Crucible Characters and Summaries

Minister of Salem. He believes a faction plans to force him to leave Salem, so he attempts to strenghten his authority trhough the witch trial proceedings.

Parris' daughter. Her father discovers her dancing in the woods, and she later accuses individuals of practicing witchcraft.

The Putnam's only living child. She accuses individuals of practicing witchcraft after being caught dancing in the woods with Abigail. A witness claims to have heard Putnam say Ruth's accusations helped him obtain land.

Parris' niece. She witnessed her parents murdered by the Indians. She had an affair with John Proctor. She is caught dancing in the woods and actually drank blood and cast a spell for Elizabeth Proctor to die. She instigates the witch trials by falsely accusing others of witchcraft. She pretends to see spirits and instructs the other girls to pretend as well. She threatens them if they don't do what she says.

Servant to the Proctors. She is 18. She goes along with Abigail and the girls by falsely accusing others of witchcraft. She later admits that she lied and that the other girls are lying. Abigail accuses her of witchcraft for defying her. Mary also gave a doll she made to Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail uses this gift to claim that Elizabeth is a witch too.

Parris' black slave from Barbados. She is discovered in the woods with the girls casting spells and making potions with the girls in the woods.

Servant to the Putnams and friend to Abigail. She participates in the witch trials by pretending to see spirits and falsely accusing individuals of witchcraft. Turned on Mary Warren with Abigail.

Wife of Thomas Putnam. She believes that a witch is responsible for the deaths of her 7 infant kids. Her jealousy of Rebecca Nurse leads her to accuse Goody Nurse of being a witch.

Salem farmer and former lover of Abigails. He had an affair with her when his wife was really sick. He broke off the affair, but Abigail would stop at nothing until he was hers. He spoke negatively about Reverend Parris in public because he only preaches about money and golden candlesticks and not about God. He stopped going to church.

A greedy landowner in Salem. He systematically accuses his neighbors of witchcraft so that he can purchase their land cheap. If a person hangs then their family can't receive the land and it goes up for auction. He is the only one rich enough to buy the land.

Wife of John Proctor. She is a decent and honest woman, who fired Abigail when she found out about the affair with her husband. Abigail falsely accused her of witchcraft and set her up with the doll that Mary Warren gave her as a gift. Elizabeth doesn't fully trust her husband until he announced the affair in court to save her from being hung as a witch. She announced in court that she was pregnant and was spared from being hung. People signed a petition on her behalf.

Minister in Beverly. He was brought to Salem to investigate Betty's condition and to determine if witchcraft was responsible. He supports the witch trials, but later denounces them when he finds out Abigail and the others were lying. He feels guilty that innocent people may have died and later quits the court proceedings.

A judge in the Salem court.

Wife of Francis Nurse. Mother and grandmother. She is one of the most respected individuals in Salem because of her kindness and charity. She argues against the witch trial investigations. Mrs. Putnam accuses her of witchcraft. People signed a petition on her behalf.

A special judge serving in the Salem court during the witch trials. He signs the death sentances for those individuals who refuse to confess their crimes. He refuses to delay any execution for fear that he will appear weak and irresolute.

Farmer and landowner in Salem. He is a respected member of the community often called upon to settle disagreements between individuals.

Elderly inhabitant of Salem. He challenges the court in an attempt to defend his wife who has been convicted of witchcraft. He refused to allow Thomas Putnam to get his land so instead of the gallows he asked to be pressed to death with stones.

Begger in Salem. She was the first person accused of witchcraft.

Appointed by the court to assist in arresting accused individuals.

Appointed by the court to arrest the accused individuals.

Jailer

Friend to Abigail. She also takes part in the trials by falsely accusing others of witchcraft.

Reverend Parris' daughter.

Believesthe children are not bewitched but are faking.

Rev. Parris' slave that is from Barbados. She was singing, chanting and casting spells in the woods.

Arrived in Salem to investigate the witchcraft claims.

Argued with John Proctor about land ownership.

Sends her only living daughter Ruth to ask Tituba to conjure up the spirits of her 7 dead children to see why they died.

The Minister of Salem

Reverend Parris' niece and the instigator of the Salem Witch Trials.

Upstanding man who is plagued by guilt over his affair with Abigail.

The Putnam's only living child.

Elizabeth Proctor dismissed Abigail from her duties because she had an affair with John Proctor.

No, she is actually a kind hearted woman who has raised 11 kids. Mrs. Putnam is jealous of her because all of her kids lived and most of Mrs. Putnam's kids died.

No, he is afraid that the townspeople are trying to remove him from the town. He is paranoid and uses the witch trials to his advantage.

Yes

Yes, she is depressed and can't believe that they would die naturally. She is jealous of Goody Nurse because she was a good mother and loved by the town.

In Salem at the Parris home.

They were dancing in the woods with Tituba. He didn't know it but Abigail drank blood and cast a spell in hopes of it causing Elizabeth Proctor to die.

She told them to say that they danced while Tituba conjured up the spirits of Ruth's brothers and sisters.

She says that if they ever tell the truth about what happened in the woods that she will come and murder them in the night.

She confesses that they were only dancing in the woods and that no witchcraft occurred.

A person who takes the blame for something that they didn't do. Someone who is falsely accused.

Tituba and Rebecca Nurse.

Abigail, Mrs. Putnam and Tituba all named people.

Abigail named Elizabeth because she wanted her to die.

Mrs. Putnam named Rebecca Nurse because she was jealous that all of her children had lived.

Tituba named Sarah Good because she wanted to be spared from hanging.

He felt guilty and wanted to become right with Elizabeth and God.

Rebecca Nurse had 11 children and all had survived. Mrs. Putnam had 8 children and 7 had died.

She did it because Abigail ws threatening to name her as a witch.

Tituba accused Sarah Good of witchcraft.

Abigail was struck with a needle in the abdomen that she claimed was caused by Elizabeth sticking a needle in a doll and using witchcraft.