"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts

He believed he was being persecuted wherever he went, despite his best efforts to win people and God to his side.

Salem had been established hardly forty years before. To the European world the whole province was a a barbaric frontier inhabited by a sect of fanatics who, nevertheless were shipping out products of slowly increasing quantity and value.

Salem had been established hardly forty years before. To the European world the whole province was a a barbaric frontier inhabited by a sect of fanatics who, nevertheless were shipping out products of slowly increasing quantity and value.

Their creed forbade anything resembling a theater or “vain enjoyment.”

Which is not to say that h nothing broke into this strict and somber way of life.

That there were some jokers, however, is indicated by the practice of appointing a two-man patrol whose duty was to “walk forth in the time of God’s worship to take notice of such as either lye about the meeting hous, without attending to the word and ordinances, or that lye at home or in the fields without giving good account thereof, and to take the names of such persons and to present them to the magistrates, whereby they may be accordingly proceeded against.”

That there were some jokers, however, is indicated by the practice of appointing a two-man patrol whose duty was to “walk forth in the time of God’s worship to take notice of such as either lye about the meeting hous, without attending to the word and ordinances, or that lye at home or in the fields without giving good account thereof, and to take the names of such persons and to present them to the magistrates, whereby they may be accordingly proceeded against.”

This predilection for minding other people’s business was time-honored among the people of Salem, and it undoubtedly created many of the suspicions which were to feed the coming madness.

It stood, dark and threatening, over r their shoulders night and day, for out of it Indian tribes marauded from time to time and Reverend Parris had parishioners who had lost relatives to these heathen.

It stood, dark and threatening, over r their shoulders night and day, for out of it Indian tribes marauded from time to time and Reverend Parris had parishioners who had lost relatives to these heathen.

Abigail: But we never conjured spirits.

Parris: There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit?

Abominations are done in the forest –

A certain deference springs into him., although his worry remains.

Parris, with dwindling conviction now: A precaution only.

They will howl me out of Salem for such corruption in my house.

Mary Warren, with hysterical fright: What’s got her?

He need not have been a partisan of any faction in the town, but there is evidence to suggest that he had a sharp and biting way with hypocrites.

In Proctor’s presence a fool felt his foolishness instantly – and a Proctor is always marked for calumny therefore.

I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men!

Gentleness exudes from her.

He defers to her.

Rebecca: There is prodigious danger in the seeking of loose spirits.

Parris: It is agreed, sir – it is agreed – we will abide by your judgement.

Hale, with a tasty love of intellectual pursuit: Here is the invisible world, caught, defined, and calculated.

Hale, with a tasty love of intellectual pursuit: Here is the invisible world, caught, defined, and calculated.

Does someone afflict you, child?

Hale: You cannot evade me, Abigail.

Hale, with rising exaltation: You are God’s instrument put in our hands to discover the Devil’s agents among us.

She is enraptured, and though in a pearly light.

Elizabeth: John, if it were not Abigail that you must go to hurt, would you falter now?

The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you.

Her strangeness throws him off, and her evident pallor and weakness.

When will you proceed to keep this house as you are paid nine pound a year to do -- and my wife not wholly well?
as though to compensate, Mary Warren goes to Elizabeth with a small rag doll.

Mary Warren: They had Doctor Griggs examine er, and she's full to the brim.

But be that not a marvel?

You will never believe I hope, that Rebecca trafficked with the Devil

No man may longer doubt the powers of the dark are gathered in monstrous attack upon this village.

Proctor: I have never knew until tonight that the world is gone daft with this nonsense.

Proctor: I-- had not reckoned with goin' into court.

I have a warrant for your wife.

Now Hell and Heaven grapple on our backs, and all our old pretense is ripped away-- make your peace!

It is providence, and no great change; we are only what we always were, but naked now.

No man may longer doubt the powers of the dark are gathered in monstrous attack upon this village.

Now Hell and Heaven grapple on our backs, and all our old pretense is ripped away-- make your peace!

Do you know, Mr. Proctor, that the entire contention of the state in these trials is that the voice of Heaven is speaking through the children?

Parris: Excellency, you surely cannot think to let so vile a lie be spread in open court!

I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me.

This is Mary Warren's deposition.

She swears now that she never saw Satan; nor any spirit, vague or clear, that Satan may have sent to hurt her.

And she declares her friends are lying now.

Danforth: How were you instructed in your life?

Danforth: I will tell you this-- you are either lying now, or you were lying in the court, and in either case you have committed perjury and will go to jail for it.

In which she swears that she never saw familiar spirits, apparitions, or any manifest of the Devil.

In which she swears that she never saw familiar spirits, apparitions, or any manifest of the Devil.

If she speak true, I bid you now drop your guile and confess your pretense, for a quick confession will go easier with you.

Parris: You say you never saw no spirits, Mary, were never threatened or afflicted by any manifest of the Devil or the Devil's agents.

Danforth: Abigail, is it possible that the spirits were illusion only, some deception that may cross your mind.

Danforth: Abigail, is it possible that the spirits were illusion only, some deception that may cross your mind.

Elizabeth: I came to think he fancied her.

But Abigail, pointing in fear, is now raising up her frightened eyes and awed face toward the ceiling.

She is transfixed with all the girls, she is whispering open-mouthed, agape at the ceiling.

She is transfixed with all the girls, she is whispering open-mouthed, agape at the ceiling.

Mary utters something unintelligible, staring at Abby, who keeps watching the "bird" above.

Girls halt at the door.

Will you confess yourself befouled with Hell, or do you keep that black allegiance yet?

*Mary Warren interior monologue*

Danforth: There is a prodigious stench in this place.

He is gaunt, frightened, and sweating in his greatcoat.

Parris, to Danforth, instantly: Oh, good morning, sir, thank you for coming, I beg your pardon wakin’ you so early.

But I thought to summon you, sir, that we might think on whether it be not wise, to—He dares not say it.

Danforth: Now hear me, and beguile yourselves no more.

Excellency, if you postpone a week and publish to the tow that you are striving for their confessions, that speak mercy on your part, not faltering.

Hale: Goody Proctor, your husband is marked to hang this morning.

He would not answer aye or nay to his indictment; for if he denied the charge they'd hang him surely.

Mr. Proctor, a score of people have already testified they saw this woman with the Devil.

Why, you should rejoice to say it if your soul is truly purged of any love for Hell!

Why, you should rejoice to say it if your soul is truly purged of any love for Hell!

Is there no good penitence but it be public?

Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs.

It is pride, it is vanity.

What profit him to bleed?

Excellency, if you postpone a week and publish to the tow that you are striving for their confessions, that speak mercy on your part, not faltering.

Who weeps for these weeps for corruption.

Shall the worms declare his truth?