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Reverend Parris finds the girls dancing in the woods
Reverend Parris finds the girls dancing in the woods. He finds the girls of the village as well as his niece and daughter dancing with Tituba his slave. The whole town thinks they are conjuring spirits. Reverend Parris tells a group of people that his daughter's sickness has nothing to do with the devil. Here is a quote from act one supporting this; "No, God forbid. Mercy, run to a doctor! Tell him what's happened here!" - Reverend Parris (Act one) -
The girls begin "seeing spirits"
The girls, shortly after being caught in the woods dancing, pretend to be able to see spirits. Abigail Williams is the head of the group and threatens the other girls to pretend to see the spirits. They begin to accuse random people of the village of witch craft. "I'll tell you what's walking Salem—vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom.." - John Proctor (Act 2) -
Abigail Williams admitting Betty is faking being sick
Abigail admits to Proctor that Betty is faking her illness. But she was alone with him so it is word against word. In attempt to save his wife and discredit Abigail and the girls he makes himself look bad. But sadly he cannot prove she said it, so it leads to loads of horrible things in the future. "We were dancin' in the woods last night, and my uncle leaped in on us. She took fright, is all." - Abigail Williams (Act one) -
Reverend Hale arrives
Reverend Hale arrives shortly after the play begins. He is coming from Massachusetts to examine the girls and their behavior. At first he was over confident and big headed about everything. As time goes on he begins to see the real truth and make things right. Hale wants to make things right in the end and save as many lives as he can. "Life, woman, life is God's most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it." - Reverend Hale (Act 4) -
Rebecca Nurse being tried
It was no secret that Rebecca nurse was the most holy, and beloved person in the village. That is why everyone is baffled when she is accused and then convicted. She is one of the most quite and innocent people in the play. When she is accused it is obvious they are going after everyone in the town. Shortly after she is accused Elizabeth Proctor is too. "No, you cannot break charity with your minister. You are another kind, John. Clasp his hand, make your peace." - Rebecca Nurse (Act one) -
Gile says his wife reads strange books
When Gile says that his wife reads strange books in the middle of the night you can immediately see that the courts are going to try the wife as a witch. This is the point in the play when you realize that they are trying everyone that is even a little suspicious. He has information about Putnam but will not confess how he heard it. They decide to press him until he finally dies. "What signifies the readin’ of strange books?" - Giles Corey (Act 3) -
The accusation of Elizabeth Proctor
Abigail Williams accuses Elizabeth of witchery out of spite. Abigail and Proctor, Elizabeth's husband, had an affair and now Abigail seeks to replace Elizabeth. She first says Elizabeth sends her spirit out to Abigail then goes as far as to stab herself with a need in the stomach. This was all to win over Proctor. "You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet! John, pity me, pity me!" - Abigail Williams (Act one) -
They find the poppet
After being accused of witchery Elizabeth Proctor stayed to herself. But when Mary Warren makes her a poppet in court and brings it home things change. Mary stuck the needle into the belly of the poppet for safe keeping but once Abigail sees her do that she does something insane. "Why - it is a needle! Herrick, Herrick it is a needle!" - Cheever (Act 2) -
John Proctor being accused
John, in a struggle to clear his wife's name, has the house maid, Mary, confess that the girls of the court are lying. None of them can see spirits. All the girls turn on Mary calling her a witch, this makes Mary lie and accuse Proctor of witchery. She says he made her lie and sign the devils book. " You are the high court, your word is good enough! Tell them I confessed myself; say Proctor broke his knees and wept like a woman; say what you will, but my name cannot—" - John Proctor (Act 4) -
Proctor's hanging
Proctor dies as a 'saint'. He refuses to lie about something he didn't do. He finally cracks and signs the paper but could not hand it over. They were going to hang his signed paper on the church door showing that he confessed. His life would be alive but his soul would be dead. He couldn't do it so he hung in result of that. "How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!" - John Proctor (Act 4)
