Mary Warren :: essays research papers

bloody shame warren is an important character in Arthur Millers play, THE CRUCIBLE. Much of the action in Act III revolves around Marys testimony in court. She is a kind and basically honest girl who tries to do the right thing, economy her friends from harm. However, throughout Acts I and II, Mary is a follower who allows Abigail Williams to negatively influence her good judgment. To make matters worse, Mary is terrified of Abigails threats. Because of her weak will, the reader isnt certain if Mary will maintain the cou smidgee to help John Proctor to win his court case in Act III. Mary Warrens basic goodness is demonstrated on many occasions. She has been hired by John Proctor to help his wife Elizabeth with household chores. Mary proves to be a kind girl who gets along well with Mrs. Proctor. Although Mary has become a court official in Salem, she still gets up early in the morning to clean the Proctors house. While in court, Mary passes the time by making Goody Proctor a prese nt of a small rag doll called a poppet. Upset by the court proceedings, Mary tells Mr. Proctor that she is "all shuddery inside" because Goody Osburn will hang. When the poppet becomes anomalous inference of witchcraft against Elizabeth, Mary willingly explains that the poppet is hers. She also makes a vain attempt to comfort John Proctor as the court officials drag his wife away in chains. A basic sense of honesty is an otherwise of Mary Warrens traits. In Act I she goes to Salem to change over Abigail to tell the truth about what really happened in the woods. When the witchcraft scare gets out of hand, Mary joins Abigail and the other girls in falsely accusing women of being witches. These false accusations are motivated by hysteria. There is evidence that Mary really believes that the women in court are bewitching her. She tells the judge that she thought she saw spirits. The other girls were screaming, and before she knew it, Mary was screaming with them. When she rea lizes that there are no spirits, Mary is willing to be truthful. After Elizabeth Proctors name is brought up in court, Mary Warren defends her against the accusation. At the end of Act II, the reader hopes that the basic sense of honesty will remain strong enough to allow Mary to testify on behalf of the accused women in Act III.