The crucible
Quote 1: "Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby."
Act 1, page 23
Context: Abby was talking to Proctor about their love for each other and how she loves him and how she knows he loves her. Proctor tells her he loves her, but he feels bad about what he did and told her he wouldn't do it again. This shows he is aware of his own flaws and he is taking control of the situation to make sure he doesn’t do it again.
Response: Proctor was trying to clarify that he can no longer be with her and he must be with his wife, Elizabeth. Abby says how much she hates his wife and how she is ruining her name. In the time of the puritans, adultery was a crime and was punishable by public humiliation, whipping, and possibly death. From the way Abby reacts you can tell she is going to create conflict further into the play.
Quote 2: “We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone,”
Act 1, page 38
Context: Mr. and Mrs. Putnam’s daughter, Betty is sick and they don’t know why. They explain to Hale that she doesn’t eat and her soul seems to have “flown away.” They ask for Hale’s help saying they think it’s a sign of witchcraft. When he makes the statement he is saying that the devil marks his victims and if she has turned to the devil he will find a marking.
Response: In Puritan society people believed that the devil marked his followers, and that it usually looked like a mole or birthmark, so they often inspected the entire body of a suspected witch for such a mark. Most of the time they often found one too because everyone has birthmarks or scars or some other skin defect. What I find especially alarming is the fact that her parents would accuse her of witchcraft and tell someone outside the family. But then again, maybe they are just trying to protect themselves from getting accused along
Act 1, page 23
Context: Abby was talking to Proctor about their love for each other and how she loves him and how she knows he loves her. Proctor tells her he loves her, but he feels bad about what he did and told her he wouldn't do it again. This shows he is aware of his own flaws and he is taking control of the situation to make sure he doesn’t do it again.
Response: Proctor was trying to clarify that he can no longer be with her and he must be with his wife, Elizabeth. Abby says how much she hates his wife and how she is ruining her name. In the time of the puritans, adultery was a crime and was punishable by public humiliation, whipping, and possibly death. From the way Abby reacts you can tell she is going to create conflict further into the play.
Quote 2: “We cannot look to superstition in this. The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone,”
Act 1, page 38
Context: Mr. and Mrs. Putnam’s daughter, Betty is sick and they don’t know why. They explain to Hale that she doesn’t eat and her soul seems to have “flown away.” They ask for Hale’s help saying they think it’s a sign of witchcraft. When he makes the statement he is saying that the devil marks his victims and if she has turned to the devil he will find a marking.
Response: In Puritan society people believed that the devil marked his followers, and that it usually looked like a mole or birthmark, so they often inspected the entire body of a suspected witch for such a mark. Most of the time they often found one too because everyone has birthmarks or scars or some other skin defect. What I find especially alarming is the fact that her parents would accuse her of witchcraft and tell someone outside the family. But then again, maybe they are just trying to protect themselves from getting accused along