The Crucible
Act Four
1. At the beginning of Act Four, what is Danforth’s response to Marshal Herrick’s news that the
Revered Hale is in the jail and praying with those condemned to hang as witches?
2. What reason does the Reverend Parris give Danforth to explain why his niece ,Abigail, and
Mercy Lewis ran away from Salem?
3. Toward the middle of Act Four, Hale suggests to Danforth that he pardon those who refuse to
confess, those who “will not budge.” What is Danforth’s response?
4. Hale tells Danforth that he “must have more time” to persuade the condemned prisoners to
confess and thus to save their lives. What reason does Danforth give for refusing to postpone
the executions?
5. When Hale warns Danforth about the possibility of unrest in Salem, Danforth asks him whether
he has “heard rebellion spoken in the town.” What does Hale tell Danforth is going on in Salem
and the surrounding countryside?
6. Hale pleads with Elizabeth to urge Proctor to confess, to “let him give his lie.” What argument
does he use to try to persuade her?
7. Toward the end of Act Four, when Elizabeth and Proctor are alone together he asks her about
Giles Corey. What does she tell him happened to the old man?
8. As Elizabeth and Proctor continue speaking, he asks her for her forgiveness. Elizabeth tells him
that she has sins of her own to count, including the fact that she had been a “cold wife.” What
are the reasons she gives for her coldness towards him?
9. Proctor decides to confess but is unwilling to do it so in writing. What is Danforth’s reason for
insisting on a written confession?
10. Rebecca Nurse is brought in during Proctor’s confession. When Danforth asks her to follow
Proctor’s example and confess as well, what is her reply?
11. In order to save his live, Proctor is prepared to make a false confession about his own supposed
dealing with the devil. However, when Danforth asks him to incriminate others, what is
Proctor’s response and the reason he gives for it?
12. Proctor signs the confession but refuses to turn it over when Danforth tells him that it will be
shown to the people of Salem. What reason does Proctor give Danforth for refusing to allow his
signed confession to be made public.
13. At the end of Act Four, as Proctor and Rebecca are escorted out to the gallows, Hale begs
Elizabeth to plead with her husband to save his life. What is her response to Hale?