The Crucible Act 1 Characters

1. The CruCibleThe CruCible
Act I CharactersAct I Characters

2. ParrisParris
The recently appointed minister in Salem and father The recently appointed minister in Salem and father
of Betty Parris. of Betty Parris.
Parris is dogmatic in his opinions, intolerant of Parris is dogmatic in his opinions, intolerant of
opposition, and suspicious of those whom he does not opposition, and suspicious of those whom he does not
like. like.
His belief in witches and his desire to punish his His belief in witches and his desire to punish his
enemies set in motion the chain of events that leads to enemies set in motion the chain of events that leads to
the hysteria in Salem. the hysteria in Salem.
During the witch trials, he pressures Danforth, the During the witch trials, he pressures Danforth, the
chief judge, to punish those who, in his opinion, are chief judge, to punish those who, in his opinion, are
possessed or in league with the Devil. possessed or in league with the Devil.

3. TiTubaTiTuba
The black slave of Reverend The black slave of Reverend
Parris, believed to be practicing Parris, believed to be practicing
witchcraft. witchcraft.
She is from Barbados.She is from Barbados.

4. abigailabigail
Reverend Parris' niece. Reverend Parris' niece.
An intelligent, resourceful, and highly mischievous An intelligent, resourceful, and highly mischievous
girl of seventeen, Abigail is the natural leader of the girl of seventeen, Abigail is the natural leader of the
other girls in Salem.other girls in Salem.
She instigates the witch trials by falsely accusing She instigates the witch trials by falsely accusing
others of witchcraft. others of witchcraft.
She pretends to see spirits and instructs the other She pretends to see spirits and instructs the other
girls to pretend as well.girls to pretend as well.
She is also infatuated with John Proctor and keen to She is also infatuated with John Proctor and keen to
take Elizabeth's place. take Elizabeth's place.

5. susannasusanna
Friend to Abigail. Friend to Abigail.
She also takes part in the trials by She also takes part in the trials by
falsely accusing others of falsely accusing others of
witchcraft.witchcraft.

6. Thomas PuTnamThomas PuTnam
A rich, unscrupulous farmer who is out to expand A rich, unscrupulous farmer who is out to expand
his land holdings by any means. his land holdings by any means.
He systematically accuses his neighbors of He systematically accuses his neighbors of
witchcraft so that he might purchase their lands after witchcraft so that he might purchase their lands after
they hang.they hang.
He is manipulative, close-minded, and domineering. He is manipulative, close-minded, and domineering.
He expects everybody to respect him and accept his He expects everybody to respect him and accept his
opinions.opinions.

7. mrs. ann PuTnammrs. ann PuTnam
Wife of Thomas Putnam. Wife of Thomas Putnam.
She believes that a witch is responsible for the She believes that a witch is responsible for the
deaths of her seven infant children. deaths of her seven infant children.
Her jealousy of Rebecca Nurse leads her to Her jealousy of Rebecca Nurse leads her to
accuse Goody Nurse of being a witch.accuse Goody Nurse of being a witch.

8. merCy lewismerCy lewis
Servant to the Putnams and friend to Servant to the Putnams and friend to
Abigail. Abigail.
She participates in the witch trials by She participates in the witch trials by
pretending to see spirits and falsely pretending to see spirits and falsely
accusing individuals of witchcraft.accusing individuals of witchcraft.

9. mary warrenmary warren
The young maidservant of the Proctors.The young maidservant of the Proctors.
Although Mary is honest and well-intentioned Although Mary is honest and well-intentioned
toward the Proctors, when faced with the toward the Proctors, when faced with the
prospect of suffering, her sense of self-prospect of suffering, her sense of self-
preservation overrides her natural goodness. preservation overrides her natural goodness.
She is very much afraid of Abigail and also She is very much afraid of Abigail and also
does not want to be cut off from the other does not want to be cut off from the other
young girls.young girls.

10. beTTybeTTy
Parris’ daughter. Parris’ daughter.
Her father discovers her dancing in Her father discovers her dancing in
the woods, and she later accuses the woods, and she later accuses
individuals of practicing witchcraft.individuals of practicing witchcraft.

11. rebeCCa nurserebeCCa nurse
Wife of Francis Nurse. Wife of Francis Nurse.
She is one of the most respected She is one of the most respected
individuals in Salem because of her individuals in Salem because of her
kindness and charity. kindness and charity.
She argues against the witch trial She argues against the witch trial
investigations. investigations.
Mrs. Putnam accuses her of witchcraft.Mrs. Putnam accuses her of witchcraft.

12. giles Coreygiles Corey
Elderly inhabitant of Salem. Elderly inhabitant of Salem.
A sincere, well-intentioned, though A sincere, well-intentioned, though
cantankerous, old farmer. cantankerous, old farmer.
He is frank and forthright in his thinking He is frank and forthright in his thinking
and utterances. and utterances.
He is on good terms with John Proctor He is on good terms with John Proctor
and Francis Nurse. and Francis Nurse.

13. ProCTorProCTor
A young, upright, outspoken, successful A young, upright, outspoken, successful
farmer in Salem. farmer in Salem.
He loves and respects his wife and is He loves and respects his wife and is
repentant of the one act of adultery he has repentant of the one act of adultery he has
committed with Abigail Williams, his former committed with Abigail Williams, his former
servant. servant.
He resents the greediness and holier-than-He resents the greediness and holier-than-
thou attitude of Reverend Parris and, thou attitude of Reverend Parris and,
therefore, invites his wrath and suspicion.therefore, invites his wrath and suspicion.

14. rev. halerev. hale
A minister from the nearby town of Beverly who is A minister from the nearby town of Beverly who is
called by Reverend Parris to investigate his called by Reverend Parris to investigate his
suspicions of witchcraft in Salem. suspicions of witchcraft in Salem.
As he becomes aware of Abigail's, Parris', and As he becomes aware of Abigail's, Parris', and
Hathorne's hidden agendas, he begins to question Hathorne's hidden agendas, he begins to question
the validity of the trials, in which he acts as a the validity of the trials, in which he acts as a
judge. judge.
He then tries to convince Danforth of the truth, but He then tries to convince Danforth of the truth, but
lacks the courage and conviction to openly oppose lacks the courage and conviction to openly oppose
him. him.