The Crucible - Act II

Sep 29, 2026

A scene set in Proctor’s home unfolds as John Proctor returns late from farm work while Elizabeth tends supper and domestic routines. Their conversation turns from evening calm to mounting alarm when Elizabeth reveals Mary Warren’s involvement with Salem’s court and the expanding accusations. Elizabeth describes how Abigail and the court claim authority to jail and even hang accused people, and insists Proctor must go to Salem to expose the deception. Proctor grapples with disbelief and anger, while their closeness is strained by fear and moral urgency.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time31 min

AccessFree to download

Proctor’s House: Evening Setup

Food, Weather, and Domestic Quiet

Elizabeth Reports Mary Warren’s Salem News

The Court’s Power and the Threat of Execution

Proctor’s Resolve to Confront the Accusations

●Gun(Proctor) ·Whip(Proctor) ● Small rag doll with necdle in it(Mary) ·2 warrants(Checver)—1 destroyed each performance ● Shawl (Elizabeth) ●Iowel and basin with water in it on washstand ·Dish of stew and spoon ●Pewtcr mug with cider in it o The common room of Proctor's house,eight days later. At the right is a door opening on the fields outside.A fireplace is at the left,and behind it a stairway leadingupstairs.It is the low,dark,and rather long living roomof the time.As the curtain rises,the room is empty.Fromabove,Elizabeth is heard softly singing to the children.Presently the door opens and John Proctor enters,carryinghis gun.He glances about the room as he comes toward thefireplace,then halts for an instant as he hears her singing.He continues on to the fireplace,leans the gun againstthe wall as he swings a pot out of the fire and smells it.Then he lifts out the ladle and tastes.He is not quitepleased.He reaches to a cupboard,takes a pinch of salt,and drops it into the pot.As he is tasting again,herfootstepsare heard on the stair.He swings the pot into the fireplaceand goes to a basin and washes his hands and face.Elizabeth enters. ELIZABETH:What keeps you so late?It's almost dark.PROCTOR:I were planting far out to the forest edge.ELIZABETH:Oh,you're done then. PROCTOR:Aye,the farm is seeded.The boys asleep?ELIZABETH:They will be soon.And she goes to thefireplace,proceeds to ladle up stew in a dish. PROCTOR:Pray now for a fair summer. ELIZABETH:Aye. PROCTOR:Are you well today? ELIZABETH:I am.She brings the plate to the table,and, indicating the food:It is a rabbit. PROCTOR,going to the table:Oh,is it!In Jonathanstrap? ELIZABETH:No,she walked into the house this after-noon;I found her sittin³in the corner like she cometo visit. PROCTOR:Oh,that's a good sign walkin'in. ELIZABETH:Pray God.It hurt my heart to strip her,poor rabbit.She sits and watches him taste it. PROCTOR:It's well seasoned. ELIZABETH,blushing with pleasure:I took great careShe's tender? PROCTOR:Aye.He eats.She watches him.I think we'lsee green fields soon.It's warm as blood beneaththe clods. ELIZABETH:That's wellProctor eats,then looks up. PROCTOR:If the crop is good I'll buy George Jacobsheifer.How would that please you? ELIZABETH:Aye,it would. PROCTOR,with grin:I mean to please you,Elizabeth ELIZABETH—it is hard to say:I know it,John. He gets up,goes to her,kisses her.She receives it.With acertain disappointment,he returns to the table. PROCTOR,as gently as he can:Cider? ELIZABETH,with a sense of reprimanding herself forhaving forgot:Aye!She gets up and goes and poursa glass for him.He now arches his back. PROCTOR:This farm's a continent when you go footby foot droppin'seeds in it. ELIZABETH,coming with the cider:It must be. PROCTOR,he drinks a long draught,then,putting theglass down:You ought to bring some flowers in the house. ELIZABETH:Oh!I forgot!I will tomorrow. PROCTOR:It's winter in here yet.On Sunday let youcome with me,and we'll walk the farm together;I never see such a load of flowers on the earth.With good feeling he goes and ooks up at the skythrough the open doorway.Lilacs have a purple smell.Lilac is the smell of nightfall,I think.Massachusettsis a beauty in the spring! ELIZABETH:Aye,it is. There is a pause.She is watching him from the table ashe stands there absorbing the night.It is as though shewould speak but cannot.Instead,now,she takes up hisplate and glass and fork and goes with them to the basin.Her back is turned to him.He turns to her and watches her.A sense of their separation rises. PROCTOR:I think you're sad again.Are you? ELIZABETH—she doesn't want friction,and yet she must:You come so late I thought you'd gone to Salem thisafternoon. PROCTOR:Why?I have no business in Salem.ELIZABETH:You did speak of going,earlier this week.PROCTOR—he knows what she means:I thought betterof it since. ELIZABETH:Mary Warren's there today. PROCTOR:Why'd you l

FAQs

Where does this scene take place and what is happening at the start?

It takes place in the common room of Proctor’s house. John Proctor enters carrying his gun, Elizabeth is heard singing, and they prepare and share stew and cider before their conversation turns tense.

What news does Elizabeth bring that changes the mood?

Elizabeth says Mary Warren is in Salem and claims the court is trying people who are accused of witchcraft. She also reports that people can be jailed and that executions are threatened if accused individuals will not confess.

What does Elizabeth ask John Proctor to do?

Elizabeth tells John he must go to Salem and expose the deception. She also advises him to speak with Ezekiel Cheever and to repeat what Abigail said to him previously about witchcraft.

Sep 29, 2026

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