Act 4 of Arthur Miller's The Crucible unfolds in a Salem jail cell, where tensions rise as characters grapple with morality, justice, and the consequences of their actions. The act features key figures such as John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, and Reverend Hale, who confront the devastating effects of the witch trials. Themes of integrity, guilt, and redemption permeate the dialogue as Proctor faces the choice between truth and survival. This act serves as a critical turning point, highlighting the societal chaos and personal dilemmas faced by the characters. Ideal for students studying American literature and the historical context of the Salem witch trials.

Key Points

  • Explores the moral dilemmas faced by John Proctor as he contemplates confessing to witchcraft.
  • Highlights the impact of the Salem witch trials on community dynamics and individual lives.
  • Features key characters like Elizabeth Proctor and Reverend Hale in pivotal roles.
  • Examines themes of guilt, redemption, and the struggle for integrity amidst chaos.
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8 pages
Literature
newtopiccyclegrowin
8 pages
Literature
69
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1
The Crucible
By Arthur Miller
ACT 4:
A cell in Salem jail, that fall.
At the back is a high barred window; near it, a great, heavy door.
Along the walls are two benches.
The place is in darkness but for the moonlight seeping through
the bars. It appears empty. Presently footsteps are heard coming
down a corridor beyond the wall, keys rattle, and the door
swings open. Marshal Herrick enters with a lantern.
He is nearly drunk, and heavy-footed. He goes to a bench and
nudges a bundle of rags lying on it.
In the corridor outside Tituba calls on – “Devil take me home!
Devil, take me home!” and Hopkins’ voice orders her to move
on. Herrick returns and begins to push old rags and straw into a
corner. He sits and naps. Hearing footsteps and a man clearing
his throat, Herrick wakes, and sees Danforth and Judge
Hathorne. They are in greatcoats and wear hats against the
bitter cold. They are followed in by Cheever, who carries a
dispatch case and a flat wooden box containing his writing
materials.
HERRICK: Good morning, Excellency, Judge Hathorne, Mister
Cheever.
DANFORTH: Mister Parris asked to see us. Where is he?
HERRICK: I‘ll fetch him.
DANFORTH: Marshal Herrick. When did Reverend Hale arrive?
HERRICK: It were toward midnight, I think.
DANFORTH: (Suspiciously.) What is he about here?
HERRICK: He goes among them that will hang, sir. And he prays
with them. He sits with Goody Nurse now. And Mister Parris
with him.
DANFORTH: Indeed. That man have no authority to enter here,
Marshal. Why have you let him in?
HERRICK: Why, Mister Parris command me, sir. I cannot deny
him.
DANFORTH: Are you drunk, Marshal?
HERRICK: No sir; it is a bitter night, and I have no fire here.
DANFORTH: Fetch Mister Parris.
HERRICK: Aye, sir.
DANFORTH: There is a prodigious stench in this cell.
HERRICK: I have only now cleared the prisoners out for you.
DANFORTH: What prisoners?
HERRICK: Tituba and Sara Good.
DANFORTH: Beware hard drink, Marshal.
HERRICK: Aye, sir. (He exits.)
HATHORNE: Let you question Hale, Excellency; I should not be
surprised he have been preachin‘ in Andover lately.
DANFORTH: We‘ll come to that, Hathorne; speak nothin‘ of
Andover. Parris prays with him. That‘s strange.
HATHORNE: Excellency, I wonder if it be wise to let Mister Parris
so continuously with the prisoners. I think, sometimes, the man
has a mad look these days.
DANFORTH: Mad?
HATHORNE: I met him yesterday coming out of his house, and I
bid him good morning – and he wept and went his way. I think it
is not well the village sees him so unsteady.
DANFORTH: Perhaps he has some sorrow.
CHEEVER: I think it be the cows, sir.
DANFORTH: Cows, Mister Cheever?
CHEEVER: There be so many cows wanderin’ the highroads, now
their masters are in the jails, and much disagreement as to who
they will belong to now. I know Mister Parris be arguin’ with
farmers all yesterday – there is great contention, sir, about the
cows, and contention make him weep, sir; it were always a man
that weep for contention.
(Parris enters.)
PARRIS: Oh, good morning, sir, thank you for comin‘. I beg your
pardon wakin‘ you so early. Good morning, Judge Hathorne….
DANFORTH: Reverend Hale have no right to enter this…
HATHORNE: Do you leave him alone with the prisoners?
DANFORTH: What‘s his business here?
PARRIS: Excellency, hear me. It’s a providence. Reverend Hale
has returned to bring Rebecca Nurse to God.
DANFORTH: He bids her confess?
2
PARRIS: Hear me. Rebecca have not given me a word this three
months since she came. Now she sits with him, and her sister
and Martha Corey and two or three others, and he pleads with
them confess their crimes and save their lives.
DANFORTH: Why—this is indeed a providence. And they soften,
they soften?
PARRIS: Not yet, not yet. But I thought to summon you, sir, that
we might not think on whether it be not wise to – I had thought
to put a question, sir, and I hope you will not –
DANFORTH: Mister Parris, be plain, what troubles you?
PARRIS: There is news, sir, that the court, the court must reckon
with. My niece, sir, my niece – I believe she has vanished.
DANFORTH: Vanished!
PARRIS: I had thought to advise you of it earlier in the week,
but…
DANFORTH: Why?—how long is she gone?
PARRIS: This be the third night. She and Mercy Lewis are both
gone.
DANFORTH: I will send a party for them. Where may they be?
PARRIS: Excellency, I think they be aboard a ship. My daughter
tells me how she hears them speakin‘ of ships last week, and
tonight I discover my… my strongbox is broken into.
HATHORNE: She have robbed you?
PARRIS: Thirty-one pound is gone. I am penniless.
DANFORTH: Mister Parris, you are a brainless man!
PARRIS: Excellency, it profit nothing you should blame me. I
cannot think they would run off except they fear to keep in
Salem anymore. Mark it, sir, Abigail had close knowledge of the
town, and since the news of Andover has broken here –
DANFORTH: Andover is remedied. The court returns there on
Friday, and will resume examinations.
PARRIS: I am sure of it, sir. But the rumor here speaks rebellion
in Andover, and it…
DANFORTH: There is no rebellion in Andover!
PARRIS: I tell you what is spoken here, sir. Andover have thrown
out the court, they say, and will have no part of witchcraft.
There be a faction here feeding on that news, and I tell you true,
sir, I fear there will be riot here.
HATHORNE: Riot!—Why, at every execution I have seen naught
but high satisfaction in the town.
PARRIS: Judge Hathorne—it were another sort that hanged till
now. Rebecca Nurse is no Bridget that lived three year with
Bishop before she married him. John Proctor is not Isaac Ward
that drank his family to ruin. (To Danforth.) I would to God it
were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet
in the town. Let Rebecca stand upon the gibbet and send up
some righteous prayer, and I feel she‘ll wake a vengeance on
you.
HATHORNE: Excellency, she is a condemned witch.
DANFORTH: Pray you –
HATHORNE: The court have –
DANFORTH: How do you propose that, Mister Parris?
PARRIS: Excellency… I would postpone these hangin‘s for a time.
DANFORTH: There will be no postponement.
PARRIS: Now Mister Hale‘s returned, there is hope, I think—for if
he bring even one of these to God, that confession surely damns
the others in the public eye, and none may doubt any more that
they are all linked to Hell. This way, unconfessed and claiming
innocence, doubts are multiplied, and honest people will weep
for them, and our good purpose is lost in their tears. It cannot be
forgot, sir, that when I summoned the congregation for John
Proctor‘s excommunication, there were hardly thirty people
come to hear it. That speak a discontent, I think, and…
DANFORTH: There will be no postponement. Now, sir, which of
the condemned, in your opinion, may be brought to God? I will,
myself, strive with him ‘till dawn.
PARRIS: There is not sufficient time till dawn.
DANFORTH: I shall to my utmost. Which of them do you have
hope for?
PARRIS: Excellency… a dagger…
DANFORTH: What do you say?
PARRIS: Tonight, when I open my door to leave my house—a
dagger clattered to the ground. You cannot hang this sort. There
is danger for me. I dare not step out at night!
(Hale enters, exhausted.)
HERRICK: Reverend Hale, sir.
DANFORTH: Accept my congratulations, Reverend Hale; we are
gladdened to see you returned to your good work.
3
HALE: You must pardon them. They will not budge.
DANFORTH: You misunderstand me, sir; I cannot pardon these
when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. It is not
just.
PARRIS: Rebecca will not confess?
HALE: The sun will rise in a few minutes. Excellency, I must have
more time.
DANFORTH: Now hear me, and beguile yourselves no more. I will
not receive a single plea for pardon or postponement. Them that
will not confess will hang. Twelve are already executed; the
names of these seven are given out, and the village expects to
see them die this morning. Postponement, now, speaks a
floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt
upon the guilt of them that died till now. While I speak God’s
law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering. If retaliation is
your fear, know this – I should hang ten thousand that dared to
rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt
the resolution of the statutes. Now draw yourselves up like men
and help me, as you are bound by Heaven to do. Have you
spoken with them all, Mister Hale?
HALE: All … all but Proctor. He is in the dungeon.
DANFORTH: (To Herrick.) What‘s Proctor‘s way now, Marshal?
HERRICK: He sits like some great bird; you‘d not know he lived
except he will take food from time to time.
DANFORTH: His wife… his wife must be well on with child now.
HERRICK: She is, sir.
DANFORTH: What think you, Mister Parris?—You have closer
knowledge of this man; might her presence soften him?
PARRIS: It is possible, sir—he have not laid eyes on her these
three months. I should summon her.
DANFORTH: Is she yet adamant? Has he struck at you again,
Marshal?
HERRICK: He cannot, sir, he is chained to the wall.
DANFORTH: Fetch Goody Proctor to me. Then let you bring him
up.
HERRICK: Aye, sir. (Herrick exits.)
HALE: Excellency, if you postpone a week, and publish to the
town that you are striving for their confessions, that speak
mercy on your part, not faltering.
DANFORTH: Mister Hale, as God have not empowered me like
Joshua to stop this sun from rising, so I cannot withhold from
them the perfection of their punishment.
HALE: If you think God wills you to raise rebellion, Mister
Danforth, you are mistaken.
DANFORTH: You have heard rebellion spoken in the town?
HALE: Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to
house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of
rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the
harlots‘ cry will end his life—and you wonder yet if rebellion‘s
spoke? Better yet you should marvel how they do not burn your
province!
DANFORTH: Mister Hale, have you preached in Andover this
month?
HALE: Thank God they have no need of me in Andover.
DANFORTH: You baffle me, sir. Why have you returned here?
HALE: Why, it is all simple. I come to do the Devil‘s work. I come
to counsel Christians they should belie themselves. There is
blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head?
DANFORTH: Mister Hale.
PARRIS: Hush!
(Elizabeth enters.)
DANFORTH: Remove her chains, Marshal.
HERRICK: Aye, sir.
DANFORTH: Goody Proctor. I hope you are hearty?
ELIZABETH: I am … I am yet six month before my time.
DANFORTH: Pray, be at your ease, we come not for your life.
We… Mister Hale, will you speak with the woman?
HALE: Goody Proctor, your husband is marked to hang this
morning.
ELIZABETH: I have heard it.
HALE: You know, do you not, that I have no connection with the
court? I come of my own, Goody Proctor. I would save your
husband‘s life, for if he is taken I count myself his murderer. Do
you understand me?
ELIZABETH: What do you want of me?
HALE: Goody Proctor, I have gone this three month like our Lord
into the wilderness. I have sought a Christian way, for
damnation‘s doubled on a minister who counsels men to lie.
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End of Document
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FAQs

What choices does John Proctor face in Act 4?
In Act 4 of The Crucible, John Proctor grapples with the decision to confess to witchcraft to save his life or maintain his integrity by refusing to lie. His internal conflict reflects the broader themes of honor and guilt, as he struggles with the implications of his confession on his reputation and family. Ultimately, Proctor's choice becomes a powerful statement about personal integrity and the consequences of societal pressure.
How does Elizabeth Proctor influence John in Act 4?
Elizabeth Proctor plays a crucial role in Act 4 by encouraging John to consider the value of his life and the impact of his choices on their family. Her unwavering support and understanding highlight the emotional stakes of the situation, as she urges him to prioritize his survival while also grappling with the moral implications of lying. Elizabeth's presence serves as a catalyst for John's eventual decision to reclaim his integrity, emphasizing the strength of their bond.
What themes are prominent in Act 4 of The Crucible?
Act 4 of The Crucible prominently features themes of integrity, guilt, and redemption. The characters are faced with moral dilemmas that force them to confront their values and the consequences of their actions. The societal chaos resulting from the witch trials amplifies these themes, as individuals must navigate the tension between self-preservation and honesty. Proctor's struggle with his confession encapsulates the broader conflict between personal integrity and societal expectations.
What is the significance of Reverend Hale's return in Act 4?
Reverend Hale's return in Act 4 signifies a shift in his character from a staunch supporter of the witch trials to a man seeking redemption. His efforts to save the condemned individuals reflect his growing awareness of the injustices of the court and the moral failures of the community. Hale's transformation underscores the theme of personal responsibility, as he grapples with the consequences of his earlier actions and seeks to rectify his mistakes.
How does the setting influence the events in Act 4?
The setting of a dark, oppressive jail cell in Act 4 of The Crucible amplifies the tension and despair experienced by the characters. This confined space symbolizes the moral and social entrapment of the community, reflecting the chaos and fear that pervades Salem. The stark environment serves as a backdrop for the characters' emotional struggles, highlighting their isolation and the weight of their decisions as they confront the consequences of the witch trials.
What role does fear play in the decisions of characters in Act 4?
Fear plays a pivotal role in shaping the decisions of characters in Act 4 of The Crucible. The threat of execution looms over the condemned, driving them to consider false confessions as a means of survival. This pervasive fear not only influences individual choices but also reflects the broader societal panic that fuels the witch trials. Characters like John Proctor and Reverend Hale must navigate this fear, weighing their lives against their principles.
How does Act 4 conclude and what does it signify?
Act 4 concludes with the tragic executions of John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse, symbolizing the devastating consequences of hysteria and injustice in Salem. Proctor's final stand for his integrity serves as a powerful commentary on the importance of truth and personal honor. The act's ending signifies a loss of innocence for the community, as the characters face the reality of their choices and the irreversible impact of the witch trials.

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