Character Analysis Chart Answers
THE CRUCIBLE CHARACTER ANALYSIS
CHARACTER
Abigail Williams
DESCRIPTION OF
CHARACTER
MOTIVATION
FOR ACTIONS
PERSONALITY
TRAITS
17-year-old niece of Rev.
Parris
had an affair with John
Proctor
to protect herself her desire to have John Proctor all to herself witnessing her parents’ murder
good at deceiving others violent untrustworthy leader vengeful
Betty Parris
10-year-old daughter of Rev.
Parris
scared to get in trouble
scared
Reverend Parris
Salem’s minister; disliked by many people in the town
the fact that he has many enemies who want him gone from Salem doesn’t want people to find out the truth about what happened in the woods wants to persecute his enemies
defensive self-absorbed nervous paranoid Ann Putnam
mother of Ruth and seven babies who died at birth
depression from losing seven children desire for revenge for the death of her children paranoid crazy depressed
Mary Warren
the Proctors’ current servant her fear of Mr. Proctor her fear of Abigail and the other girls
submissive and inferior unreliable naïve lonely CHARACTER
DESCRIPTION OF
CHARACTER
MOTIVATION
FOR ACTIONS
PERSONALITY
TRAITS
Thomas Putnam
father of Ruth richest man in the village who can afford to buy any land forfeited by a “witch”
accused others as a way to gain their land wants to persecute his enemies
well-to-do, hard-handed landowner used to getting his way vindictive Rev. Parris’s slave from
Barbados
she knows she can never win because of who she is she’s smart enough to know how to save herself
intimidated by authority smart husband to Elizabeth; had an affair with Abigail
doesn’t want his secret to come out his dignity his desire to do what is right
cautious reasonable dignified
wife of John Proctor
her faith in God to preserve her dignity to protect her husband
practical tenderhearted reasonable honest 83-year-old man who provides comic relief in the play to feel/look/sound important to protect the innocent
sharp clever inquisitive
CHARACTER
Abigail Williams
DESCRIPTION OF
CHARACTER
MOTIVATION
FOR ACTIONS
PERSONALITY
TRAITS
17-year-old niece of Rev.
Parris
had an affair with John
Proctor
to protect herself her desire to have John Proctor all to herself witnessing her parents’ murder
good at deceiving others violent untrustworthy leader vengeful
Betty Parris
10-year-old daughter of Rev.
Parris
scared to get in trouble
scared
Reverend Parris
Salem’s minister; disliked by many people in the town
the fact that he has many enemies who want him gone from Salem doesn’t want people to find out the truth about what happened in the woods wants to persecute his enemies
defensive self-absorbed nervous paranoid Ann Putnam
mother of Ruth and seven babies who died at birth
depression from losing seven children desire for revenge for the death of her children paranoid crazy depressed
Mary Warren
the Proctors’ current servant her fear of Mr. Proctor her fear of Abigail and the other girls
submissive and inferior unreliable naïve lonely CHARACTER
DESCRIPTION OF
CHARACTER
MOTIVATION
FOR ACTIONS
PERSONALITY
TRAITS
Thomas Putnam
father of Ruth richest man in the village who can afford to buy any land forfeited by a “witch”
accused others as a way to gain their land wants to persecute his enemies
well-to-do, hard-handed landowner used to getting his way vindictive Rev. Parris’s slave from
Barbados
she knows she can never win because of who she is she’s smart enough to know how to save herself
intimidated by authority smart husband to Elizabeth; had an affair with Abigail
doesn’t want his secret to come out his dignity his desire to do what is right
cautious reasonable dignified
wife of John Proctor
her faith in God to preserve her dignity to protect her husband
practical tenderhearted reasonable honest 83-year-old man who provides comic relief in the play to feel/look/sound important to protect the innocent
sharp clever inquisitive