ACT 1: Answers The atmosphere is sombre, quiet and expectant. The furnishings or the room are plain, with little individual taste and expression. It indicates the seriousness, discipline and uniformity or Salem. Bewildered, afraid, alone, helpless. Susanna Walcott arrives with a message from Dr Griggs, “You might look to unnatural things for the cause of it.”

ACT 1: Continued 4. Parris fears that he will be punished for his niece and daughter’s dancing in the forest. The fact that they would be punished for something as innocent as dancing, tells us that this is a theocracy. 5. Ann Putnam is likely to tell people that witchcraft is working in the home of Rev. Parris. Thomas Putnam tells Parris that he should tell the parish downstairs that his daughter may be bewitched.

Act 1: Continued 6. Under Parris’s scrutiny, Abigail is ‘hurt’ by his questioning, she is the victim. As soon as she is alone with the girls, she becomes threatening and domineering. When she is alone with John, she is seductive. (Changing roles does not seem difficult to her). 7. We learn about the affair that he has had with Abigail (In Salem, behind the scenes is not what it appears to be). Proctor’s outspokenness about Parris’s shortcomings creates tension.

Act 1: Continued 8. People take notice of John. He is confident enough at this point to indicate that people listen to him when he speaks. 9.1. THOMAS PUTNAM: he can acquire land when his neighbours are hanged for witchcraft. He can also get revenge for acts committed against his family in the past. 9.2. ANN PUTNAM: could gain confirmation of her beliefs that dark forces are active in Salem and she will finally have someone to blame for the deaths of her children.

Act 1: Continued 9.3. REVEREND JOHN HALE: he will gain satisfaction from finally being able to practise what he has learnt in witchcraft. 9.4. ABIGAIL WILLIAMS: can gain attention, which she clearly lacks, as well as get rid of Elizabeth, so she can marry John Proctor. 9.5. TITUBA: she can “purify herself in the eyes of the Lord” and accuse others, so that her own life will be saved.

Act 2 Answers It is symbolic of the unsatisfactory relationship between John and Elizabeth. Elizabeth is displeased with John’s sin and John is displeased about Elizabeth’s mistrust of him. It is superficial, tense, guarded. John had originally planned to go to Salem, to tell the authorities that Abigail had admitted to him that it was all a game. He thought better of it because he had no proof of this (he was alone with Abigail when she told him). He was worried about his reputation (name) because if he told the court, his affair may have been revealed.

Act 2 Continued 4. No, he shouts at Elizabeth for continuing to judge him, even after he confessed his sin. He can’t bear the cold atmosphere in his house. 5. If the people of Salem do not appear to love one another, they may be accused of witchcraft. 6. He can’t remember the commandment about adultery and he says that he is not sure that witches exist – shows he is not a true Christian.

Act 2 Continued 7. He is shocked. He also does not see the logic behind people confessing to any lie, in order to save themselves from hanging. 8. Rebecca is arrested for the murder of Ann Putnam’s babies and Martha Corey is arrested for reading books other than the Bible.

Act 2 Continued 9. She saw Mary Warren sewing the doll for Elizabeth in court. She cleverly placed a needle in the doll and waited for Mary to give the doll as a gift, to Elizabeth. She then created a huge scene at dinner, surrounded by the judges. She started screaming and falling over, then reveals a needle that she has pierced herself with. She claims that Elizabeth has bewitched her, knowing that the Proctor house would be searched and the doll would be found with the needle in it.

Act 2 Continued 10. Mary tells John that Abigail will charge lechery (adultery) on him, if he tries to tell the court the truth.

Act 3 Answers Own interpretation Mary Warren is fearful and has a weakness for obeying Abigail. John spoils his name by confessing to having committed lechery and Elizabeth tells a lie to protect John (she has never told a lie before).

Act 3 Continued 5. Corey claims to have evidence that Thomas Putnam is using his daughter’s testimonies to have people sentenced to death, so that he can acquire their land. 6. Own interpretation. Danforth is possibly determined to believe the girls because he has allowed the proceedings to go so far already. It would discredit his own name to doubt them now.

Act 3 Continued 7. The mood and atmosphere at the end of Act III is chaotic, hysterical and marked by confusion. The shouting and commands create a very tense, dramatic atmosphere. 8. Own opinion. The order in Salem has disappeared completely.

Act 4 Answers Tituba and Sarah Good are better off than the other prisoners because they have visions of the devil taking them to Barbados. They seem to truly believe that they are going to a more pleasant place. Parris brings news that Abigail has robbed him and disappeared with Mercy Lewis. He assumes that they have headed for a ship.

Act 4 Continued 3. Own interpretation. He probably feels completely foolish, helpless and insecure because his money is gone. 4. Danforth calls Parris a “brainless man” and is deeply concerned about the news. He decides to proceed with the hangings but will try to get signed confessions from as many people as he can, to try to maintain the court’s standing in the town.

Act 4 Continued 5. Hale has lost his former naivety. He is now acting against the court, attempting on his own, to persuade people to confess to witchcraft, so that their lives may be saved. 6. At the end of Act II, John and Elizabeth were tense around each other. Now they have gained trust in each other and a tenderness that wasn’t there before. Their love has deepened and they have gained strength from each other because their principles are essentially the same.

Act 4 Continued 7. John judged himself very harshly after committing adultery and it is only in his death that he feels that he can achieve redemption. The act of refusing to sign his name to a lie was his last attempt to do something courageous and good.