THE CRUCIBLE CHARACTER ANALYSIS

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION OF MOTIVATION PERSONALITY

CHARACTER FOR ACTIONS TRAITS
Abigail Williams 17-year-old niece of Rev. to protect herself good at deceiving others
Parris her desire to have John Proctor all to violent
had an affair with John herself untrustworthy
Proctor witnessing her parents’ murder leader
vengeful

Betty Parris 10-year-old daughter of Rev. scared to get in trouble scared

Parris

Reverend Parris Salem’s minister; disliked by
many people in the town
the fact that he has many enemies who defensive
want him gone from Salem self-absorbed
doesn’t want people to find out the nervous
truth about what happened in the paranoid
woods
wants to persecute his enemies

Ann Putnam mother of Ruth and seven depression from losing seven children paranoid
babies who died at birth desire for revenge for the death of her crazy
children depressed

Mary Warren the Proctors’ current her fear of Mr. Proctor submissive and inferior
servant her fear of Abigail and the other girls unreliable
naïve
lonely
CHARACTER DESCRIPTION OF MOTIVATION PERSONALITY
CHARACTER FOR ACTIONS TRAITS
Thomas Putnam father of Ruth accused others as a way to gain their well-to-do, hard-handed landowner
richest man in the village land used to getting his way
who can afford to buy any wants to persecute his enemies vindictive
land forfeited by a “witch”

Tituba Rev. Parris’s slave from she knows she can never win because intimidated by authority
Barbados of who she is smart
she’s smart enough to know how to
save herself

John Proctor husband to Elizabeth; had doesn’t want his secret to come out cautious
an affair with Abigail his dignity reasonable
his desire to do what is right dignified

Elizabeth Proctor wife of John Proctor her faith in God practical

to preserve her dignity tenderhearted
to protect her husband reasonable
honest

Giles Corey 83-year-old man who to feel/look/sound important sharp

provides comic relief in the to protect the innocent clever
play inquisitive
physically strong
CHARACTER DESCRIPTION OF MOTIVATION PERSONALITY
CHARACTER FOR ACTIONS TRAITS
Reverend Hale an expert on witchcraft his experience and knowledge quick to come to conclusions
comes to Salem to his faith in the court doesn’t consider all the facts
investigate possible his conscience telling his what’s the practical
witchcraft real truth good-intentioned

Danforth the deputy governor of the maintain the court’s authority authoritative
province powerful
leads the witchcraft trials intimidating

Rebecca Nurse 72-year-old woman from her faith and her wisdom highly respected
Salem wise
gentle
fair
logical

Mercy Lewis 17-year-old girl to protect herself and Abigail sly

the Putnams’ servant merciless

Marshal Herrick an authority of the court his duty to the court dutiful
his guilty conscience guilty conscience
USE EACH CHARACTER’S NAME ONLY ONCE TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
List the characters from the chart who were in the woods: Abigail Williams, Betty Parris, Tituba, Mary Warren, Mercy Lewis

Divide the characters from the chart into the following two groups. Place a star by any character who later switches to the other belie

THOSE WHO BELIEVE WITCHCRAFT IS TO BLAME

Reverend Parris THOSE WHO BELIEVE THE GIRLS ARE LYING
Ann Putnam John Proctor
Thomas Putnam Rebecca Nurse
Reverend Hale* Elizabeth Proctor
Danforth Giles Corey
Marshal Herrick*

List the characters from the chart who are dead by then end of the play: John Proctor, Giles Corey, Rebecca Nurse