The Crucible Group

Question:

superd
superd
Student
High School - 11th Grade

Why has Reverend Parris sent for a doctor as the play begins?

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Posted by superd on Thursday October 2, 2008 at 11:14 AM and tagged with beginning, betty, conflict, parris, the crucible.

Answers:

  1. catharinek
    catharinek Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Reverend Parris's daughter, Betty, will not wake up. He sends for the doctor because he wants to find out what's wrong with her; he is hoping she is just ill. He also sends for Reverend Hale because the community is talking of witchcraft, and he wants to disprove it. Ironically, the arrival of Hale begins the witch hunt in earnest.

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

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    Posted by catharinek on Thursday October 2, 2008 at 12:55 PM

  2. weichert
    weichert Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    Rev. Parris sends for a doctor b/c his daughter Betty is ill and will not wake up.  Rev. Parris believes that it is she is ill but still the thought of witchcraft crosses his mind.  Rev. Parris will not believe what the doc says because he can't believe his daughter would be involved in such acts.

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    Posted by weichert on Monday October 6, 2008 at 1:32 PM

  3. abygirlb
    abygirlb Student
    High School - 11th Grade

    Reverend Paris has sent for a doctor as the play begins because, his 10 year old daughter Betty will not wake up. She is in a paralyzed state almost to speak and it is from the night before when Mercy Lewis, Susanna Walcott, and Mary Warren and Abigail Williams were with Betty in the woods the night before and they were casting spells and throwing charms and flying they were also drinking blood and dancing naked in the woods when Betty Paris's father caught them. they were startled that they were frightened and they all are denieng the fact that Betty is gravely ill after the night she had before but they don't want to blame it on the witchcraft because her father Reverend Paris's doesn't want her reputation to be ruined and that would be horrible for him and his family.

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

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    Posted by abygirlb on Tuesday April 14, 2009 at 11:37 AM