Crucible- HW 8 (p.113-127)

“A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts this be fraud—God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!” (120)- Proctor

• What was once a religious and reverent town has become corrupted by the word of a teenage girl. This quote reveals Proctor’s realization of this. God is no longer ruling the town, the people are. Religion and piety has vanished, leaving only wickedness and corruption. Because of Danforth’s refusal to listen to the truth, deceit and vengeance has prevailed over the virtue that Proctor had believed would set him free.
  
  Will Abigail get caught and end up being hung or will she get away with lying?

“Rebecca Nurse is no Bridget that lived three year with Bishop before she married him. John Proctor is not Isaac Ward that drank his family to ruin. I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town… I would postpone these hangin’s for a time.” (127)- Parris

• This quote illustrates a great change in Parris’ stance. In the beginning, Parris came across as holy and faithful. Then, it becomes clear that Parris was guilty of using his accusatory manner in seeking vengeance to condemn Proctor: “since I come to Salem this man is blackening my name” (105). Now, Parris is attempting to save those he has accused. This quotation evokes a sense of remorse within Reverend Parris. Reasonable thinking comes into play as Parris becomes aware of how treacherous her niece can be. If Abigail was capable of stealing his money, she is certainly capable of lying. Parris attempts to present his new found rationality by informing Danforth of Rebecca and Proctor’s good qualities; however, it may be too late.
  
  Is it too late for Parris to save these falsely accused people?