Crucible Act II Quiz

1. In Act II of the Crucible, John Proctor states “We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law!” This quote explains many things that are happening in Salem. The first and obvious thing he points out is how the children are getting what they want by controlling the village by themselves. The next thing he points out that is true is that now that the children have a sense of power in the village the elder citizens are also too using the power and using it to get back at somebody or for something. But like Proctor said it was always like that in Salem but no one showed it until the children began to rule the village. Examples I would like to show are how Putnam uses this idea of the witchhunt to accuse people and try to get land and money. Another example would be Abigail trying to accuse Goody Proctor just to get Proctor. There are people who are ruled by greed and will do anything to get what they want.

2. Act II exemplifies and shows the relationship between John and Elizabeth Proctor. I would say the relationship is one of convenience. Act II provides many examples of their relationship. One would be when they are at the dinner table and they forced small talk to make it seem like a normal relationship but you could sense the tension between the two. Another example would be that Elizabeth knows that John has committed adultery with Abigail but she stays with John to keep his good name. Even though the Act looks down on the relationship of the Proctors, it seems to me that they still have love for each other.

3.Reverend Hale of Beverly is called upon his services to diminish Satan in Salem. Mr. Hale comes upon a fork in the road when he arrives the Proctor home. While at Proctor's house, Mr. Hale is questioning them on their religious beliefs. As he finds their answers a bit shaky, he senses that there is no sign of Satan in the Proctor home. But when Cheever finds the poppet and the needle, Hale begins to question Cheever not on religious beliefs but on a philosophical level and this is where he becomes concerned that somebody may be behind the witchhunt scheme.

4.Ezekiel Cheever is a good representation of the averagae Amereican. You could see during the play Cheever does what he is told to do. The average American is just the same. Many people like to follow a group or the majority of people and they do not do go with what they believe in. It is just like a teenager who is succumbed by peer pressure and goes with the crowd even though they may not like what they are doing. the average American is a follower not a leader.