Crucible Character Analysis

THE CRUCIBLE CHARACTER ANALYSIS CHARACTER Abigail Williams DESCRIPTION OF CHARACTER MOTIVATION FOR ACTIONS PERSONALITY TRAITS 17-year-old niece of Rev. Parris had an affair with John Proctor to protect herself her desire to have John Proctor all to herself witnessing her parents’ murder good at deceiving others violent untrustworthy leader vengeful Betty Parris 10-year-old daughter of Rev. Parris scared to get in trouble scared Reverend Parris Salem’s minister; disliked by many people in the town the fact that he has many enemies who want him gone from Salem doesn’t want people to find out the truth about what happened in the woods wants to persecute his enemies defensive self-absorbed nervous paranoid mother of Ruth and seven babies who died at birth depression from losing seven children desire for revenge for the death of her children paranoid crazy depressed the Proctors’ current servant her fear of Mr. Proctor her fear of Abigail and the other girls submissive and inferior unreliable naïve lonely Ann Putnam Mary Warren CHARACTER Thomas Putnam Tituba John Proctor Elizabeth Proctor Giles Corey DESCRIPTION OF CHARACTER MOTIVATION FOR ACTIONS PERSONALITY TRAITS father of Ruth richest man in the village who can afford to buy any land forfeited by a “witch” accused others as a way to gain their land wants to persecute his enemies well-to-do, hard-handed landowner used to getting his way vindictive Rev. Parris’s slave from Barbados she knows she can never win because of who she is she’s smart enough to know how to save herself intimidated by authority smart husband to Elizabeth; had an affair with Abigail doesn’t want his secret to come out his dignity his desire to do what is right cautious reasonable dignified wife of John Proctor her faith in God to preserve her dignity to protect her husband practical tenderhearted reasonable honest 83-year-old man who provides comic relief in the play to feel/look/sound important to protect the innocent sharp clever inquisitive physically strong CHARACTER Reverend Hale Danforth Rebecca Nurse Mercy Lewis Marshal Herrick DESCRIPTION OF CHARACTER MOTIVATION FOR ACTIONS PERSONALITY TRAITS an expert on witchcraft comes to Salem to investigate possible witchcraft his experience and knowledge his faith in the court his conscience telling his what’s the real truth quick to come to conclusions doesn’t consider all the facts practical good-intentioned the deputy governor of the province leads the witchcraft trials maintain the court’s authority authoritative powerful intimidating 72-year-old woman from Salem her faith and her wisdom highly respected wise gentle fair logical 17-year-old girl the Putnams’ servant to protect herself and Abigail sly merciless an authority of the court his duty to the court his guilty conscience dutiful guilty conscience USE EACH CHARACTER’S NAME ONLY ONCE TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING: List the characters from the chart who were in the woods: Abigail Williams, Betty Parris, Tituba, Mary Warren, Mercy Lewis Divide the characters from the chart into the following two groups. Place a star by any character who later switches to the other belie THOSE WHO BELIEVE WITCHCRAFT IS TO BLAME Reverend Parris THOSE WHO BELIEVE THE GIRLS ARE LYING Ann Putnam John Proctor Thomas Putnam Rebecca Nurse Reverend Hale* Elizabeth Proctor Danforth Giles Corey Marshal Herrick* List the characters from the chart who are dead by then end of the play: John Proctor, Giles Corey, Rebecca Nurse