In Crucible Act, Why does Mary Warren sob “I cannot! I cannot!”?

she can’t be involved in witchcraft

she can’t work for the Proctors anymore

she can’t testify against Abigail

she can’t believe Elizabeth is in jail

1 answer

In Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible," Mary Warren sobs "I cannot! I cannot!" because she can’t testify against Abigail. Mary is torn between her fear of Abigail and the other girls and her desire to do the right thing. She realizes that going against Abigail could put her in grave danger. This moment highlights the intense pressure and fear surrounding the witch trials, as well as Mary's internal conflict regarding her involvement in the accusations.