CHARACTERS

REVEREND PARRIS

He is the weak minister of Salem whose daughter instigates the witch-hunt in the town of Salem. He is a narrow-minded, self-centred person who wishes to strengthen his authority in the town, and hopes to achieve this through the Trials proceedings.

BETTY PARRIS

She is the daughter of Reverend Parris who is discovered dancing in the woods with Abigail, Tituba and Ruth Putnam.

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS

She is the Reverend Parris’ niece who was once the servant of the Proctors, but is dismissed by Goody Proctor for having an affair with her husband. She lusts after John Proctor still, and sees herself by his side as Mrs. Proctor.  This can only be done through the death of Elizabeth Proctor and Abigail uses the witch Trials as a means of attaining this goal.

TITUBA

Reverend Parris’ black slave, Tituba, casts spells by the fire as the girls dance round about in the woods.

MRS. ANN PUTNAM

She is a bitter woman because she has lost seven infant children, who fail to see that she may be responsible for these deaths, and blames her misfortune on witchcraft. She is jealous of Rebecca Nurse, which stems from the fact that she represents everything that Ann is not. This leads to her accusing Rebecca of witchcraft.

THOMAS PUTNAM

He is a greedy man who covets his neighbours’ land and again uses false accusations of witchcraft so that he might increase his property.

RUTH PUTNAM

Ruth is the Putnams’ daughter who is used as a tool by her parents in accusing members of Salem of witchcraft.

JOHN PROCTOR

He is a hard-working Salem farmer who is seduced by Abigail his servant whilst his wife is ill and he is vulnerable.  He dislikes Reverend Parris and, therefore, does not attend Church on a regular basis. He becomes the central character of the play whose execution forms its climax.

ELIZABETH PROCTOR

Goody Proctor is an upstanding and honest woman who stays loyal to her husband despite his affair with Abigail. She forgives him this transgression and inadvertently causes his imprisonment.

REVEREND HALE

He is brought into Salem to investigate the allegations of witchcraft in the town.  He initially supports the witch Trials, but later denounces them and tries to save those that have been accused of witchcraft.

FRANCIS and REBECCA NURSE

They are both respected individuals in Salem.  Mrs. Putnam accuses Rebecca of witchcraft and Francis is a farmer and landowner and was often called upon to settle disagreements.

GILES COREY

He was an elderly inhabitant of Salem who challenged the Court in an attempt to defend his wife charged of witchcraft.  He received a different type of execution and was pressed to death, rocks being placed on his chest.

DEPUTY GOVERNOR DANFORTH

He is head of the Salem Court, who signs the death sentences of those who refuse to confess. He adopts a blinkered attitude and refuses to use common sense and logic in dealing with these cases. Any deviation from the course he has set would be a sign of weakness, and he refuses to pardon any of those found guilty of witchcraft, and in the end nineteen innocent people were executed.