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

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.

Key Insights

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

Transcript

as act 3 of The Crucible begins judge Hawthorne is interrogating Martha Corey Giles Corey and Frances nurse demand to share their evidence Danforth tells them to write down their information for the court to consider John Proctor comes in with Mary Warren who wants to confess the girls testimony has been a complete fraud Danforth assures them the c... Read More

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.