Characters in The Crucible.

There are limited numbers of characters in the play The Crucible. The story of the play revolves around some main characters unlike one man show. The main characters in the Crucible are: Reverend Parris, Betty Parris, Abigail Williams, John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, Tituba, Judge Hathorne, Thomas Putnam, Ruth Putnam, Mary Warren, Mercy Lewis, Deputy Governor Danforth, Reverend Hale, Giles Corey, Rebecca Nurse, Francis Nurse, Sarah Good, and Mrs. Ann Putnam.

Brief Introductions to the Characters in The Crucible

Reverend Parris

Reverend Parris is a minister in Salem. His daughter Betty is unconscious due to practicing witchcraft with other girls in the woods. He fears that people will force him to leave Salem because of his daughter’s act, so he attempts to strengthen his authority through the witch trial proceedings.

Betty Parris

She is Parris’ daughter. Her father, Parris, discovers her with other girls dancing in the woods at midnight. She admits witchcraft and accuses individuals of practicing witchcraft.

Abigail Williams

Abigail is Parris’ niece. She is the main character in the play The Crucible. She prompts the witch trials in Salem by falsely accusing individuals of witchcraft. She was former servant at Proctor’s house and had adultery affairs with John Proctor. She pretends to see spirits and instructs the other girls to pretend as well to achieve her motives. She accuses Elizabeth and Proctor of practicing witchcraft. She runs away from Parris’ house by robbing him in the last act of the play.

John Proctor

John Proctor is a farmer in the Salem and former lover of Abigail’s. Proctor plainly denounces Parris and does not attend church. Abigail accuses him and his wife Elizabeth but Proctor and his wife ironically fail to justify that Abigail is a fraud. John Proctor wants to keep his name and does not confess and prefers death over confessing. He is the real hero of the play.

Elizabeth Proctor

Elizabeth Proctor is the wife of John Proctor. She is an honest woman, who dismissed Abigail because of her affair with her husband Proctor. She lies in court to save her husband but ironically she was unaware that his husband has already confessed, causing tragedy to herself and her husband Proctor.

Tituba

She is Parris’ black slave. Parris discovers her casting spells and dancing with the girls in the woods. She enticed Betty to drink blood. Putnam informs Hale that she can conjure spirits. She confesses her contact with the devil and accuses others.

Mrs. Ann Putnam

She is the wife of Thomas Putnam. She believes in witches responsible for the deaths of her seven infant children.

Thomas Putnam

He is a greedy landowner in Salem. Putnam prompts his daughter to falsely accuse other’s neighbors of witchcraft. Because he wants them to hang, so he might be able to purchase their land once it becomes available after losing all property rights. Putnam is the only man who has enough money to purchase other’s land in Salem.

Ruth Putnam

She is the sick daughter of Putnams’. She accuses others of practicing witchcraft. A witness claims, who overheard, Putnam prompting Ruth to accuse others, so he can buy their land and Ruth does so.

Mary Warren

She is a servant to the Proctors. She is official at the court. She also falsely accused others of witchcraft; however, she later admits that she was lying. She also tells the court that other girls are also accusing falsely.

Mercy Lewis

She is servant to the Putnam family and a friend of Abigail. She participates in the witch trials and pretends that she can see spirits. She also falsely accuses individuals of witchcraft.

Deputy Governor Danforth

A special judge serving in the Salem court during the witch trials, who signs the death punishment for those individuals who denies confessing witchcraft. He rejects Hale’s proposal to delay any execution. He was not in favor to postpone the punishments in order to give time to prisoners to confess.

Reverend Hale

He is a minister in Beverly. The people of Salem summon him to investigate witchcraft prevailing in Salem. He also examines Betty’s condition and determines if witchcraft is responsible. He supports the witch trials, but later denounces them when he learns that there is false accusing of witchcraft. He also tries to convince prisoners to confess witchcraft.

Giles Corey

He is an elderly resident of Salem. He challenges the court to defend his wife who has been convicted of witchcraft. He also informs the court of false accusing by Putnam’s daughter prompt by her father in order to buy land of hanged. He was arrested for dishonoring the court.

Rebecca Nurse

She is the wife of Francis Nurse. She respected individuals in Salem because of her kindness and charity. She argues against the witch trial investigations. Mrs. Putnam accuses her of witchcraft. Proctors bring a statement signed by 92 people for her honesty but the court rejects the statement.

Francis Nurse

He is a farmer and landowner in Salem. He is a respected member of the society.

Sarah Good

She is a beggar in Salem. She is the first woman accused of witchcraft by girls.

Judge Hathorne

He is a judge in the Salem court.

Susanna Walcott

She is a friend of Abigail. She also falsely accuses others of witchcraft.

Marshal Herrick

The Salem court appointed him to arrest the accused persons.

Ezekial Cheever

The Salem court appointed him to help in arresting accused persons.