The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Act 3 Summary & Analysis | Summary and Q&A

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June 16, 2018
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The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Act 3 Summary & Analysis

TL;DR

In act 3 of The Crucible, John Proctor tries to expose the fraudulent accusations of the girls and faces interrogation, resulting in a chaotic and intense conflict.

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Key Insights

  • ✊ Act 3 showcases the power dynamics and manipulation within the court during the Salem witch trials.
  • πŸ‘¨β€βš–οΈ The court refuses to accept evidence that challenges the established narrative, prioritizing hysteria over justice.
  • πŸ§‘β€πŸ­ Personal vendettas and greed for land are revealed to be motivating factors behind the witch-hunt.
  • πŸ₯Ί The confrontation between John Proctor and Elizabeth exposes the consequences of their strained relationship and leads to a tragic situation.
  • πŸ˜’ The girls, especially Abigail, use deceit and manipulation to shape the perception of events in their favor.
  • πŸ˜€ The proceedings highlight how easily innocence can be disregarded in the face of mass hysteria and assumed guilt.
  • πŸ’€ Reverend Hale's denouncement emphasizes the dangers of clinging to a false narrative without considering alternative perspectives.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What evidence does John Proctor present to counter the girls' accusations?

John Proctor presents a deposition signed by 91 townspeople, attesting to the innocence of Martha Corey, Rebecca Nurse, and his wife Elizabeth, who have been upstanding Christian women with no affiliation to the devil.

Q: How does Abigail try to manipulate the situation when John Proctor confesses his affair?

Abigail starts play-acting, insinuating witchcraft and hallucinations to divert attention from the truth. She uses the chaos and confusion to maintain her hold on the court's favor.

Q: Why does Reverend Hale denounce the witch-hunt and trials?

Reverend Hale criticizes the guilt-by-association nature of the hearings, where anyone with evidence against the court's decisions is accused of trying to overthrow it. He recognizes the fear and injustice prevailing in the proceedings.

Q: How does the conflict intensify in act 3 of The Crucible?

The conflict escalates rapidly as accusations, confessions, and manipulations unfold. The authority ignores evidence, doubts confessions, and condemns innocent individuals, leading to chaos, arrests, and public denouncements.

Summary & Key Takeaways

  • Judge Hawthorne interrogates Martha Corey, Giles Corey, and Frances Nurse for evidence, while John Proctor brings Mary Warren to confess the girls' deceit.

  • Proctor presents a deposition signed by 91 townspeople vouching for the innocence of accused individuals, and Thomas Putnam is accused of coercion.

  • Abigail accuses Mary of lying, Proctor admits his affair, and chaos ensues as Proctor and Corey are arrested and Reverend Hale denounces the witch-hunt.

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