The Crucible: Act Three

Name: ______

1. What is the setting of Act III?

2. What proof does John Proctor bring to show the court has been deceived by Abigail and the other girls?

3. What news is discovered about Elizabeth Proctor? How does this change John Proctor’s motivation?

4. What goes wrong with John Proctor’s petition? What does this show about the nature of the court?

5. What complaint does Giles Corey bring forth about Putnam?

6. Why does Corey refuse to give up the name of the person who provided the information about Putnam? What does this say about the town of Salem?

7. Why does Hale suggest that Proctor should have a lawyer? What does this tell us about Hale’s feelings about the justice of the trial? How is this a change for him?

8. What obvious lie does Parris knowingly repeat during his testimony about Abigail and the dancing in the woods? What does this say about his character? 9. What does Proctor admit to in court? Why is this such a big deal?

10. What does Proctor mean when he says, “it is a whore’s vengeance?”

11. What fatal mistake does Elizabeth Proctor make? Why does she make this mistake?

12. What trick do the girls play on Mary Warren? How does this affect her?

13. How does the court scene end?