QUESTIONS FOR ACT TWO OF THE CRUCIBLE

Question

1. What duty has Mary Warren been performing in Salem?
2. What does Elizabeth Proctor report to her husband about the trials in Salem? What does she urge John to do? 3. What gift does Mary Warren present to Elizabeth?
4. What ominous revelation does Mary Warren make about Elizabeth's reputation? How does this disclosure serve to make the quarrel between Elizabeth and John even more heated?
5. What are some of the ways in which John Hale questions Proctor and his wife about their religious faith? How do the Proctors answer each of the questions and allegations?
6. What theological argument does John Hale use to explain the causes of the events in Salem? 7. What conflict does John Proctor face at the end of the act?
8. Explain how each of the following is an example of verbal, situational, or dramatic irony: a. Mary's gift of a poppet to Elizabeth –
b. The one Commandment out of ten that John Proctor can't remember –
c. Proctor's statement about Abigail at the end of the act, "Good. Then her saintliness is done with." 9. Explain John Proctor's allusion as he tells Hale, "Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands of this!"
10. The end of this act hints that the most important conflict in the play, will take place between two specific characters—a protagonist and an antagonist. Who is the protagonist? Who is the antagonist?

Answer 1

Here are the answers to your questions regarding Act Two of Arthur Miller's The Crucible:

1. Mary Warren's Duty: Mary Warren has been serving as one of the girls in court, acting as an official of the court during the witch trials in Salem. She is one of the accusers, playing a crucial role in the proceedings.

2. Elizabeth's Report and Urging: Elizabeth Proctor reports to John that the trials are intensifying and more people are being accused of witchcraft. She urges John to go to Salem and reveal that the girls, including Abigail, are frauds and that they are pretending to see spirits.

3. Mary Warren's Gift: Mary Warren presents Elizabeth with a poppet (a small doll) that she made while sitting in court. She had stuck a needle into it for safekeeping.

4. Ominous Revelation: Mary Warren reveals that Abigail Williams is accusing Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft. This disclosure escalates the existing tension between Elizabeth and John, as John feels guilty for his previous affair with Abigail, which magnifies Elizabeth's insecurities and anger.

5. John Hale's Questions: John Hale questions the Proctors about their religious faith by asking them about their church attendance and their perception of the Ten Commandments. The Proctors admit they do not attend church regularly, and they struggle to remember certain commandments, particularly John's forgetting of the adultery commandment, which reveals his guilt regarding his affair with Abigail.

6. Hale's Theological Argument: Hale argues that the events in Salem are signs of a devil's presence in the community, suggesting that witchcraft is the source of the mischief and unrest. He believes he is in Salem to root out this evil.

7. John Proctor's Conflict: At the end of Act Two, John Proctor faces an internal conflict about how to confront the corruption in Salem and the accusations against his wife. He grapples with his feelings of guilt regarding his past actions and realizes that he must take a stand, potentially risking his own safety to protect Elizabeth.

8. Irony Examples:

   • Mary's Gift of a Poppet: This is situational irony because the poppet, which was meant as a kind gift for Elizabeth, becomes evidence of witchcraft when a needle is found in it, implicating Elizabeth.
   • The One Commandment John Can't Remember: This is dramatic irony; the audience is aware that Proctor’s forgetfulness of the commandment against adultery is significant because it reflects his guilt over his affair with Abigail, while he himself does not initially connect it so boldly.
   • Proctor's Statement about Abigail: This is verbal irony because Proctor is expressing a rhetorical hope that Abigail’s manipulations can finally be resolved, suggesting that her façade of purity (her claimed 'saintliness') is being corrupted by her deceitful actions.

9. Proctor's Allusion to Pontius Pilate: John Proctor's reference to Pontius Pilate highlights the idea of moral complicity and the failure to act against injustice. Just as Pilate tried to absolve himself of responsibility for Jesus' death by washing his hands, Proctor is asserting that Hale cannot simply distance himself from the consequences of the trials—he must take a stand.

10. Protagonist and Antagonist: The protagonist of the play is John Proctor, who is wrestling with his guilt and the moral implications of his actions. The antagonist is Abigail Williams, who uses the hysteria of the witch trials for her own gain, including her desire to eliminate Elizabeth Proctor and rekindle her affair with John.

These answers should provide a clear understanding of the events and themes in Act Two of The Crucible.