The Crucible Group

Question:

kbby
kbby
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What is the main motivation of John Protor, Thomas Putnam, Rev. Jale, Tituba, Giles Corey and Rev. Parris in Act 1 of "The Crucible"?

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Posted by kbby on Wednesday October 22, 2008 at 11:04 AM and tagged with act 1, giles corey, hale, motivations, parris, plot, the crucible, themes, tituba.

Answers:

  1. pmiranda2857
    pmiranda2857 Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    John Proctor's motivation is to stay out of the witchcraft hysteria.  After he speaks to Abigail and learns that the girls in the woods were not engaging in anything but fun, he thinks that the whole thing will blow over. 

    Thomas Putnam has a desire to buy his neighbor's land at a discount price.  Plus, the witchcraft hysteria allows him to place the blame for the death of his 7 babies squarely on Rebecca Nurse, who is arrested and executed.

    Rev Hale comes to Salem as an authority on witchcraft and identifying a witch, as well as curing those who are bewitched.  He is determined to find a mark on Betty Parris.  He gets Tituba to confess, which leads to Abigail's confession. 

    Tituba, the black slave of Rev Parris, her motivation is to stay alive.  She confesses to witchcraft to stop from being beaten by Parris and to save herself from the hangman's noose.

    Giles Corey, in Act I, mentions to Rev Hale that his wife Martha reads strange books and that he can't say his prayers one night while she is reading.  Once she stops, he can pray again.  He just wants an explanation for why his third wife, Martha reads so many books.

    Rev Parris, in Act I, is interested in protecting his job and his reputation.  He does not feel accepted by the congregation in Salem, and when Betty gets sick, and the Doctor can't help her, he sends for Rev. Hale to help her.  He is really helping himself.  

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/crucible/act-scene-1-summary-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/crucible/act-scene-2-summary-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/crucible/act-scene-3-summary-analysis

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    Posted by pmiranda2857 on Wednesday October 22, 2008 at 3:30 PM

  2. blahblahblah567
    blahblahblah567 Student

    By any chance...are you from Malden High School?

    Doing Ms.Petit's homework or even Mr. Walsh's?

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    Posted by blahblahblah567 on Wednesday October 29, 2008 at 10:42 PM