Act One of The Crucible

Act One begins with the Rev. Samuel Parris praying for his daughter Betty who lies faint in her bed, suffering from a strange malady. Betty and Abigail, Parris's niece, and some of the other village girls had been surprised by Parris in the forest as they were engaged in a voodoo ritual led by Tituba, Parris's black slave. Betty fainted and still had not recovered. Ann and Thomas

Putnam, prosperous villagers, arrive and claim that the children are suffering from "the Devil's touch" at the hands of witches.

When the adults leave to pray with townspeople who have heard rumors of witchcraft, Abigail and Mercy Lewis and Mary Warren wake Betty. Betty accuses Abigail of "drinking blood" and says that Abigail will be whipped. Abigail threatens the other girls with grievous harm if they admit too much to the elders.

At this point, John Proctor, a farmer who had an affair with Abigail, enters. Abigail tells John of her continuing love and desire, but Proctor rejects her saying nothing happened between them.

Soon the Rev. John Hale, a specialist in witch hunting arrives and examines Betty who has fainted again. He then questions Abigail and Tituba. Tituba, afraid of being hung as a witch, professes faith in God and confesses that two townswomen, Goody Good and Goody Osburn, came to her with the Devil. Abigail and then Betty claim they have been bewitched but now turn to God. The act closes as the girls ecstatically chant the names of the townspeople whom they accuse of consorting with the Devil.

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