The Crucible Act 1 Summary

The beginning human activity of The Crucible sets the stage (literally, heh) for the disturbing sequence of events that will unfold in Acts 2, 3, and 4. Most of the major characters are introduced, and in that location are disquisitional insights into diverse political and personal conflicts that threaten to disrupt the social order in the town of Salem. Nosotros likewise acquire how the witchcraft craze got started and why information technology spiraled out of command. This article volition get over the very important sequence of events and their thematic relevance so y'all tin can reply all the questions your English language teacher throws at you.

I'll provide both a short summary and a long summary. The curt summary is just the bare bones of what happened without getting into likewise much detail almost conversations that are less relevant to the central plot. Information technology'due south more of a review to read after you've already gone through the play yourself.

The long summary, which I'1000 choosing to call the "oops, I didn't read information technology" summary, is more in-depth. It goes through everything that occurs in Human action 1 without getting too far into the weeds. Despite the title of the second summary, I urge yous to really read the play and so y'all accept a stronger understanding of the voices of the characters and the thematic points Miller is trying to make. Also, if y'all don't read it you'll miss out on some amazing stage directions that can exist easily misinterpreted as giggle-worthy euphemisms if yous're every bit immature equally me and my young man blog writers.

The CrucibleAct 1 Summary — Brusk Version

10-year-erstwhile Betty Parris has contracted a mysterious illness that renders her mute and bedridden. Her male parent, Reverend Samuel Parris, caught her dancing in the woods the night before with a grouping of girls. The grouping included his teenage niece, Abigail Williams, and his slave, Tituba. Rumors have spread effectually boondocks that witchcraft is the crusade of Betty's illness, and people are now gathered at the Parris household. Parris questions Abigail about the rumors, but she claims the girls were just dancing. Ann Putnam says that her daughter, Ruth, who was with the grouping in the woods, is too afflicted with a strange illness. All of Ann's children except Ruth take died as infants. Ann sent Ruth to Tituba in hopes that she would be able to communicate with her siblings and find out who or what was responsible for their deaths. To her uncle's dismay, Abigail admits that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the forest.

Abigail and two girls named Mercy Lewis and Mary Warren, who were also in the woods, are left solitary with Betty. They try to wake her upwards as they get their story directly. Betty blurts out that Abigail drank craven claret in an endeavor to bandage a spell that would kill Elizabeth Proctor, and Abigail warns her to keep quiet (or else). John Proctor enters the room, and Mercy and Mary go out Abigail alone with him. John and Abigail had an affair when Abigail worked equally a servant in his house, and Abigail wants it to keep. John insists that he has recommitted himself to his wife, Elizabeth. Betty whimpers when she hears the Lord's proper noun in a psalm that people are singing outside the room. Everyone who is singing outside the room rushes in to check on her. Betty's distress is taken equally boosted evidence of witchcraft past Ann Putnam, and some of the others start to come around to this theory as well.

An intellectual church leader named Reverend Hale arrives from the town of Beverly to investigate the situation and come across if he can observe whatsoever signs of witchcraft. Abigail confesses that Tituba called the Devil after more details about the previous dark are revealed. Tituba isn't allowed to tell her side of the story (that Abigail was actually the instigator), and when she is threatened with hanging she confesses that she's been forced to work for the Devil. She also names Sarah Skilful and Sarah Osburn every bit boyfriend witches after prompting by Parris and Hale. Abigail and Betty and so admit their unwilling involvement in witchcraft and shout out the names of several other women who they claim to have seen with the Devil.

I want YOU to join my plot to totally mess with a super lame town in Massachusetts.

The CrucibleHuman activity 1 Summary — "Oops I Didn't Read It" Version

Act 1 opens on a sleeping accommodation in Reverend Samuel Parris' house in the bound of 1692. Parris' daughter, 10-yr-quondam Betty, is in a deep sleep as a effect of an unknown illness, and Parris is kneeling in prayer side by side to her bed. A woman named Tituba is introduced as the Parris family's heart-aged slave from Barbados; she tries to check on Betty, but she is immediately ordered out of the room by Reverend Parris.

Abigail Williams, Parris' 17-year-old niece, enters the room. She tells him that Susanna Walcott is at that place with a bulletin from the doctor. Susanna is a teenager a fiddling younger than Abigail. She says that the doctor can't notice annihilation physically wrong with Betty, and they should start to consider supernatural forces equally a potential culprit. Parris is very concerned about damage to his reputation if witchcraft is discovered in his house. He urges Susanna to tell the doctor to go on looking for medical reasons for Betty'south condition. Nevertheless, he has also summoned Reverend Unhurt from the neighboring town of Beverly to quietly investigate whether there is any truth to this supernatural hypothesis.

Susanna leaves, and Abigail and Parris are alone with Betty. Abigail reveals that the rumor of witchcraft has already spread around town, and many people are gathered in the parlor of the firm. Parris is reluctant to discredit these rumors because he fears they may be truthful.The previous night, he saw Abigail and Betty dancing in the forest with Tituba. He also saw a dress on the ground and a girl running naked through the wood. Abigail says that they were simply dancing, only Parris knows that she's not telling the whole truth.Parris demands to know whether witchcraft was involved.

He thinks that his reputation is shaky in boondocks and that in that location's a group of people who would like to oust him from his position of power. He doesn't want one of his enemies to find out what actually happened before he does and use it against him. Abigail continues to insist that the girls were just dancing.

Parris nonetheless doesn't trust her, and he brings upwardly another suspicious scenario. Abigail was dismissed from the household service of a man named John Proctor without explanation, and Proctor's married woman Elizabeth seems to strongly dislike her. Abigail says Elizabeth is merely a big ol' meany and she didn't exercise annihilation to deserve this.

At this bespeak in the conversation, a tormented eye-anile woman named Ann Putnam enters the room along with her married man, Thomas Putnam. Ann's only daughter, Ruth Putnam, is acting catatonic, and Ann thinks Betty is afflicted with the same apparently supernatural disease. Ann is a house believer in witchcraft considering seven of her babies accept died in infancy, leaving her with only ane living child. She sees no possible explanation for this that is not supernatural in nature. The Putnams are glad that Parris has summoned Reverend Hale to investigate the situation because Hale supposedly defenseless a witch in Beverley recently.

Parris is notwithstanding trying to close down the witchcraft conversation considering of the damage it might practice to his reputation. Ann reveals to Parris that she actually sent Ruth to consult with Tituba the nighttime earlier because Tituba can communicate with the dead. Ann wanted Ruth to talk to her dead siblings and find out who killed them. The Putnams say they are convinced that a baby-killing witch is running rampant. Abigail realizes that she can't hide the truth completely now that Ann has revealed that she sent Ruth to Tituba to effort and communicate with the expressionless. Abigail admits that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits. Parris is convinced his livelihood is ruined now that someone who lives under his roof has been revealed to be a witch. Thomas Putnam tells Parris he should go ahead of the situation and make the witchcraft accusations himself so no one can accuse him beginning.

A daughter named Mercy Lewis, who is Putnam's servant, arrives to bank check on how Betty is doing, and the Putnams and Parris leave so that Parris can pb everyone in a psalm. Abigail and Mercy are left lone, and they endeavor to rouse Betty to no avail. The two girls determine their official story will exist that they were just dancing, and there was no magic involved. Then, some other teenage girl named Mary Warren enters the room. She was also with them in the woods the previous night, and she is convinced they must confess to what they've done because of the rumors swirling around.

Suddenly, Betty gets a burst of energy. She reveals that Abby drank chicken claret in the wood in an attempt to bandage a spell to kill Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail slaps her and tells everyone that they had ameliorate stay quiet nigh the details of what really happened. Abigail says that she'south seen some stuff (i.e. her parents were murdered by Native Americans correct in front of her), so she has no qualms about resorting to violence to force them to keep her secret.

John Proctor, a farmer, and so enters the room.He yells at Mary Warren, who is his servant, for leaving his house when he forbid her from doing so. Mary and Mercy both leave, and Abigail and John are left lonely. Abigail and John had an affair that was discovered past his wife, which was the reason for her dismissal from their household. Abigail is however in dearest with Proctor, but he wants to distance himself from her and recommit to Elizabeth. Abigail is angry and frustrated that he won't return her advances. She insults his married woman and continues to insist that he withal loves her.

Their attention is diverted considering Betty starts whimpering after the words "going upward to Jesus" are uttered in the psalm people are singing in the other room. Reverend Parris, the Putnams, and Mercy Lewis all rush in to check on her. Ann Putnam is convinced that they upset Betty by saying the Lord's name and that her reaction clearly means that she is bugged with black magic.

Rebecca Nurse, and old and highly respected woman in Salem, enters the room along with an one-time man named Giles Corey. Rebecca stands calmly adjacent to the bed, and Betty quiets down. Everyone is impressed with this, and the Putnams ask if Rebecca can besides help Ruth, only Rebecca doesn't think there's anything supernatural going on. Betty is simply interim upward equally kids are decumbent to exercise. John Proctor questions Reverend Parris on his determination to summon Reverend Hale. This action seems to imply that Parris believes witchcraft could exist the source of Betty's disease. Rebecca suggests that they should rely on the doctor and fugitive bringing Reverend Hale into the situation because it will cause unnecessary conflict. Thomas Putnam takes issue with this, and he tells Parris that when Reverend Hale arrives they must look for signs of witchcraft.

Proctor says Putnam can't tell Parris what to practise merely because Putnam owns a lot of land in the town. Putnam fires back that he hasn't seen Proctor in church recently, then he clearly doesn't intendance that much about upholding the integrity of their gild. Proctor claims he doesn't get to church because all Parris talks near is Hell. Parris says that a lot of people in Salem demand to hear more about Hell considering he hasn't been properly compensated for his chore based on his qualifications. He and so implies that Proctor is the leader of a faction against him in the church. Proctor is unaware of the existence of this faction, but he says he would gladly join it because he's fed upwards with Parris' superiority complex.

He expects Giles Corey to be on his side, but Giles unexpectedly suports Parris considering he thinks there may exist something to the witchcraft hypothesis. Giles has been in courtroom six times that year for various lawsuits. He says that everyone has been suing each other left and right, so at that place must be some sort of night magic going on backside the scenes. Proctor points out that Giles is the cause of many of these suits because he is always suing people for defamation for no reason. Proctor and Putnam argue briefly about who owns a certain tract of land nearly the forest where Proctor plans on gathering lumber. It turns out that there is a lot of ambiguity in Salem over who owns which tracts of land considering in his will Putnam's grandfather claimed land that he didn't actually own.

Reverend Unhurt enters the room with a stack of bookish books.He speaks briefly with everyone, and it'south articulate that he's well-respected. Hale views the investigation of witchcraft as serious scientific enquiry. He makes everyone agree non to button the issue if he doesn't find anything pointing to the Devil's work. He brought the books considering they explicate all the different forms the Devil can accept. With this data on mitt, he's sure that he can find out whether Betty'southward illness is linked to the work of Satan. Rebecca Nurse is skeptical of the whole situation, and she leaves the room earlier Hale begins his investigation. Giles tries to consult Hale about his married woman, Martha, who he says has been reading foreign books. He is worried that this might signify something sinister because he was unable to say his prayers while she was reading. Hale is somewhat intrigued and says they can talk over the issue after.

Hale addresses Betty, asking her if someone is bewitching her. Betty does not reply to his questions at first. Abigail is pressed with more questions most what exactly was going on in the woods. Parris says that when he came upon the girls, he saw that they had a kettle with a frog in it. Faced with this damning prove of black magic, Abigail admits that Tituba chosen the Devil. Tituba is dragged into the room to face up these charges. Immediately, Abigail places all the blame on her, claiming that Tituba made her beverage chicken blood from the kettle. Tituba protests that Abigail was the 1 who instigated the meeting in the woods, but she is drowned out by further accusations from Abigail. Parris and Hale also talk over her attempts to explain herself.

Parris says Tituba must confess to what she's washed or he will whip her to death, and Putnam says she must be hung. Tituba is terrified, and then she breaks down and says the Devil forced her to piece of work for him. She claims someone else is bewitching Betty because she'southward seen other people with the Devil. Putnam, Parris, and Hale encourage her to tell them who she has seen (and plant the names of Goody Good and Goody Osburn in her mind as potential witches). They merits that subsequently renouncing her fidelity to the Devil, she is at present God's musical instrument in the village sent to help them uncover the full extent of his Satanic plot.

Tituba says the Devil told her to kill Reverend Parris, and he promised her a better life if she worked for him. She claims that she saw Goody Practiced (Sarah Good) and Goody Osburn (Sarah Osburn) with the Devil. Goody Osburn was Ann Putnam's midwife 3 times, so this accusation confirms the Putnams' suspicions that witchcraft was involved in the deaths of their babies. Abigail presently chimes in with her own hysterical set of confessions, claiming that she saw the Devil and wrote in his book. Abigail adds more people to the list of the accused.Betty all of a sudden wakes upwardly and joins her in shouting out additional accusations. Hale and Parris rejoice at Betty's apparent miraculous recovery.Putnam summons the marshal so that they can arrest the witches and bring them to justice.

The Devil apparently has some kind of special friendship volume that he makes people sign when they join his crew. Adorable.

The CrucibleAct one Quotes

In this department, I'll go over a few quotes that I think are important in establishing the themes and characterizations that emerge in Human activity ane.

"I have fought here three long years to curve these stiff-necked people to me, and now, just at present when some adept respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my very character." (Reverend Parris pg. eleven)

This quote shows the gravity with which Parris views his position in the town and the degree of say-so he thinks should accompany it. He'south less focused on spreading the discussion of God than on exploiting his position as a religious authority then he tin can proceeds greater power in the community. At present his reputation may be ruined, which means he'll exist dorsum to foursquare one and have to rebuild the command he has worked and then hard to acquire.

"My proper name is expert in the village! I will non accept it said my name is soiled! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!" (Abigail Williams pg. 12)

The value of a person's name is a recurring topic in The Crucible. Reputation is hugely important to these characters because it'due south inextricably linked to respect and power in a highly interdependent community. Hither Abigail shifts the focus away from her own reputation past trashing the reputation of Goody Proctor. If she can convince people that Goody Proctor is not to be trusted, the rumors almost her own sins volition lose brownie.

"Allow either of yous breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the blackness of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. And you know I can do information technology; I saw Indians boom my dear parents' heads on the pillow adjacent to mine, and I take seen some crimson work washed at night, and I can make y'all wish you had never seen the sun become down!" (Abigail Williams pg. 19)

Abigail threatens the other girls with violence if they dare tell anyone that she tried to impale Goody Proctor with black magic. This quote tells us that Abigail has experienced severe emotional trauma in the past that most certainly affects her current mental state. It too gives united states of america a gustation of how far she'due south willing to become to achieve her desired upshot and/or exact revenge.

"I look for John Proctor who took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew what lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! And at present you bid me tear the low-cal out of my eyes?" (Abigail Williams pg. 22)

Abigail pleads with John Proctor to keep their matter, which she feels has enlightened her to the hypocrisy that permeates Salem'due south culture. She can't go dorsum to her ignorant state later she'due south already seen the light, and the affair is the but outlet bachelor to her to feel special and different within a community where she has little ability or outlets for honest expression. Afterwards John'southward rejection, her angst volition discover another, even more subversive path to follow.

"In that location are wheels within wheels in the village, and fires within fires!" (Ann Putnam pg. 26)

Ann Putnam says this because she's convinced that at that place are supernatural Satanic forces conspiring against her that have led to her family misfortunes. Nonetheless, this quote has a much broader secular meaning that applies to the events in the play overall. There are all kinds of underlying motivations that trigger accusations of witchcraft in Salem. Petty vengeance, greed, and jealousy are festering beneath the surface of an outwardly respectable community, and they're most to find their release.

"We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite every bit stone, and I must tell yous all that I shall not proceed unless you are prepared to believe me if I should detect no bruise of Hell upon her." (Reverend Hale pg. 35)

From our mod viewpoint, this quote is a very strong example of irony. By searching for marks of the Devil's presence in the first place, Hale has already subscribed to superstition. People are besides condemned throughout the residuum of the play for involvement with the Devil when at that place's absolutely no hard evidence besides the word of one other person. Hale'south adherence to scientific principles volition requite him just enough insight to see the injustices that have been committed in Salem after it's too tardily for him to plough back the tide of hysteria.

I'm not sure what Unhurt expected to observe. A pentagram ankle tattoo? A little souvenir pitchfork? A button that says "Satan 4 Prez"? Eh, I gauge in that location are a lot of possibilities.

The CrucibleHuman action 1 Thematic Analysis

Permit'due south go over some of the play'southward primal themes and how they relate to the first act.

Irony

Irony and hypocrisy are recurring concepts in The Crucible. There are several exchanges in Human activity i that are rife with irony. Abigail claims that John Proctor opened her eyes to the pretenses of Salem (pg. 22). She realized all the lies she'd been told by people who supposedly adhered to the conventions of respectable club. However, in distress from Proctor's refusal to acknowledge their relationship, Abigail creates her own lies that give her increased control over the society she resents. By putting on a simulated front to advance her condition and get what she wants, she becomes simply like the hypocrites she claims to despise.

The virtually prominent example of dramatic irony in this act is the quote from Hale (pg. 35) that was explained in the final section. Hale claims that they must avert superstition and hasty conclusions in their investigation of Betty's affliction. We, the mod audience, know that searching for "the Devil'south marks" every bit the potential cause of an disquiet is an inherently superstitious do. Unhurt, all the same, is convinced that a scientific inquiry based only on facts and reality can be conducted to detect a supernatural presence.

Hysteria

In Human activity 1 it becomes articulate how mass hysteria can evolve out of desires for self-preservation. When Abigail admits that Ruth and Tituba were conjuring spirits, Thomas Putnam urges Parris to go on the offensive immediately with this information. If he makes his own accusations of witchcraft, he volition prevent others from accusing him first and putting his credibility at stake. As rumors of witchcraft spread, this fear-driven philosophy will exist universally adopted, leading to more and more accusations and an surround of paranoia.

The speed at which rumors morph into accepted truths is too rapid for a few rational voices to incorporate them. Although Parris simply calls Reverend Unhurt to examine Betty equally a precaution, people assume that Unhurt's involvement means in that location must exist a supernatural element to her illness. Even as Parris tries to avert supernatural explanations to protect his reputation, he is quickly caught up in the misplaced interpretations of others and forced to prefer them as his own then that he isn't gobbled upward past the hysteria monster.

It becomes abundantly clear that people see only what they want to meet (i.e. whatever keeps them in the expert graces of society) in situations that don't appear to have like shooting fish in a barrel rational explanations. Ann Putnam, for case, will seize at whatsoever opportunity to blame supernatural forces for the deaths of her children. Extreme conclusions like Ann's "a witch murdered my babies with black magic" are accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge this consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves.

Reputation

Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation take center stage, so to speak, in Human activity 1. Parris initially insists that there are "no unnatural causes" for Betty'south illness, not considering he'southward devoted to science and rationality, only because he fears that he will be disgraced if witchcraft is discovered under his roof. He interrogates Abigail because he's worried his enemies will learn the full story get-go and employ it to ignominy him. In one case he gets confirmation from Abigail that some witchy business happened in the woods, he is quick to position himself on the side of the accusers and threaten violence on Tituba if she doesn't confess (pg. 42). He has no central belief system beyond a want to do what makes him look best in the eyes of the majority.

Abigail is also concerned about her reputation. She is enraged when Parris insinuates that there was something untoward about her dismissal from the Proctors' service. She insists that she has done zippo incorrect and tries to discredit Elizabeth Proctor to divert attention away from her ain actions. "My name is adept in the village! I will not take it said my name is soiled! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!" (pg. 12).

These actions and reactions in Act 1 constitute the importance that characters place on maintaining respect for their names. A poor reputation can severely affect a person's position in this pocket-sized, interdependent club, whether the assumptions or rumors swirling around are true or not.

Power and Authorization

The church has a great deal of power in Salem, and therefore much of the authority nosotros see exercised in the play is associated with faith. Reverend Parris is currently in a position of power as the town's spiritual leader. However, he is convinced there is a faction in town that is determined to unseat him, and he will say and practice whatever it takes to retain control. He demands unconditional respect for his authority as God's instrument in the community. From his point of view,"At that place is either obedience or the church will burn like Hell is burning!" (pg. 28)

Abigail, on the other hand, struggles to claim greater bureau exterior of traditional means. Her dominant personality doesn't fit with her low status in society as a young woman with no family unit. Initially, due south he sees a path to higher standing in gild through condign John Proctor's wife. When he rejects her, she takes some other route to power through accusations that exploit the fears of others to a indicate where even the nigh respected people in town are afraid to claiming her.

The power construction in Salem is also responsible for the blame heaped on Tituba and the misinterpretations that follow. Tituba has the least authority out of anyone, then it'south easy for Abigail to use her as a scapegoat. If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the tragic events of the rest of the play might have been prevented . However, she is only given a voice when she agrees to corroborate the version of events that the people in traditional positions of authority believe to exist authentic. She becomes, according to Hale, "God'south instrument put in our easily to discover the Devil'southward agents amidst united states of america" (pg. 44) after she renounces her presumed allegiance to the Devil and accepts her role as a pawn to exist used by those with greater power.

Equally has been the instance throughout history in both fiction and reality, the desire for power ends upward costing fashion as well many innocent people their lives.

The Crucible Act 1 Summary: Conclusion

In Act one of The Crucible, the roots of the witch hysteria are established, and we acquire critical background information about many of the characters. Let'due south do a super short bullet point recap of the important plot points:

The play is set in the town of Salem, MA, and the year is 1692.
Betty Parris, a young girl, is sick, only no i tin figure out why.
Rumors spread around town that she's been bewitched.
Betty's dad is Reverend Parris, the new-ish church building leader in Salem, who is paranoid about his reputation amidst the townspeople.
Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris' teenage niece and Betty's cousin, is questioned by Parris about the cause of Betty's affliction.
He knows that Abigail, Betty, and Parris' slave, Tituba, were dancing in the woods the night before and perhaps conducting some kind of ritual.
Abigail claims there was no witchcraft involved.
Abigail had an matter with a farmer named John Proctor while serving in his business firm, and she'due south still into him, only he wants to forget it ever happened.
Betty says that Abigail tried to put a curse on John's wife, Elizabeth Proctor, in guild to kill her and take her place, simply no i else knows virtually this, and Abigail warns her to keep quiet.
Reverend Hale, the church building leader from the town of Beverley, is summoned to examine Betty because he's an skillful on witchcraft.
Tituba is accused of calling the Devil in the woods based on Abigail's testimony, and she confesses nether pressure from Hale.
Tituba names Goody Good and Goody Osburn as fellow witches afterward their names are suggested.
Abigail plays the victim and accuses more women of witchcraft.
Betty wakes up and makes accusations of her ain, following Abigail's pb.

In Act 2, you tin can look forward to learning more than nigh the land of the Proctors' marriage and just how crazy things accept gotten in Salem in the weeks after the initial accusations. Also, John Proctor throws a few more tantrums borne of emotional immaturity, so get PUMPED.

What's Next?

If you want a complete summary of the whole play rather than just one act, we've got y'all covered. Check out our holistic summary commodity to review what happens from beginning to end.

Looking for some in-depth analysis of characters in The Crucible? Read our complete assessments of John Proctor, Abigail Williams, Rebecca Nurse, Giles Corey, and Mary Warren.

If yous want some communication on understanding the ideas backside the play so you can write a killer essay or ace your next exam, read our guide to the most of import themes in The Crucible.

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Most the Author

Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to aid students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her manufactures. Samantha is also passionate about fine art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the Sabbatum, 5'southward on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.