The Crucible Group

Question:

earlean
earlean
Teacher
High School - 11th Grade

In Act 1 of "The Crucible," what happens to Betty when she hears the Lord's name?

Rate question:

Posted by earlean on Friday October 31, 2008 at 4:59 AM and tagged with act 1, betty, characters, plot, the crucible.

Answers:

  1. jgomezada
    jgomezada Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    In reaction to the news that the Parris girls are witched, townspeople gather outside the home to pray and sing gospel. At the exact moment that the words "going up to Jesus" are sung, Betty "claps her ears suddenly and whines loudly." She then proceeds to sit up from her "comatose" state and screams. Ironically, her screams are in response to Abigail and Proctor's conversation about their illicit affair, which is taking place before the young girl. However, Mrs. Putnam believes that Betty "cannot bear to hear the Lord's name." This incident fuels the belief that witches and evil are in Salem, thus strengthening the town's hysteria.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/crucible/
    http://www.enotes.com/crucible/characters
    http://www.enotes.com/crucible/overview

    Rate answer:

    Posted by jgomezada on Friday October 31, 2008 at 6:52 AM

  2. pmiranda2857
    pmiranda2857 Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    In Act I of The Crucible, Reverend Parris assembles the congregation for prayer.  At the same time that little Betty is upstairs in bed sick from unknown causes.  When the congregation begins to pray they hear screams from above.  They believe that she is screaming because she cannot stand to hear prayer.

    Betty screams when she hears the Lord's prayer, the Lord's name. 

    "Meanwhile, as a psalm is sung in the room downstairs, Betty claps her hands over her ears and begins whining loudly. Parris and several others come rushing upstairs to see what has happened. Betty’s behavior is taken as a sign of witchcraft, which has made it impossible for the girl to hear the Lord’s name." 

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/crucible/act-scene-2-summary-analysis

    Rate answer:

    Posted by pmiranda2857 on Friday October 31, 2008 at 6:52 AM