TheCrucible—SocraticSeminarQuestions
ConsidertheseopenendedquestionsrelatedtoTheCrucible.Thesequestionsdonothaveright
orwronganswers.Theyareintendedtosparkdiscussionandintroduceparticipantstonewideas.
Pleaseanswereachquestionsbasedonyourownbeliefs.Supportyourbeliefswithexamples
fromtheplay,theworld,oryourownlife.Aimfor4sentencesinresponseforeachusing
theA.C.E.method.

1. Inanyunfaithfulmarriageorrelationship,whoistoblame–theadulterousparty(John),
thecounterpartortempter(Abigail),orthedistantspouse(Elizabeth)?Cansomeonebe
justifiedorpushedtocheatontheirpartner?
2. Wouldyoudenounceyourfaithorbeliefstosaveyourlife?Whyorwhynot?Towhich
characterintheplaydoyourelatetothemost?Whyorwhynot?
3. Whatisthedangerofbeingaselfservingperson?Whenisitappropriatetoprotect
yourselfattheexpenseofothers?
4. Peopleoftenblindlyconformtoorganizedreligion,politicalgroups,gangs,andfactions.
Whyaresomanypeoplewillingtodothis?
5. Doyoubelievethatpeoplewhocommitseriouscrimes(murder,assault)canchange?Do
youthinktheyshouldbeforgivenbysociety?
6. DespitethelessonslearnedfromtheSalemWitchTrials,wehaveseenthedamageof
masshysteriarepeated.Whydosocietiesthroughouthistorycontinuetoreactirrationally
intimesoffearorpanic?
7. IstheRev.Parrissimplyaworriedparent,ordoeshehaveotherconcerns?Supportyour
opinionwithexamples.
8. DescribethecharacterofJohnProctor.Isheindependentorafollower?Honest,or
hypocritical?Howdoeshefeelabouthimself,andwhymighthefeelthatway?Explain
withexamples.
9. WhatisthecentralconflictthatJohnProctorfaces?
10. WhatdoesElizabeth'sobservationthatJohn'srealcourtisinhisownheartrevealtous
aboutJohn'scharacter?
11. DoestheRev.Halestillbelieveasfirmlyinthetruthoftheaccusations,orishe
beginningtohavesomedoubts?Useexamplestosupportyouranswer.
12. ExplainDanforth'scourseoflogicinrefusingtopardontheremainingprisoners.What
mighthehavetolosebydoingso?
13. WhatdoesElizabethmeanwhenshesaysthatJohnhashisgoodnessnow,andGod
forbidsheshouldtakeitfromhim?