Plot+Summary

"The Crucible"
=Plot Summary=



Note: The story is based on the Salem Witch Trials which took place early in America's history and is portrayed as an allegory of the Red Scare and McCarthyism that took place in the 1940's and 1950's. All of the characters are people involved with the proceedings, yet some of the ages are different. Abigail was only about 12, while Proctor was in his 60's. Also, it seemed their affair was more or less insignificant to the trials.

Based on the events on the Salem Witch trials in Massachusetts, a group of young adult girls are seen dancing in a nearby forest by the minister Reverend Parris. The girls include Abigail Williams, the leader, Tituba, a slave, Ruth Putnam, Betty Parris, Mercy Lewis, and Mary Warren. Parris' daughter Betty becomes ill and falls into a mostly nonresponsive state. One of the other girls, Ruth Putnam, the daughter of Thomas Putnam also falls ill. When there is no explanation for the sudden disease, the town goes hysterical with the threat of witchcraft.

Abigail tells Parris and John Proctor (her former master) that the girls did nothing other than dance. However, she later recollects with the other girls that one of them was naked, and they drank blood. Tituba was also attempting to resurrect the souls of the other Putnam children who died at birth. Betty wakes up during a psalm and the crowd gathered outside the home of the Parris' assumes it's because she cannot bear to hear the name of the Lord.

Another argument starts between Proctor, Parris, Giles Corey, and Putnam. This argument reveals past occurences and old rivalries within Salem. Reverend Hale (an expert on demonic arts) arrives and examines Betty. Hale questions Abigail and grows suspicious of her. He then questions Tituba and forces her into confessing consulting with the Devil. She then accuses other townspeople of the same act. Abigail and Betty join in on naming several other townspeople who are suspected of witchcraft.

The next week, John and Elizabeth Proctor discuss the trials' twelve accused members of Salen. Elizabeth urges Proctor to tell the clerk, Ezekiel Cheever, that Abigail is lying, but he refuses to do so. Mary Warren, their servant, returns from the tiral and informs Elizabeth that she was mentioned as a potential witch. Reverend Hale arrives, soon followed by Giles Corey and Francis Nurse to inform them that Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey have also been arrested. Elizabeth is soon arrested and Proctor consults Mary. He insists she go to Salem to tell the truth.

Proctor brings Mary to court to testify. Judge danforth informs him that Elizabeth is pregnant and will be spared for the time being, but Proctor insists on letting Mary testify. The girls then accuse Mary of bewitching them, which infuriated Proctor enough to confess his affair with Abigail and accuses her of having his wife arrested out of jealousy. To check this news, Elizabeth is called in to attest to the fidelity of her husband and to protect his honor, she lies. The girls continue to pretend Mary is bewitching them and she in turns accuses Proctor of bewitching her. Proctor is arrested.

Abigail runs away to Boston where she is presumably a whore. Hale, pleads with the accused witches to confess falsely to not be hanged, but many refuse for their honor. Danforth asks Elizabeth to talk John into confessing, and she agrees. John agrees to confess to preserve his own life, but he refuses to name anyone else and make the confession public. Proctor then retracts his admission out of guilt. Proctor then suffers the consequences with the rest.

Back