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Act 4 Review SessionAct 3 Characters: Write a short summary of the character development and role in Act 4Abigail Williams – Steals her uncles money and runs away from SalemJohn Proctor - Confesses to avoid hanging then refuses to sign it and chooses to hang and keep his name. Elizabeth Proctor – Apologizes to her husband for not loving him correctly, tells him to do what he wants to. Reverend Hale – Returns to Salem to pray with the people being hanged. Tries to convince the court to put a hold on the hangings and the accused to admit to guilt to save their lives. Giles Corey – Is pressed to death after refusing to plead innocent or guilty Danforth –Argues that Elizabeth does not care her husband is about to hang. Hathorne - Gets inappropriately excited when it is announced that prisoners will confess Parris – Loses all his money and is threatened with a dagger at his door. Quotes:“He goes among them that will hang, sir. And he prays with them. He sits with Goody Nurse now. And Mr. Parris with him.” pg. 123Herrick to Danforth talking about Reverend Hale who has returned to Salem to sit and pray with the prisoners. He is trying to get them to confess in order to save their life. The fact that Parris is with him in their endeavour shows how both Parris and Hale have changed since their introduction in the play. This is significant because the people who were responsible for the trials losing control are now trying to regain control. “Excellency, I think they may be aboard a ship. My daughter tells me how she heard them speaking of ships last week, and tonight I discover my – my strong box is broke into.” Pg. 126Parris to Danforth and Hathorne about Abigail and the girls taking all his money and fleeing Salem. This is a form or irony as all Parris was concerned about throughout the play was his money and keeping his wealth and now he is responsible for his own undoing. “I tell you what is said here, sir. Andover have thrown out the court, they say, and will have no part of witchcraft. There be a faction here, feeding on that news, and I tell you true, sir, I fear there will be riot here.” Pg. 127Parris to the judges trying to convince them to hold off on hanging Proctor and Rebecca Nurse. They are respected members of society and Parris is worried people will revolt and riot if they are hanged. Parris is also scared because someone left a dagger on his door with a threatening note. “Excellency, if you postpone a week and publish to the town that you are striving for the confessions, that speak mercy on your part, not faltering.” p. 130Hale to Danforth trying to appeal to Danforth’s need to authority and respect. Danforth thinks that if he postpones the hangings people will question if everyone else maybe wasn’t guilty. He needs these people to hang, innocent or not to keep up appearances in the town. Hale is trying to convince him that it will speak “Mercy” not making mistakes. “You are not summoned here for disputation. Be there no wifely tenderness within you? He will die with the sunrise. Your husband. Do you understand it?” Danforth questioning Elizabeth’s love for her husband. She was brought in to convince him to confess and all she said was that she would not judge him. Danforth is questioning her wifely tenderness which is especially difficult for Elizabeth as she had just apologized to John for not being a good wife to him. “More weight.” pg. 135Giles Corey as he was being pressed to death for refusing to plea innocent or guilty. He refused because as long as he never said anything his family could keep their land. For someone who made unintelligent comments at the beginning of the play, we see him make on of the most intelligent and sacrificing moves in the play. “I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is fraud. I am not that man. My honesty is broke, *****; I am no good man. Nothing’s spoiled by giving them this lie were not rotten long before.” Pg. 136John Proctor to Elizabeth saying how he is not a saint like Rebecca Nurse. He is not an honest man and that telling them this lie will not change anything because he is already a liar. He is talking about how he may as well confess because even if it is a lie, he is already living with the fact that he is a liar. Another one wouldn’t hurt. “I never knew how I should say my love. It were a cold house I kept!” pg. 137Elizabeth to Proctor acknowledging her role in the failure of their marriage. She acknowledges that she played a role in the reason that John went to Abby and that she kept a “cold” house with no warmth or happiness. She is forgiving John for his sins so he can have a clear conscience. “I want my life.” Pg. 137John Proctor to Danforth and Hathorne in front of Elizabeth confessing to witchcraft to save his life. This is significant because he is choosing his life over his dignity which goes against the character development previously established. This excites Hathorne inappropriately and he goes running through the halls of the prison. “I am not empowered to trade your life for a lie.” pg. 140Danforth to John after John refuses to sign his confession. This is an example of irony as all of the prisoners’ lives were traded for a lie. “Damn the village! I confess to God, and God has seen my name on this! It is enough!” pg. 142John refuses to sign the confession and have it posted on the church door. He says that he has confessed to God and that should be enough. “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” pg. 145This is the closing line of the play. Elizabeth is speaking to Hale and Parris who are beggin her to go to John and try to get him to change his mind. John’s conscience in finally at peace. ................
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