The Crucible - Act 2

This is the second part of the play. It begins after Abigail declares many citizens of Salem to be witches. The second act takes place in the Proctor's house, first in a discussion between Elizabeth and Proctor. In the early section of this act, we find out more about the relationship between proctor and Abigail. We also learn about the tension between Elizabeth and Proctor, since the affair.

In this act, two characters in particular a demonstrated to be dynamic, both John Hale and Mary Warren. In the start of the play, and even when he first enters the scene, Hale is determined to find and destroy the ‘devil’ where ever he may be present within Salem. However, once Elizabeth is accused of being a witch, something that hale cannot agree with, he flips sides on his position in the trials, becoming a proponent for the accused and challenging the accusations and the methods of the court for the remainder of the play. Mary Warren is also dynamic; she goes from being a “mouse” in the first act, not willing to stand up for herself and submitting to anyone, to being significantly more forceful. She resists Elizabeth Procter telling her not to leave the house, and even threatens the Proctors with accusations. This change she exhibits is mostly due to the effect of being powerful and being heard in court.

The act has an ironic moment when Proctor, who is being questioned and has been asked to recite the Ten Commandments, can remember them all, except the seventh: “Thou shall not commit adultery”. This is ironic because he himself is guilty of that crime and cannot remember the only commandment that he has violated.