The Crucible Homework P8-20

I. Quotations
1. "No. There be no unnatural cause here... Let him look to medicine & put out all thought of unnatural causes here. There be none." (page 9)

• From here it seems Mr. Parris does not believed in witch-craft or anything unnatural. However, when he talked to his niece Abigail, he seemed to be very certain that she is a witch. This is kind of paradoxical because Mr. Parris acts differently when talking to different people under different circumstance.

2. "I'd not call it sick; the Devil's tough is heavier than sick. It's death, y'know, it's death drivin' into them, forked & hoofed." (page 13)

• This quote shows the fatuity of people at that time. It is clear that most of the villagers were horrified by the rumors of witchcraft. They thought the Devil is reaching them by sending witches to their world. We can feel the sense of fear among those people - no doubt they would do what ever they can to drive the so-called witchcraft away.
  

II. Discussing Questions
1. Does Mr. Parris believe in witchcraft? Why or why not?
Hint: the paradox - his negation of "unnatural causes" vs. his certain of Abigail's witchcraft

2. Betty's abnormal actions in the last scene show us what? What will happen to Abigail?