The Crucible Act 1

 

Rebecca seems to be the most sensible of all the characters we have met thus far.  On page 25, she discusses how she believes that Ruth will wake with time.  She continues, “I have seen them all through their silly seasons, and when it come on them they will run the Devil bowlegged keeping up with their mischief.  I think she’ll wake when she tires of it”.   We will see how long it takes for Ruth and Betty to “wake” from this act and end this witch hunt.  It was interesting how Rebecca’s character was used as foreshadowing.  On page 26 she states, “If so he is, then let us go to God for the cause of it.  There is prodigious danger in the seeking of loose spirits.  I fear it, I fear it.  Let us rather blame ourselves and— “.  The danger Rebecca speaks of is of course the ruining many lives that will occur because of this witch hunt.  Rebecca foreshadows the future problems in Salem and we see these problems begin to surface between Parris, Abigail, Tituba, Putnam, and Hale.   

We also learned more about Abigail.  She seems to cause all the problems of the play.  At first, it seemed like she wasn’t completely trying to blame Tituba.  Parris cuts her off so she cannot finish her sentence.  Parris and Hale assume that she is going to say that Tituba called the Devil.  I think Abigail was panicked and frantic so she went along with that story.  Her lies accumulated to her saying that Tituba made her and Betty drink the blood of chicken and that Tituba forces her to dream corruptions.  Parris, Putnam, and Hale’s persistent questions cause fear and escalate the situation.   Parris demands that Tituba confess herself or threatens death.  Putnam continues, “This woman must be hanged!  She must be taken and hanged!” (42).  Tituba becomes desperate. Her life is threatened.  Fear for her life causes her to say that somebody else is bewitching the children and she starts naming people after Parris presses her on page 44. 

Questions for the group:

Do you guys think anyone will accept the accusation that they are a witch or do you think everyone will deny?  Also, do you all think everyone will name a different witch?