The Crucible - Abigail and Proctor

The Crucible – Proctor and Abigail Quotations

Act One

My name is good in the village! Elizabeth Proctor is an envious, gossiping liar!  - Abigail

Shut up! All of you. We danced. That is all, and mark this, if anyone breathe a word or the edge of a word about the other things, I will come to you in the black of some terrible night, and I will bring with me a pointy reckoning that will shudder you! And you know I can do it. I saw Indians smash my dear parents' heads on the pillow next to mine. And I have seen some reddish work done at night. And I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down! - Abigail

We were dancin’ in the woods last night… is all. - Abigail

Ah, you’re wicked yet, aren’t y’! - Proctor

I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew what pretence Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot! You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet! — Abigail

Abby, I may think of you softly from time to time, but I will cut off my hand before I reach for you again. We never touched.  - Proctor

Act Two

Proctor: You will not judge me more, Elizabeth. I have good reason to think before I charge fraud on Abigail, and I will think on it. Let you look to your own improvement before you go to judge your husband any more. I have forgot Abigail, and —
Elizabeth: And I.
Proctor: Spare me! You forget nothin' and forgive nothin.' Learn charity, woman. I have gone tiptoe in this house all seven months since she is gone. I have not moved from there to here without I think to please you, and still an everlasting funeral marches round your heart. I cannot speak but I am doubted, every moment judged for lies, as though I come into a court when I come into this house!
Elizabeth: I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you but a good man, John — only somewhat bewildered.
Proctor: Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer!

You were alone with her?.. Then it is not as you told me. - Elizabeth

Rev. John Hale: You said that one twice, Sir.
John Proctor: Aye.
Elizabeth: Adultery, John.

I’ll tell you what’s walking Salem—vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! This warrant’s vengeance! I’ll not give my wife to vengeance! — Proctor

Act Three

John Proctor: I have known her sir! I have known her.
Judge Danforth: In what time? What place?
John Proctor: In the proper place where my beasts are bedded.

A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I beg you, sir, I beg you- see her what she is . . . She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance. — Proctor

…my wife cannot lie. - Proctor

Judge Danforth: To your knowledge, has John Proctor committed the crime of lechery? Answer my question. Is your husband an adulterer?
Elizabeth: No sir.
Judge Danforth: Remove her.
John Proctor: Elizabeth, I've confessed it.
Elizabeth: Oh, God.

You bring down heaven and raise up a whore! – Proctor

Act Four

It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery. - Elizabeth

I speak my own sins; I can not judge another. - Proctor

Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name! — Proctor

[PROCTOR tears the paper and crumples it, and he is weeping in fury, but erect.]