The Crucible: Act 3

We just finished reading Act three in class the other day, and there was a lot going on. Abigail does not appear in Act three; however, she is mentioned very often. Act 3 is set totally in court where everyone is being questioned. Danforth learns that the girls danced in the woods; however, Reverend Parris denies that he saw any of them naked, which is a lie. Mary Warren confesses that she faked passing out in court. The people are taken back by this, because when she would faint, she would be cold. When asked to faint, she could not. Abigail insists that Mary Warren is sending out her spirit to try and harm the girls. Abigail claims to see a yellow bird that is coming to attack her. When Mary denies having anything to do with this, the other girls join Abigail in pretending that Mary has a hold of them, and they all start repeating everything Mary says. Proctor calls Abigail a whore in front of the whole court, and he confesses to having an affair with her. Elizabeth is then called into court. She is asked about the affair between John Proctor and Abigail Williams. Elizabeth decides to lie and said that it never happened. John hears this and begins yelling to Elizabeth that he had already confessed. Elizabeth is then taken away to be arrested. This is a very emotional scene, because Elizabeth was trying to protect her husband and his reputation. Danforth then asks John if he is involved with the Devil, and then he places him under arrest. Hale becomes extremely frustrated. He denounces the proceedings and quits the court. Act 3 is very intense, because everything is revealed, and timing proves to be one of the main factors.