The Crucible Group

Question:

kolay
kolay
Student
High School - 12th Grade

In The Crucible, how and why does Giles die? Why wasn't he hanged?

Rate question:

Posted by kolay on Wednesday May 20, 2009 at 5:34 AM and tagged with giles corey, plot, the crucible.

Answers:

  1. mshurn
    mshurn Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    Giles Corey was pressed to death. Huge, heavy stones were laid upon his chest until he died. This tortuous procedure was used on Giles to make him answer the charges against him and to force him to name others for the court. Giles, however, was a strong and stubborn old man. He refused to implicate his friends, and he refused to answer to the court, knowing that by remaining silent he could prevent the court from confiscating his land, thus keeping it in his family. Despite his pain and suffering as he is crushed to death, Giles' remained defiant until the end. His last words to his tormentors were these: "More weight." 

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/crucible/characters
    http://www.enotes.com/crucible/historical-context
    http://www.enotes.com/crucible/summary

    Rate answer:

    Posted by mshurn on Wednesday May 20, 2009 at 6:22 AM