The Crucible Act 4 Study Guide

Question: What is Reverend Hale advising the condemned to do?

Answer: He wants them to lie and 'confess' their accusations to save their lives

Question: What does Reverend Parris reveal about his niece Abigail?

Answer: She has fled the town and has taken all his money with her

Question: How do the proposed hangings of Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor differ from the past executions?

Answer: Both of them refuse to claim their name to a false accusation

Question: What does Reverend Parris want Danforth to do?

Answer: He wants Danforth to postpone the hanging

Question: What does Reverend Hale want Danforth to do?

Answer: To pardon or forgive them for their sins

Question: Why does Danforth refuse to postpone the hangings?

Answer: He had already hung 12 others for the same crime and did not want to give any leeway

Question: What do Hale and Danforth request of Elizabeth Proctor?

Answer: They want her to make John Proctor confess

Question: What does Hale mean when he warns, "Cleave to no faith...leads you to sacrifice."

Answer: He wants them to confess for their own good, so they don't end up in a bad place later on

Question: What happened to Giles Corey?

Answer: He is pressed under a pile of rocks

Question: What is John's excuse for confessing?

Answer: He admitted that he was going to Hell anyways, so there was no need to try and save him

Question: What is Elizabeth's proof that John is a good man?

Answer: That he didn't confess until the last moment he was alive, he kept his name proud and honored

Question: How has Elizabeth changed since we first met her?

Answer: She realizes that she is also at fault and is just as guilty as John, and cannot be the judge of whether he lives or dies

Question: After John confesses, what does Danforth want him to do? Why will he not do it?

Answer: He wants him to sign a paper confessing to his sins, but John will not because he wants to be respected

Question: What does Hale attribute to Proctor's willingness to hang to?

Answer: His pride

Question: What does it mean now that John has recanted his confession? For the court? For the town? For him, as a man?

Answer: Salem was forever changed by the accusations of these girls, witchcraft would forever be a part of society and lies and sabotage would change the shape of the way of life forever