Act Two Response

Crucible Response: Act Two

Peter Joelson

9/24/08

Act two sets place in a single room in a single house on the outskirts of Salem, Massachusetts. The beginning of the act sets the tone of lifestyle in the time period. The men did the labor, while the women stayed home to care for the kids and the house. It also showed the way men treated women. Even to his own wife, Proctor yelled at her as if she is being out of line, and out of order; it was as if she talked poorly to an officer in the army when she was a mere private.

It is interesting to note that John was furious with his wife for accusing of adultery (or the temptation of adultery), yet later on in the scene he was fighting furiously to try and keep his wife from being arrested. He grew extremely protective and promised her that he’ll keep her safe.

The tensions between the villagers in the previous scene exploded in between the first and second act (time passed in between the acts). At the beginning of this act, the audience learns that of thirty women were arrested and accused of being witches. Many, if not all, were accused by a jealous friend, or over a quibble the accused had with a neighbor. A prime example of this was John Proctor’s own wife, who was accused by Abigail. Abigail, who then set her up by looking like Mary used a “Voodoo doll” (even though it wasn’t referred to that in the play). It is ironic, that many of these women are found jailed next to women who accused them of witchcraft.

The ends wit Abigail being taken to jailed. But it is important to note that she believed that if she can be accused of witchcraft, then it must be unreal. Her pride may prove to be an interesting aspect in the upcoming acts.