Giles Corey

This phrase indicates the suspicion brought on by simple things taken out of context.  The fact that Giles Corey is inquiring into the behaviour of his own wife tells the audience that no person is above suspcion.

John Proctor

This quote occurs during Proctor's outburst just prior to Elizabeth's arrest.  He indicates that the 'children' meaning Abigail and the group of girls have suddenly got all the power with the society and that vendettas are being played out under the mask of the Salem Witchcraft trials.

Abigail Williams

Abigail here is warning the group of girls to stick to her version of what happened and in the use of aggressive language she asserts her authority.

John Proctor

Proctor struggles with the idea of sacrificing his good name in return for his life.  After discovering that the court wishes Proctors confession to be made public as an example, he refuses to sign his name to something which is a lie.

Mary Warren

After testifying that Abigail has been lying the whole time Mary Warren is asked to faint as proof that previous incidences of fainting were in fact pretence.  In the absence of the hysteria of the court Mary fails to do this thereby incriminating herself.

Revernd Parris

Parris' paranoid tendencies are indicated by this phrase.  He believes that some people are determined to have him run out of Salem and as such he selfishly looks out for his good name over all other things.

Reverend Hale

After partially causing the hysteria of witchcraft in Salem Hale finally sees the error of his ways and the extreme pain and tragedy he has caused.  He struggles to reconcile himself and after leaving the court attempts to convince people to plead guilty simply so that he won't feel any more guilt about more people dying.

Reverend Hale

Hale confirms suspicions of witchcraft and unwittingly sets of a chain of events that leads to many tragic hangings.  This phrase however is ambiguous.  The Devil in a metaphorical sense could relate to the hysteria and vendettas, and the subsequent hate flying around the town.

Elizabeth Proctor

This is the final line of the play.  Elizabeth indicates by this phrase that she is at peace with the decision Proctor has made and feels no resentment that he has chosen to die rather than tarnish his name.

Abigail Williams 

During their conversation in Act One Abigail attempts to convince Proctor that his is still in love with her.  This indicates to the audience the desire that Abigail feels towards Proctor and her determination to see it play out the way she wants it to.

Stage Directions

This short stage direction indicates immediately that Abigail Williams is not always as she appears.

John Proctor

Proctor confesses to Danforth that he has had an affair with Abigail and that he believes this is the reason for her accusations.

Abigail Williams

Abigail tells Parris how Elizabeth Proctor kicked her out of the Proctor household because of hatred.  However she fails to mention the cause of the hatred.

Mrs. Putnam

This statement becomes significant later on in the play when Rebecca Nurse (to whom Mrs. Putnam is speaking) is accused of the unnatural murder of Mrs. Putnam's infants.

John Proctor

Proctor's cynicism is evident when he first arrives at the scene of the ill Betty Parris.  The fact that rumours of witchcraft are already flying around the town indicates also that gossip is rife in Salem.

John Proctor

Proctor expresses his doubts, and lack of faith in the court.  This demonstrates that he believes the authority of the courts is false and should not be believed.

Reverend Hale

At the start of the play Hale has complete confidence in the court and believes the God will protect those who are innocent.  He believes that because Rebecca Nurse is such a good and well respected figure within the community that there is no chance of her being accused of witchcraft.

Abigail Williams

This is the first of the accusation made by Abigail Williams, at first this is simply an attempt to shift blame from herself

Reverend Hale

Hale finally sees the absurdity of the accusations and the extremity of the situation.  He hopes that as the authority on the Devil, his denouncement of the court will prevent any more harm to be done to the community.  However by this point the situation has spiraled out of control and Hale has lost any ability to control the situation.

Mary Warren

Mary tells how Abigail saw Mary making the poppet in the court.  Abigail's prior knowledge of the poppet and the placement of the needle gives her an opportunity to accuse Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft.

Judge Danforth

Danforth refuses to see the error in his ways and insists that the court proceed as before.  He cannot postpone the hanging of Proctor because the doubt would be cast upon the guilt of the people already hanged.

Elizabeth Proctor

Elizabeth attempts to explain her reasons for turning Abigail out without incriminating her husband.

John Proctor

Elizabeth lies to the court to prevent her husband from being accused of 'lechery'.  In his frustration Proctor calls out to Elizabeth as he did not want her to lie for him.