The Crucible

Characters

1.	JOHN PROCTOR
To what extent is this man a hero?  What failings does he have?  What strengths does he have?  How do his strengths and weaknesses bring him into conflict with other characters (including minor characters)?  Has he any eagerness to be a martyr?  What forces (internal and external) compel him to become one?)  How else is this man 'torn internally' or suffer from internal conflicts?  Do you admire him? Why?

2.	ELIZABETH PROCTOR
Why don't we sympathise with her when we met her in ActII?  How does she win our sympathy as the play develops?  What does she come to realise by the end of the play?

3.	HALE
What are your first impressions of Hale?  Why do these impressions change as the play progresses?  Despite all his decent instincts, why does he come off badly?

4.	PARRIS
Who is he in conflict with in this play?  What internal conflicts does he have?  What are his main motivations?  What does he fear about John Proctor?

5.	ABIGAIL WILLIAMS
What does the incident involving the poppet reveal about her character?  Why could she be described as a hard opportunist?  Is there any softness in her?

6.	REBECCA NURSE
In what way does she point to the criminal absurdity of the witch hunt? What do you think she symbolises?

© Ministry of Education, Wellington, New Zealand (First published 1998)