TCT's The Crucible

ACT TWO

We see Elizabeth and John Proctor in the common room of their home. It is now eight days after the events in Act One and fourteen people have been arrested and jailed for witchcraft. John has told Elizabeth of his conversation with Abigail, in which Abigail contemptuously dismissed the witchcraft rumors as nonsense. Now Elizabeth wants John to tell the Judges of this conversation to put an end to the accusations by Abigail and the other girls. John says he cannot do this because there were no witnesses to the conversation. He had previously told Elizabeth that he was not alone with Abigail, but now, with this revelation, she wonders it their affair has continued.

Mary Warren, who is returning from the hearings, interrupts them. She gives Elizabeth a "poppet", or ragdoll, she has made during the course of the proceedings. She reveals that more people have been arrested, and that Elizabeth's name has been "mentioned" by the girls. When Mary exits, Elizabeth insists that Abigail will name her as a witch, and John realizes that he will have to tell his story to the Court.

Reverend Hale appears, as John is about to leave for the village. He questions the Proctors about their religious convictions and asks that John recite the Ten Commandments. John does so, but omits the commandment prohibiting adultery. Hale is further disturbed when the Proctors reveal that they do not believe in witches.

Giles Corey and Francis Nurse, whose wives have been arrested, interrupt them. This shocks Reverend Hale, who has a high opinion of Rebecca Nurse as a very devout and moral person. Soon, Ezekiel Cheever and Marshal Willard arrive to arrest Elizabeth, who Abigail has accused. Abigail has revealed a wound made by a needle stabbed into her, and the officers discover the poppet Mary gave to Elizabeth with a needle stuck into it.

After Elizabeth is taken to jail, John convinces Mary to come to Court and explain that she had placed the needle in the poppet after working on it, and that she was the one who gave it to Elizabeth.