Significant Quotations Acts 2-3
Quotation Who said it to Act Thematic and Character Analysis whom “It is a mouse no more. I forbid her to go, and she Elizabeth- John Proctor 2 Characterizes Mary as someone who is given raises up her chin like the daughter of a prince and says authority by the court – disobedient to me, ‘I must go to Salem, Goody Proctor; I am an - Shows that power of hysteria, that all official of the court!’” (55). townspeople are becoming involved “If the girl’s a saint now, I think it is not easy to prove John Proctor- 2 - JP fear the court she’s fraud, and the town gone so silly. She told it to Elizabeth - He is focused on using PROOF me in a room alone—I have no proof of it” (57). - JP was alone w/ Abigail- which discredits him in his wife’s eyes a bit. “I never knew it before. I never knew anything Mary Warren John 2 - Shows the power of persuasion before…and all at once I remembered everything she Proctor and Elizabeth - Mary is easily convinced and claims she done to me!” (60). was bewitched by Sarah Good
“I think, sometimes, the man dreams cathedrals, not Proctor Hale 2 - Explains Proctor’s disdain for Parris clapboard meetin’ houses” (69). - Parris is too materialistic - Proctor defends himself- explains why he doesn’t go to church “I falter nothing, but I may wonder if my story will be Proctor Hale 2 - Proctor is logical and realizes the flaws of credited, in such a court” (73). court (given his insider knowledge from Abigail and Mary Warren’s reports) - He fears putting himself at risk
“If Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing’s left to Hale Proctor/ 2 - Reputation means nothing if Rebecca (who stop the whole green world from burning” (75). Francis is known for being good) can be accused— ANYONE CAN - Green= pure “Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this Proctor Hale 2 - Vengeance is driving the accusations in morning as clean as God’s fingers? I’ll tell you what’s town; the accusers should not always be walking Salem—vengeance is walking Salem” (81). seen as right - Proctor is one of the first to be aware of the problems “What I have heard in her favor, I will not fear to Hale Proctor 2 - Hale will defend Elizabeth in court testify in court” (83). - Believes in the power of the court
“It is a providence, and no great change; we are only John Proctor 2 - Proctor’s focus on a “providence” what we always were, but naked now” (85). Mary Warren/ sky illustrates that he is ready to expose his sins - he will use the truth to set Elizabeth free and will reveal his lechery to the court “I have broke charity with the woman, I have broke Giles Danforth 3 - Giles feel guilty for bringing up his charity with her” (90). concern for Martha’s reading (to Hale) as her name was tarnished. (However, Martha was arrested for something else.) “I think those must both be arrested in contempt, sir” Hathorne Danforth 3 - Refers to Francis and Giles b/c they are (90). bringing evidence against the court - Illustrates the corruption of court (authority) “Excellency, we have proof for your eyes; God forbid Francis Danforth 3 - The men (whose wives have all been you shut them to it. The girls, sir, the girls are frauds” accused) are desperate to reveal the (91). truth. The men follow the appropriate process by using PROOF, but fail to be heard. “Excellency, you surely cannot think to let so vile a lie Parris Danforth 3 - Parris rejects the idea that Mary be spread in open court!” (93). Warren never saw spirits. Parris is concerned w/ discrediting Proctor et al.
“We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all Danforth Proctor 3 THE CRUCIBLE defined concealment” (93). Danforth believes in the power of the court- that they are exposing the truth.
“I think it be evidence, John. I am an official of the Cheever-Proctor 3 Cheever, given authority by the court, has court, I cannot keep it” (95). more loyalty to the power than his friend/ neighbor “Excellency, does it not strike upon you that so many Proctor Danforth 3 - Brings the importance of reputation which of these women have lived so long with such upright the men are using as defense for women reputation, and---“ (95). - The court selectively uses reputation in its decision-making “That woman will never lie, Mr. Danforth” (96). Proctor Danforth 3 - Proctor establishes Elizabeth as honest; this moment defines her reputation which will be used against them later. “All innocent and Christian people are happy for the Parris Danforth 3 - Parris says anyone not happy w/ court are courts in Salem! These people are gloomy for it” (98). not innocent (Proctor, Francis, Giles)
“But you must understand, sir, that a person is either Parris Hale 3 - If you’re against the court, you will not be with this court or he must be counted against it, there let go. be no road between” (99). - This is a ridiculous stance as the court should seek justice and an alliance is irrelevant to the truth. “Do that which is good, and no harm shall come to Proctor Mary 3 - Shows Proctor’s FAITH thee “(99). Warren - Trying to convince/ console Mary Not true b/c of the lack of justice in the court “If Jacobs hangs for a witch he forfeit up his Giles Danforth 3 - Giles exposes LAND LUST property—that’s law! And there is none but Putnam - Explain the reasoning for Putnam’s actions with the coin to buy so great a piece. This man is killing his neighbors for their land!” (101). “I cannot give you no name, sir, I cannot” (102). Giles Danforth 3 - Giles, unlike the young girls, is honorable and will not sacrifice someone else to save himself. He also realizes how dangerous the court is. “There is a prodigious fear of this court in the country” Hale Danforth 3 - We begin to see Hale change here; (102). although he was originally here to seek out the witchcraft, he now realizes the problems with the court. “In God’s name, sir, stop here; send him home and let Hale Danforth 3 - Hale continues to stand up against the him come again with a lawyer—“ (104). court; the injustice against Proctor will be the last the he can tolerate. “You are either lying now, or you were lying in the Danforth 3 Danforth continues to use fear to intimidate; there court, and in either case you have committed perjury Mary Warren is no way for Mary to save herself except to and you will go to jail for it” (107). continue to lie. “I don’t my duty pointing out the Devil’s people—and Abigail Danforth 3 - Abigail makes herself out to be a victim, this is my reward? To be mistrusted, denied, again. She uses the idea of “duty” to questioned like a –“ (113) illustrate that she has served the court. “She thought only to save my name!” (119). Proctor 3 - Proctor attempts to defend Elizabeth after Danforth she protects his reputation. “God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we Proctor Danforth 3 - Since Proctor and Danforth have both will burn together!” (125). sinned- Danforth because he allows this “fraud” to continue, they will all be damned to hell.