Interview
Crucible, Arthur Miller Question and Answers (Part 1)
- Module
- English Literature
- Institution
- GCSE
- Short question and answers - Includes questions on characters
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Reverend John Hale1. In act 2, Hale visits John and Elizabeth Proctor in their home. Why does
he make this visit? What impression do you have of him in this scene?
ANS: In act 2, a reason why Hale visits the Proctors is that he wants to convey the
message that Elizabeth’s name is mentioned in the court. However, Mary Warren
has already conveyed this message the Proctors. An example of Hale’s arrival at
the Proctors is when Hale pays a visit at the Proctors late at night, we know this
when Proctor says “We are not used to visitors after dark.” Hale has already
visited Rebbeca Nurse’s house before visiting the Proctors, this amuses the
Proctors as Rebecca as well has been ‘charged’ and ‘mentioned’ in the court. This
, therefore, gives us a pessimistic impression of Hale, as he initially mentioned
that he has come of his own, ‘without the court’s authority’ therefore suggesting
that it was his hasty decision to come and inform the people who have been
‘charged’ or ‘mentioned’ in the court. Furthermore Hale doesn't seem to care and
wants to get his ‘work’ done.
Another impression we as readers have of Hale is that he is doubtful and seems
to have qualms(Suspicion) about everything. An example of this is when he
reckons if John ‘Is rarely in the church on Sabbath Day.” John then immediately
contradicts his suspicion; “No, sir, you are mistaken,” to which Hale accurately
answers back trying to prove that he is right, “Twenty-six time in seventeen
month, sir. I must call that rare.”, this creates a sceptical image of Hale in the
minds of the reader, and makes us believe that he doubts everything and instantly
wants to get his way out.
John Proctor
1. What is your impression of the relationship between Proctor and
Abigail from what we see of them together at the beginning of Act One?
ANS: In act one, it is evident that John and Abigail were having an intense affair,
and are ex-lovers. It is noticeable that Abigail still has feelings for John, but he
, doesn't feel the same. This can be understood when Abigail exclaims, “Give me a
word, John. A soft word.” to which Proctor bluntly replies, “No, no, Abby. That’s
done with.” This suggests that Proctor is over with this affair and doesn't want to
talk about it anymore. We as readers know that it is an intense affair when
Abigail cried “I know how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated
like a stallion whenever I come near!” This therefore connotes lechery.
John is portrayed as being stern and serious about his final decision. This is
evident when Abby was dubious and jokingly said “You’re surely sportin’ with
me.” John however wasn't ‘Sportin’’ with her.
John makes Abigail understand to forget about their affair; “Wipe it out of mind.
We never touched, Abby.” On the other hand, Abigail starts to criticise John’s
wife, Elizabeth by calling her ‘sickly’. John then howls and says “You’ll speak
nothin’ of Elizabeth!”. This implies that Abigail is jealous of Elizabeth and
desperately wants John back.
In conclusion, John has accepted his sin, and still repents but wants to change for
his wife, Elizabeth.
5. On page 109 (118) Proctor says, ‘I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is
a fraud. I am not that man.’ At the end of the play he goes to execution saying,
‘now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor’. What has made
this change come about.
ANS: When John mumbled these words to Elizabeth he was trying to convey the
message that he isn't sinless, but has already committed a sin and has a ‘rotten’
soul. The reason why he doesn't want to hang is because other saintly people like
Rebbeca Nurse are also going to be executed along with him. Rebecca Nurse was
intentionally charged with no relation to any unnatural practice, and thus
wouldn't confess in the first place if she had no connection with it in the first
place, therefore making John seem like a ‘fraud’ if he would hang with such wise
people.
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