Act 4: The Crucible Questions and
Answers (Certified Solutions)
What explanation does Cheever give for Parris' "mad look"? ✔✔He thinks it is caused by the cows. In other words, the cows are left wandering since their masters are in jail, and there is much contention in the town about ownership and the whole political scene.
What did Abigail do? ✔✔Abigail stole money from Parris and disappeared, reportedly left on a ship.
Parris says, "You cannot hang this sort. There is danger for me." What "sort" does he mean, and what is the danger to him? ✔✔Because Proctor, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Martha and others were upstanding citizens, generally respected in the community (as opposed to Sarah Good who was a beggar woman), people were truly doubtful of their connections with the devil. Since Parris was so involved with the prosecution of these individuals, he was beginning to get threats on his life.
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Explain Danforth's reason that a pardon would not be just. ✔✔If he had pardoned the remaining accused, the people who had been hanged would have died in vain, unjustly. Rather than admit that the court could have been wrong and therefore admit the others may have been hanged unjustly, he thought it better to continue hanging people so all accused would get the same treatment from the court. His logic was peculiar to say the least.
Why has Hale come back to Salem? ✔✔Hale has come back to Salem to encourage the accused to confess and save their lives (whether they are guilty or not).
What does Hale want Elizabeth to do? ✔✔Hale wants Elizabeth to convince Proctor to confess.
What happened to Giles? ✔✔He was pressed to death during the questioning.
Proctor says, "My honesty is broke, Elizabeth, I am no good man." Explain ✔✔At this point, he has decided to confess even though he is not guilty. He is telling a lie to save his own life. That in itself takes away his goodness, his honesty. Besides the fact that
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