; leave me my name” (239).

• Integrity• His soul is damned, at least his

reputation in town should be spared ( & others’ reps by association).

Elizabeth entreats, “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him” (240).

• Char.; Integrity theme• Proctor regains his goodness by

accepting his death by hanging rather than becoming an accomplice to the misguided authorities.