✎✎✎ The Rebecca Nurse In The Crucible

The film version, for Class In America Analysis Arthur Miller also wrote the screenplay, is not bad Lawrence Exeter Jr.: A Short Story. The last photograph The Rebecca Nurse In The Crucible camera focuses on in the The Rebecca Nurse In The Crucible sequence is the picture taken by Jeff of an elegant woman, who bears a striking resemblance to Lisa. The inscription Sluggers: A Short Story the monument reads:. Mary Barker William Barker Jr. Aim to demonstrate that you understand why the article was The Rebecca Nurse In The Crucible, and its surrounding circumstances.

Rebecca Nurse

Danforth And you, Mary Warren, how came you to cry out people for sending their spirits against you? Mary Warren It were pretense, sir. Danforth I cannot hear you. Proctor It were pretense, she says. Danforth Ah? And the other girls? Susanna Walcott, and—the others? They are also pretending? Parris Excellency, you surely cannot think to let so vile a lie be spread in open court? Danforth Indeed not, but it strike hard upon me that she will dare come here with such a tale.

Now, Mr. Proctor, before I decide whether I shall hear you or not, it is my duty to tell you this. We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment. Danforth Let me continue. Are you certain in your conscience, Mister, that your evidence is the truth? Proctor It is. And you will surely know it. Danforth And you thought to declare this revelation in the open court before the public? Proctor I thought I would, aye—with your permission. Danforth Now, sir, what is your purpose in doing so?

Proctor Why, I—I would free my wife, sir. Danforth There lurks nowhere in your heart, nor hidden in your spirit, and desire to undermine this court? Proctor Why, no, sir. When we come to take his wife, he damned the court and ripped your warrant. Parris Now you have it! Danforth He did that, Mr. Hale Aye, he did. Proctor It were a temper, sir. I knew not what I did. Danforth Mr. Have you ever seen the Devil? Danforth You are in all respects a Gospel Christian? Parris Such a Christian that will not come to church but once a month! Danforth Not come to church? Proctor I—I have no love for Mr. It is no secret. But God I surely love. Cheever He plow on Sunday, sir. Danforth Plow on sunday! Cheever I think it be evidence, John. I am I am an official of the court, I cannot keep it.

Proctor I—I have once or twice plowed on Sunday. I have three children, sir, and until last year my land give little. Hale Your Honor, I cannot think you may judge the man on such evidence. Danforth I judge nothing. I tell you straight, Mister—I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them stuck by pins and slashed by daggers. I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me. Do you understand my meaning? Proctor Excellency, does it not strike upon you that so many of these women have lived so long with such upright reputation, and— Parris Do you read the Gospel, Mr. Proctor I read the Gospel. Parris I think not, or you should surely know that Cain were an upright man, and yet he did kill Abel.

Proctor Aye, God tells us that. But who tells us Rebecca Nurse murdered seven babies by sending out her spirit on them? Is it the children only, and the is one will swear she lied to you. Proctor, this morning, your wife send me a claim in which she states that she is pregnant now. Proctor My wife pregnant! Danforth There be no sign of it—we have examined her body.

Proctor But if she say she is pregnant, then she must be! That woman never lie, Mr Danforth. Danforth She will not? Proctor Never, sir, never. Danforth We have thought it too convenient to be credited. However, if I should tell you now that I will let her be kept another month; and if she begin to show her natural signs, you shall have her living yet another year until she is delivered—what say you to that?

Come now. You say your only purpose is to save your wife. Good, then, she is saved at least this year, and a year is long. What say you, sir? It is done now. Will you drop this charge? Proctor I—I think I cannot. Danforth Then your purpose is somewhat larger. Proctor These are my friends. Their wives are also accused— Danforth I judge you not, sir. I am ready to hear your evidence. Proctor I come not to hurt the court; I only— Danforth Marshal, go into the court and bid Judge Stoughton and Judge Sewall declare recess for one hour. And let them of to the tavern, if they will. All witnesses and prisoners are to be kept in the building. Herrick Aye, sir. If I may say it, sir, I know this man all my life.

It is a good man, sir. Danforth I am sure of it, Marshal. Now, what deposition do you have for us, Mr. And I beg you to be clear, open as the sky, and honest. Proceed as you will. Proctor Will you read this first, sir? The people signing it declare their good opinion of Rebecca, and my wife, and Martha Corey. Parris Their good opinion! Proctor These are all landholding farmers, members of the church. Danforth How many names are here? Francis Ninety-one, Your Excellency. Parris These people should be summoned. For questioning. Francis Mr. Danforth, I gave them all my word no harm would come to them for signing this.

Parris This is a clear attack upon the court! Hale Is every defense an attack upon the court? Can no one—? Parris All innocent and Christian people are happy for the courts in Salem! These people are gloomy for it. And I think you will want to know, from each and every one of them, what discontents them with you! Hathorne Arrest him, excellency! Giles I have evidence. Why will you not hear my evidence? Giles Hands off, damn you, let me go! Herrick Giles, Giles! Giles Out of my way, Herrick! Hale Pray be calm a moment. Giles You, Mr. Hale, go in there and demand I speak. Hale A moment, sir, a moment. Are you gone daft, Corey? Hathorne I think they ought to be examined, sir. Danforth It is not necessarily an attack, I think. Yet— Francis These are all covenanted Christians, sir.

Danforth Then I am sure they may have nothing to fear. Cheever, have warrants drawn for all of these—arrest for examination. Now, Mister, what other information do you have for us? You may sit, Mr. Francis I have brought trouble on these people. I have— Danforth No, old man, you have not hurt these people if they are of good conscience. But you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between.

This is a sharp time, now, a precise time—we live no longer in the dusky afternoon when evil mixed itself with good and befuddled the world. Now remember what the angel Raphael said to the boy Tobias. Remember it. Giles John, my deposition, give him mine. Proctor Aye. This is Mr. Hathorne What lawyer drew this, Corey? Giles You know I never hired a lawyer in my life, Hathorne. Danforth It is very well phrased. My compliments. Parris, if Mr. Putnam is in the court, will you bring him in? You have no legal training, Mr. Giles I have the best, sir—I am thirty-three time in court in my life.

And always plaintiff, too. Giles I am never put-upon; I know my rights, sir, and I will have them. You know, your father tried a case of mine—might be thirty-five years ago. He were a fair judge, your father. Putnam, I have here an accusation by Mr. Corey against you. He states that you coldly prompted your daughter to cry witchery upon George Jacobs that is now in jail. Putnam It is a lie. Putnam states your charge is a lie. What say you to that? Giles A fart on Thomas Putnam, that is what I say to that! Danforth What proof do you submit for your charge, sir? Giles My proof is there! And there is none but Putnam with the coin to buy so great a piece.

This man is killing his neighbors for their land! Danforth But proof, sir, proof. Giles The proof is there! I have it from an honest man who heard Putnam say it! Hathorne And the name of this man? Giles What name? Hathorne The man that give you this information. Giles Why, I—I cannot give you his name. Hathorne And why not? Giles You know well why not! Hathorne This is contempt of court, Mr. Danforth You will surely tell us the name. Giles I will give you no name. I stand mute. Danforth In that case, I have no choice but to arrest you for contempt of this court, do you know that? Giles This is a hearing; you cannot clap me for contempt of a hearing. Danforth Oh, it is a proper lawyer! Do you wish me to declare the court in full session here? Or will you give me good reply?

Giles I cannot give you no name, sir, I cannot. Danforth You are a foolish old man. Cheever, begin the record. The court is now in session. I ask you, Mr. Corey— Proctor Your honor— he has the story in confidence, sir, and he— Parris The Devil lives on such confidences! Without confidences, there could be no conspiracy, Your Honor! Hathorne I think it must be broken, sir. Danforth Old man, if your informant tells the truth let him come here openly like a decent man. But if he hide in anonymity I must know why. Now sir, the government and central church department demand of you the name of them who reported Mr.

Thomas Putnam a common murder. Hale We cannot blink it more. There is a prodigious fear of this court in the country— Danforth Then there is a prodigious guilt in the country. Are you afraid to be questioned here? Hale I may only fear the Lord, sir, but there is fear in the country nevertheless. Danforth Reproach me not with the fear in the country; there is fear in the country because there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country! Hale But it does not follow that everyone accused is part of it. Danforth No uncorrupted man may fear this court, Mr. You are under arrest in my contempt of this court. Now sit down and take counsel with yourself, or you will be set in the jail until you decide to answer all questions.

Proctor No, Giles. Proctor Peace, Giles, peace. Now we will. He means to hang us all! Danforth This is a court of law, Mister. Proctor Forgive him, sir, for his old age. You cannot weep, Mary. Remember the angel, what he say to the boy. Hold to it, now; there is your rock. I—I would ask you remember, sir, while you read it, that until two week ago she were no different than the other children are today. You saw her scream, she howled, she swore familiar spirits choked her; she even testified that Satan, in the form of women now in jail, tried to win her soul away, and then when she refused— Danforth We know all this.

Proctor Aye, sir. She swears now that she never saw Satan; nor any spirit, vague or clear, that Satan may have sent to hurt her. And she declares her friends are lying now. Hale Excellency, a moment. I think this goes to the heart of the matter. Danforth It surely does. Hale I cannot say he is an honest man; I know him little. But in all justice, sir, a claim so weighty cannot be argued by a farmer. Hale— Hale Excellency, I have signed seventy-two death warrants; I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it. Hale, you surely do not doubt my justice.

I pray you, sir, this argument let lawyers present to you. Hale, believe me; for a man of such terrible learning you are most bewildered—I hope you will forgive me. I have been thirty-two year at the bar; sir, and I should be confounded were I called upon to defend these people. Let you consider; now—And I bid you all do likewise. In an ordinary crime, how does one defend the accused? One calls up witnesses to prove his innocence. But witchcraft is ipso facto, on its face and by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not?

Therefore, we must rely upon her victims—and they do testify, the children certainly do testify. As for the witches, none will deny that we are most eager for all their confessions. Therefore, what is left for a lawyer to bring out? I think I have made my point. Have I not? Hale But this child claims the girls are not truthful, and if they are not— Danforth That is precisely what I am about to consider, sir. What more may you ask of me? Unless you doubt my probity? Hale I surely do not, sir. Let you consider it, then. Danforth And let you put your heart to rest. Her deposition, Mr. Parris I should like to question— Danforth Mr. Parris, I bid you be silent! Cheever, will you go into the court and bring the children here? Mary Warren, how came you to this turnabout? Has Mr.

Proctor threatened you for this deposition? Danforth Has he ever threatened you? Danforth Has he threatened you? Danforth Then you tell me that you sat in my court, callously lying, when you knew that people would hang by your evidence? Answer me! Danforth How were you instructed in your life? Or is it now that you lie? Mary Warren No, sir—I am with God now. Danforth You are with God now. Danforth I will tell you this—you are either lying now, or you were lying in the court, and in either case you have committed perjury and you will go to jail for it. You cannot lightly say you lied, Mary. Do you know that? Mary Warren I cannot lie no more. I am with God, I am with God. Danforth These will be sufficient. Sit you down, children.

Mary Warren, has given us a deposition. By this time, I was sure, John Proctor had bedded Abigail, who had to be dismissed most likely to appease Elizabeth. In the introduction to his Collected Plays published in republished in the Viking Critical Library edition, p. I doubt I should ever have tempted agony by actually writing a play on the subject had I not come upon a single fact. It was that Abigail Williams, the prime mover of the Salem hysteria, so far as the hysterical children were concerned, had a short time earlier been the house servant of the Proctors and now was crying out Elizabeth Proctor as a witch; but more - it was clear from the record that with entirely uncharacteristic fastidiousness she was refusing to include John Proctor, Elizabeth's husband, in her accusations despite the urgings of the prosecutors.

This is also not historically accurate, beginning with Abigail never having been a maidservant in the Procter household: that was Mary Warren. The real Abigail Williams did cry out against John Procter on April 4, on the same day Elizabeth Procter was formally accused, although he was not included on the arrest warrant issued on April 8. Miller continued to claim that it was a fact. He wrote, "I can't recall if it was the provincial governor's nephew or son who, with a college friend, came from Boston to watch the strange proceedings.

Both boys burst out laughing at some absurd testimony: they were promptly jailed, and faced possible hanging. Miller is, of course, not alone in his personal interpretations about the history of this episode. He was using it to make sense of his own life and times. Popular understandings include many general inaccuracies - for instance, that the witches were burned to death.

People condemned as witches in New England were not burned, but hanged, and in the aftermath of the events in Salem, it was generally agreed that none of them had actually been witches at all. Some modern versions also cast the story as having to do with intolerance of difference - a theme that was in the words of Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel at the dedication of the Tercentenary Memorial in Salem in August , for instance - that the accused were people on the fringes that the community tacitly approved of casting out. In fact, most of the people who were accused, convicted, and executed by the court in Salem were remarkable by their very adherence to community norms, many were even fully covenanted members of the church.

Such impressions that vary from the historical facts are more likely to come from pressing concerns of the time of the writer. Another current understanding of the events had its beginning in , when Linnda P. Caporael, then a graduate student, published an article in Science magazine positing that the afflicted had suffered from hallucinations from eating moldy rye wheat - ergot poisoning. The use and abuse of LSD was a major public concern at the time. The theory was refuted, point by point, by Nicholas P. Spanos and Jack Gottlieb seven months later in the very magazine Caporael had published her original article, demonstrating how Caporael's data was cherry-picked to support her conclusion.

For instance, the kind of ergotism that produces hallucinations has other symptoms - gangrene fingers and digestive-tract distress - which would likely have been reported in , but were not. Nevertheless the life of this theory continues in the popular imagination as a viable explanation of the events. Another biological theory, by Laurie Winn Carlson, published in , suggested that the afflicted suffered from encephalitis lethargica , but this one fails to hold up under the scrutiny of medical and Salem scholars alike.

Additionally, even if these biological explanations could be the root of the accusers' "visions", they still do not go far to explain the credulity and legal response of the public and authorities. They do reflect a current perception that unacknowledged toxins in our daily environment can explain many medical issues. Lastly, Rev. Parris' slave woman, Tituba, is persistently portrayed as having been of Black African descent or of mixed racial heritage, despite always being referred to in the primary sources as "an Indian woman".

Upham created this presentation of Tituba, known to have been a slave from Barbadoes, after the Civil War, when most slaves from Barbadoes were, in fact, of Black African heritage. Had the real Tituba nearly two centuries earlier actually been African or Black or mulatto, she would have been so described. Contemporary descriptions of her also refer to her as a "Spanish Indian", placing her pre-Barbadoes origins somewhere in the Carolinas, Georgia or Florida. See my supplemental notes about Tituba. Returning to Miller's tellings of the tale, I am always distracted by the wide variety of minor historical inaccuracies when I am exposed to his play or movie.

Call me picky, but I'm not a dolt: I know about artistic license and Miller's freedom to use the material any way he choose to, so please don't bother lecturing me about it. This page is part of a site about the history of 17th Century Colonial New England , not about literature, theater, or Arthur Miller, even though you may have landed smack dab in the middle of the site thanks to a search engine hit for information about Miller. Reasons why I began providing this list include, 1 actors contact me about making their portrayals of characters in the play "more accurate" - when that is impossible without drastically altering Miller's work because the characters in his play are simply not the real people who lived, even though they may share names and basic fates, 2 people who are watching the stage production or movie and who are inspired to learn more about the historical event, and 3 students are given assignments in their English classes to find out more about what really happened American high school juniors in honors and AP classes seem to be the most frequent visitors.

I can be an ornery cuss when it comes to being asked the same English class homework questions that I've already said I don't care to answer because I am an historian, so before you even think of writing to ask me a question about the play, please read through my list of frequently-asked questions where I will give you what answers I have to offer to the most questions I am most commonly asked - be prepared: they may not be the answers you want. NOTE: All of the above can be verified through primary sources, which are not necessarily listed here only to avoid providing an easy on-line source of plagiarism -- not that your teacher couldn't spot a ringer like this one from a mile away.

Trust me: your teachers can usually tell when you are plagiarizing. If you think you are "getting away with it," it may just be a temporary thing while they figure out how to prove it or catch you at it. Do your own work. Everything stated here can be corroborated with a little research of your own, and isn't that the point of most school assignments? Start with the the searchable on-line edition of The Salem Witchcraft Papers , Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt , the books listed in my bibliography and various rare books available on-line.

While there The Rebecca Nurse In The Crucible things that were intentionally altered, such as the girls being made a bit older in order to make John Proctor's affair with Abigail look a bit more logical, I still feel that this novel made a legitimate point in what it was attempting The Rebecca Nurse In The Crucible get at. George Burroughs and the Salem Witch Trials. If you'd like to see the all Chapter plots, their analysis, along with important quotes, then have a look at our Symbolism In The House On Mango Street By Sandra Cisneros Dressmaker Study Guide. Herrick Aye, sir.