The Crucible: Act 2

Today, we started Act 2. It was not as action-packed and crazy as Act 1, but it had some stuff going on. Act 2 mainly involved conversation and tension between two to five characters. It involved: Elizabeth Proctor, John Proctor, Mary Warren, Reverend Hale, and Abigail Williams was mentioned quite often. John arrived home late, and he found out that Mary Warren had become an official of the court. The setting is very somber, cold, and dark. They are being very short with each other and making awkward small talk. Elizabeth is upset with John, because she knows that John saw Abigail alone. John and Elizabeth get in an argument about how Elizabeth should have faith in John's loyalty to Elizabeth, and that she should not judge him on his past mistake with Abigail. Mary Warren comes home and adds to the tension. John tells Mary that a good Christian girl should not be involved in deciding if someone should be hanged. This is yet another example of the hypocracy and irony in the story. John committed adultery, and he only goes to church about forty percent of the time, so how does he have the authority to tell Mary what a "good Christian" should or shouldn't do? Later, we find out that Abigail Williams has accused Elizabeth Proctor of performing witchcraft. We all know that this is another attempt to kill Elizabeth so Abigail can swoop in and take John Proctor for herself. Mary Warren assures Elizabeth that she made note of not witnessing any signs of witchcraft done my Goody Proctor. However, now that Mary is a court official, she believes that she does not have to answer to Elizabeth and John Proctor. Later that night, Reverend Hale stops by and starts questioning Elizabeth and John. He was in court that day and heard Elizabeth's name. He came over, trying to help and warn the Proctors of what could happen. Elizabeth becomes extremely nervous that she is going to be hanged, because she knows Abigail wants to take her place as John Proctors wife. She is then confronted by an official who has a warrant for her arrest, and is quickly searched. A doll that Mary gave her was found with a needle in the same place Abigail had a needle in her. She was quickly arrested. I believe that Elizabeth is being set up. I think that Abigail told Mary to give Elizabeth the doll so it would be found. Abigail may have something on Mary that we don't know yet. Act 2 did not have as much going on as in Act 1, but it was just as intriguing.