Drama : Crucible Plan Essay, Research Paper

For the

scene in which John Proctor persuaded Mary Warren to go to the court and

confess that the girls are lying, I have chosen to set it in Proctor’s fields.

There he will be working when Mary Warren approaches him. There she will say

that she’s sorry about Elizabeth and tries to comfort John. John is to appear

almost overwhelmed by the previous night’s events. Mary then slips up by saying

"If there is anything I can do?." and John jumps and asks her to go

to the court and confess. They argue as John tries his best to persuade Mary to

go to court. He then brings up the Bible and the angel that he talks of in Act

3 when Mary needs encouragement. Mary begins to weaken. She still holds her

ground until John gets angry and threatens to march into the court and declare

Mary a witch. This is when Mary breaks in to tears and agrees to testify. The new

scene:John

Proctor is in his field, he is exhausted from working non-stop all day. The sun

is just beginning to set, casting a dim orange glow across the field. John

stops digging and looks up. Mary Warren walks slowly and tentatively into view.

John stares at her as she approaches. Mary comes to a stop about a metre in

front of John. An uneasy silence ensues as John continues to look at Mary.

After a few moments, Mary quietly begins.Mary

Warren: Mr Proctor? John

looks to the ground then looks Mary in the eye Proctor:

What is it Mary? Mary:

I?..I want to say that??I’m sorry, about Elizabeth, that is? Proctor:

Oh? Is that all you want to say? Proctor

picks up his shovel, turns away from Mary and begins to dig Mary:

Please, do not ignore me. Proctor

stops and slowly turns to Mary. He looks at her menacingly. Mary takes a step

back Proctor:

Why? Its seems every time you open your mouth you get another person hanged. Mary

clenches her fists in anger Mary:

What I am doing is right! Proctor:

You call hanging every man and woman in this town right? Mary:

But? Proctor:

Do you think it will make anything better? Do you think that it will make this town

a safer place to live? Mary: I

came here to apologise about your wife, Mr Proctor, not have my beliefs

questioned. John

pauses, realising that he is going to get no-where by arguing Proctor:

Do you think she is guilty Mary? Mary

seems taken aback by this and looks away from John Proctor:

Mary? Mary:

I? I do not know?She is a good lady? Proctor:

Yes, but do you think she would try to kill Abigail? Really? Mary:

I?.. Proctor:

You should think about what you are doing Mary! Think of the orphans these men

and women will leave behind, think about how those people feel. Proctor

is getting very emotional now, he kneels down and looks at the ground Proctor:

How do you think I feel? Mary

pauses for a moment, then steps towards John Mary:

I’m?. Sorry. Proctor

says nothing, he sobs, wipes his nose with his hand and gets up Mary:

(comfortingly) is there anything I can do? Proctor

suddenly turns to Mary and looks at her straight in the eye Proctor:

Yes! Yes there is something you can do, you can testify in court, denouncing

Abigail, ????? her friends and the court.

We can end all this madness now! Mary:

Mr Proctor! I cannot do that! Proctor:

You must! It is the only way! Please Mary, please, you have to. Mary:

What I do is right! Can’t you believe me? I am bringing out the Devil! Proctor:

All you are doing is killing the innocent! Can’t you see? Are you so blinded by

Abigail and the rest of them? Can’t you see that anyone in this town could turn

to his neighbour and pronounce him a witch, without any evidence at all, and

that neighbour would be hanged! Its madness and you have the power to stop it! Mary:

(sobs) What I do is right.. Proctor:

No! You are wrong, what you are doing is wrong, people are dying, can’t you

see! You can stop this Mary! (John place his hands on Mary’s shoulders and he

shakes her, he speaks almost like a madman) You can stop this Mary! Please! Mary:

Mr. Proctor! Let go of me! Mary

squirms and breaks free of John’s grasp. She tries to run but John quickly

catches her again. Mary screams. Mary:

Let go of me! Proctor

lets Mary go, she falls back on to the ground, before she can get up, Proctor

walks over, and stands above her, looking down into her terrified face Proctor:

Have you thought of what a sin it is to lie? Have you thought about how God

will look upon you as you put men and women to death on false accusations? Mary:

I?. Proctor:

Mary, you have to be strong. Do you want to go to heaven? Or do you want to

burn in hell like the rest of your so-called witches? Mary:

No! I swear?I am doing the right thing. Proctor:

Mary, you can always repent, you can turn your back on the court, but only if

you do it now! Mary

scrambles to her feet Mary:

Mr Proctor, please stop! I want to go to heaven! I want to do what is right! Proctor:

Then testify! It will end it all. Mary is

now also getting emotional and begins to cry Mary:

(quietly) Please Mr. Proctor? Proctor

realises that he has reached another dead-end, he is now very angry and on the

brink of violence. Proctor:

Mary, if you don’t do something about this soon, it will be your fault that

these people are dead, I can’t force you, but I believe it would be sin to let

these innocent people die Proctor turns and begins to walk away Mary:

No! No Mr Proctor! (She sobs) I want to go to heaven! Proctor:

But why should you go when these people die because of your actions? Mary

kneels down and looks at the ground Mary:

(quietly) I will testify. I don’t want to go to hell. Proctor:

(joyously) Thank you Mary! Thank you! John

picks Mary up of the ground and almost drags her back to his house.The

curtain drops