Act II, Scene 2 Summary
John and Elizabeth Proctor are arguing. Elizabeth is still bitter about John's affair with Abigail, and he is angry that she won't forgive him. Tension is in the air, and into this tension walks Mary Warren, their servant.
When John sees Mary, he grabs her, furious that she has gone to Salem without his permission. Meanwhile, Mary pleads for mercy; her pallor suggests she is ill. Mary tells John that she has been in court all day, but John demands to know when she will do the work that she's being paid for. In response, Mary tells Elizabeth that she made a doll for her while waiting for the proceedings to finish in court. She then cryptically tells Elizabeth that they must all love each other now.
Meanwhile, John demands to know whether it's true that fourteen women have been arrested. Mary replies that, in actuality, thirty-nine women have now been arrested on suspicion of witchcraft. She then breaks down in tears. Mary says that Goody Osburn has been sentenced to hang. Sarah Good, however, has been spared due to her confession that she made a pact with the devil.
Mary also claims that Goody Osburn sent a strange spirit over the court that day and is convinced that Goody Osburn has been trying to kill her. According to Mary, Goody Osburn can strangle others without physically touching them. She also tells John and Elizabeth that the older woman likes to mumble whenever she is denied the items she has begged for.
Goody Osburn refused to admit that her mumbles were curses. Instead, the older woman claimed that she was reciting the commandments. However, when the judge ordered her to recite the Ten Commandments, Goody Osburn could not do so.
Mary's smug account of events prompts John to forbid her to go to court again. For her part, Mary insists that she is carrying out important work by testifying. John and Elizabeth are stunned at her words, but Mary is convinced that confessions will save the accused women. Next, she reveals that Sarah Good is pregnant. Elizabeth is doubtful at this revelation. After all, Sarah is almost sixty.
Mary is sure that Sarah won't be harmed because of the child. She informs John and Elizabeth that she, Mary, is now an official of the court and must be allowed to discharge her duties. John tries to whip Mary for her impertinence. Still, Mary screams that she will no longer tolerate being whipped by her employer. She then claims that she saved Elizabeth's life that very day.
Elizabeth's name was mentioned in court, but Mary testified that Elizabeth never showed evidence of demonic possession or a desire to hurt anyone. Because of Mary's testimony, the judges did not indict Elizabeth. Realizing he has been painted into a corner, John tells Mary to go to bed. An argument ensues between the two, but Mary soon relents and leaves the room.
Elizabeth worries aloud that Abigail will find a way to incriminate her in court. She is convinced that it's no coincidence that her name came up in court; Abigail wants to get rid of her and take her place in the Proctor household. Elizabeth accuses John of still having feelings for Abigail, but John denies it.
John tells her that his affair was born out of a moment's passion and that he never promised Abigail he would marry her. Still, Elizabeth tells John to break whatever promise he made to Abigail. Her words increase John's frustration. He tells Elizabeth that, by her demands, she is making him a dishonest man (since he never promised marriage to Abigail).
In response, Elizabeth accuses John of being reluctant to face the truth of his actions. She maintains that Abigail still influences John: "She has an arrow in you yet, John Proctor, and you know it well!" Their argument is interrupted by the appearance of Mr. Hale.
Expert Q&A
In The Crucible, Act 2, what does the allusion to Moses suggest about the crowd's view of Abigail?
The allusion to Moses in Act 2 of "The Crucible" suggests that the crowd views Abigail with both awe and fear. Like Moses parting the Red Sea, the people part for Abigail, indicating her powerful and almost divine status due to her role in identifying witches. Abigail has transformed from a lowly serving girl to a feared figure, as her accusations can lead to imprisonment or death, making people wary of attracting her attention.
In The Crucible, what trial news does Mary Warren reveal to John and Elizabeth?
Mary Warren reveals to John and Elizabeth Proctor that 39 people have been arrested for witchcraft, with Sarah Osburn set to be hanged, while Sarah Good is spared due to pregnancy. She also informs them that she is now an "official" of the court and will be attending daily. Crucially, Mary discloses that Elizabeth's name was mentioned in court, but she intervened to save her, hinting at Abigail's involvement in the accusation.
Why did Arthur Miller cut out act 2, scene 2, in The Crucible?
Arthur Miller cut out Act 2, Scene 2, in The Crucible because it introduced ambiguity regarding Abigail's character, potentially making her seem sympathetic and mentally unstable. This conflicted with Miller's intent to portray her as a clear villain, similar to Senator Joseph McCarthy, whose actions during the HUAC hearings Miller criticized. The scene's complexity diluted Abigail's role as a manipulative antagonist.
What news does Mary Warren bring from the court in The Crucible?
Mary Warren brings alarming news from the court, revealing that the witchcraft accusations have escalated into full trials resulting in executions. She informs the Proctors that 39 people have been accused, with Goody Osburn sentenced to hang, while Sarah Good confessed and will not be executed. Mary also reveals she defended Elizabeth Proctor in court, preventing her from being accused, highlighting Abigail's potential plan to accuse Elizabeth to get closer to John Proctor.
Why does Mary Warren spend the day in Salem in The Crucible?
Mary Warren spends the day in Salem because she is an official in the witch trials, despite John Proctor's forbidding her to go. Elizabeth Proctor explains to John that Mary insisted on going due to her court duties. Proctor is upset with Elizabeth for not stopping her. Mary returns home claiming to be ill from the day's proceedings. The doll she brings back becomes crucial when Elizabeth is accused of witchcraft.
In Act 2 of The Crucible, what is Mary Warren's attitude after visiting Salem?
Mary Warren returns from Salem with a newfound sense of pride and defiance, having been involved in the trials. She defies John Proctor, asserting her role in the court as "the work of God" and refuses to perform her household duties until the trials end. Her attitude shift from meekness to assertiveness reflects her empowerment through her court involvement, challenging the typical gender roles of the Puritan era.
What role does Mary Warren play in the trials in The Crucible?
Mary Warren plays a pivotal yet morally weak role in the Salem witch trials. Initially, she provides testimony that leads to arrests, such as accusing Goody Good of witchcraft. Despite briefly attempting to reveal the truth about the false accusations, Mary's fear of Abigail and the court's consequences prevents her from doing so. Ultimately, she aligns with the accusers, allowing Elizabeth Proctor's conviction and implicating John Proctor, highlighting her vulnerability and lack of integrity.
The Crucible Act 2, Scene 2: Deletion and Chronological Discrepancy
Act 2, Scene 2 of Arthur Miller's The Crucible is omitted from most productions and placed in an appendix due to its impact on character perceptions and plot coherence. Originally included in the 1959 production, the scene depicts a meeting between John Proctor and Abigail Williams, portraying Abigail as sympathetic and John as weak. Miller removed it to maintain the play's focus and allegorical strength against McCarthyism, as it diluted the clear moral positions of the characters.
In The Crucible, what upsetting news does Mary Warren bring from court?
Mary Warren brings upsetting news from the court that Elizabeth Proctor's name has been mentioned in the proceedings, suggesting a possible accusation of witchcraft. Although Mary defended Elizabeth, the implication is troubling because accusations often lead to trials and executions. Elizabeth fears that Abigail Williams is behind this, aiming to eliminate her to pursue Elizabeth's husband, John Proctor, with whom Abigail had an affair.
What are some quotes from act 2 of The Crucible?
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