The Crucible Study Guide Act IV
Act IV
1. What is Miller’s purpose setting this scene in a jail cell?
The setting of the jail helps the audience to think about the reality of the horrible conditions of people who are incarcerated. They prisoners are treated like animals. They have filthy conditions and it similar to living in a barn. It is cold and dark and the bedding is straw. When Herrick enters, it says that he nudges a bundle of rags lying on a bench which implies that you cannot tell that there is even a person in the cell. The audience is aware of how these people suffered for no reason.
2. Explain Miller’s use of comic relief at the beginning of this act. How is this scene ambiguous? p121-122 Herrick comes into the cell and tells Sarah and Tituba that they are going to move to the north cell because this one is needed. Sarah thinks that he is the devil. She calls the devil “His Majesty”. Tituba knows that it is Marshall Herrick. Herrick lets Sarah have some of his cider. She says she is going away. Herrick asks her where she is going. She says that the devil is bringing them feathers and wings to fly to Barbados. Sarah mistakes a cow for the devil. It appears that Sarah is crazy p.56 Mary Warren tells us that Sarah Good confessed and that she didn’t really think that this poor, old, homeless woman was a witch but that in the courtroom Sarah sent her spirit to choke her. She would come to the Proctor’s house to beg for bread and cider and when she turned her away then she would mumble. Mary thought that maybe Sarah had put a curse on her. Herrick is rather sarcastic with Sarah and goes along with what she is saying. He humors her. He doesn’t seem to be afraid of her and thinks her rantings are ridiculous. If she was really a witch and had the power of a witch then he would fear her.
3. Danforth, Hathorne, and Cheever’s conversation tells the audience about what changes in Salem in the months that passed between Act III and IV?
Mr. Parris seems to be crying all the time. Mr. Cheever
1. What is Miller’s purpose setting this scene in a jail cell?
The setting of the jail helps the audience to think about the reality of the horrible conditions of people who are incarcerated. They prisoners are treated like animals. They have filthy conditions and it similar to living in a barn. It is cold and dark and the bedding is straw. When Herrick enters, it says that he nudges a bundle of rags lying on a bench which implies that you cannot tell that there is even a person in the cell. The audience is aware of how these people suffered for no reason.
2. Explain Miller’s use of comic relief at the beginning of this act. How is this scene ambiguous? p121-122 Herrick comes into the cell and tells Sarah and Tituba that they are going to move to the north cell because this one is needed. Sarah thinks that he is the devil. She calls the devil “His Majesty”. Tituba knows that it is Marshall Herrick. Herrick lets Sarah have some of his cider. She says she is going away. Herrick asks her where she is going. She says that the devil is bringing them feathers and wings to fly to Barbados. Sarah mistakes a cow for the devil. It appears that Sarah is crazy p.56 Mary Warren tells us that Sarah Good confessed and that she didn’t really think that this poor, old, homeless woman was a witch but that in the courtroom Sarah sent her spirit to choke her. She would come to the Proctor’s house to beg for bread and cider and when she turned her away then she would mumble. Mary thought that maybe Sarah had put a curse on her. Herrick is rather sarcastic with Sarah and goes along with what she is saying. He humors her. He doesn’t seem to be afraid of her and thinks her rantings are ridiculous. If she was really a witch and had the power of a witch then he would fear her.
3. Danforth, Hathorne, and Cheever’s conversation tells the audience about what changes in Salem in the months that passed between Act III and IV?
Mr. Parris seems to be crying all the time. Mr. Cheever