Post by mslewis on May 2, 2012 19:37:10 GMT
Hi folks
Here are some notes on Act 3 that we discussed in class last week:
Crucible Act 3 what is at stake for the characters...
John:
If he tells the truth about the affair – he will lose his public reputation as a man of integrity
If he doesn’t tell the truth or if the court think he is lying about the affair – Elizabeth will die, Abigail’s accusations will likely continue, the court will jail him for lying
Elizabeth:
If she tells the truth about John’s affair – he will lose his public reputation as a man of integrity
If she lies and says the affair didn’t take place – the court won’t believe John’s story and her life won’t be saved, the court will jail John, the trials will continue
Mary:
If she tells the truth that the girls’ accusations were all lies – the court will jail her for lying (whether they do or don’t believe her), she will hang if the court thinks she is a witch who has been influenced by the devil to say this, she will face the wrath of Abigail
If she lies and continues to say the local people really are witches (their accusations are true) – Elizabeth will die, she will face the wrath of John
Abigail
If the court believe John and see that she has been lying in her accusations – her reputation will be ruined as a “whore” and a liar and she will be jailed by the court
Parris and the court officials (except Hale)
If they believe John – they will look foolish as they have been deceived by Abigail, they will lose all authority with the townspeople as so many have been wrongly put to death. Parris in particular will be driven out if his niece is found to be a callous liar who has murdered so many people.
Why do the girls make the accusations? Fear. When there is so much gossip about witchcraft and Parris admits to Hale that he saw them mixing some kind of brew, they are at risk of being accused themselves, so Abigail blames Tituba for afflicting them.
Parris would rather go along with this than have his niece accused and it becomes a way for him to take revenge on some of his followers. As the trials continue he has too much to lose to allow them to stop. He also gains much wanted authority in the town from the trials.
Here are some notes on Act 3 that we discussed in class last week:
Crucible Act 3 what is at stake for the characters...
John:
If he tells the truth about the affair – he will lose his public reputation as a man of integrity
If he doesn’t tell the truth or if the court think he is lying about the affair – Elizabeth will die, Abigail’s accusations will likely continue, the court will jail him for lying
Elizabeth:
If she tells the truth about John’s affair – he will lose his public reputation as a man of integrity
If she lies and says the affair didn’t take place – the court won’t believe John’s story and her life won’t be saved, the court will jail John, the trials will continue
Mary:
If she tells the truth that the girls’ accusations were all lies – the court will jail her for lying (whether they do or don’t believe her), she will hang if the court thinks she is a witch who has been influenced by the devil to say this, she will face the wrath of Abigail
If she lies and continues to say the local people really are witches (their accusations are true) – Elizabeth will die, she will face the wrath of John
Abigail
If the court believe John and see that she has been lying in her accusations – her reputation will be ruined as a “whore” and a liar and she will be jailed by the court
Parris and the court officials (except Hale)
If they believe John – they will look foolish as they have been deceived by Abigail, they will lose all authority with the townspeople as so many have been wrongly put to death. Parris in particular will be driven out if his niece is found to be a callous liar who has murdered so many people.
Why do the girls make the accusations? Fear. When there is so much gossip about witchcraft and Parris admits to Hale that he saw them mixing some kind of brew, they are at risk of being accused themselves, so Abigail blames Tituba for afflicting them.
Parris would rather go along with this than have his niece accused and it becomes a way for him to take revenge on some of his followers. As the trials continue he has too much to lose to allow them to stop. He also gains much wanted authority in the town from the trials.